Ezio Pascutti (1 June 1937 – 4 January 2017) was an Italian football manager and player, who played as a forward, either as a striker or as a winger. He spent his entire club career with Bologna, and represented Italy at two FIFA World Cups

Club career

Although he was born in Mortegliano, Udine, Pascutti spent his entire club career with Bologna, playing 296 Serie A matches and scoring 130 goals in his 14 seasons with the club, from 1955 to 1969; in total he made 336 appearances for Italian side (19 in the Coppa Italia, 3 in the European Cup, 12 in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, and 6 in the Mitropa Cup), scoring 142 goals in official matches (7 in the Coppa Italia, 1 in the European Cup, and 4 in the Mitropa Cup), making him the club's third-highest goalscorer of all time behind only Angelo Schiavio and Carlo Reguzzoni. He also held the record for most consecutive games scored in at the start of a Serie A season, before it was broken 30 years later by Gabriel Batistuta during the 1995–96 Serie A season. During his time with Bologna, he formed a formidable partnership with fellow winger Marino Perani; together, they helped Bologna win the Serie A title during the 1963–64 season, and the Mitropa Cup in 1961.

International career

Pascutti earned 17 caps and scored 8 goals for the Italy national football team from 1958 to 1967. He played in the 1962 and 1966 World Cups with Italy.

Death

Pascutti died on 4 January 2017, in a Bologna care home due to an illness, at the age of 79.

Style of play

A quick, physical, and prolific forward, Pascutti was capable of playing both as a striker or as a winger, due to his ability to both score and create goals. Although he wasn't a particularly flamboyant player or gifted with exceptional dribbling skills, he became a club symbol with the Bologna fans due to his exceptional goalscoring ability, in particular in the penalty area. An accurate finisher with his feet as well as with his head, he was known for his ability in the air, despite not being particularly tall, and for his capacity to get on the end of crosses. Despite his ability, his career was often afflicted by leg injuries.

Honours

Bologna

• Serie A: 1963–64
• Mitropa Cup: 1961