Bruno Neri (Italian pronunciation: [ˈbruːno ˈneːri]; 12 October 1910 – 10 July 1944) was an Italian footballer who played as a midfielder, and was a World War II partisan.

Bruno Neri
Personal information
Date of birth (1910-10-12)12 October 1910
Date of death 10 July 1944(1944-07-10) (aged 33)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1926–1929 Faenza
1929–1936 Fiorentina 187 (1)
1936–1937 Lucchese 25 (0)
1937–1940 Torino 65 (1)
1940–1944 Faenza
Total 277 (2)
International career
1936–1937 Italy 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Football career

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Neri played club football for Faenza, Fiorentina, Lucchese and Torino; he also earned three caps for the Italy national team.[1][2]

Antifascist and partisan

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Neri was an anti-fascist, and in 1931, at the inaugural match at a new stadium named in honour of Italian fascist Giovanni Berta, Neri was the sole player to refuse to give a fascist salute before the game, instead keeping both arms straight down by his sides.[3]

In 1940, Neri began combining his playing career with anti-fascist activities; he was killed in an ambush by German troops at Marradi on 10 July 1944.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Bruno Neri at National-Football-Teams.com
  2. ^ "Profile" (in Italian). Italian Football Federation.
  3. ^ Luigi Potacqui (21 April 2021). "Bruno Neri, il calciatore partigiano". Romanzo Calcistico (in Italian). Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  4. ^ Matthew Barker (25 April 2012). "Bruno Neri, the footballer who stood up to fascism". When Saturday Comes. Archived from the original on 27 April 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2012.