Luis Felipe Monti

Luisito Monti was an Argentine-born Italian midfielder and coach. Runner-up at the 1930 FIFA World Cup with Argentina, and then World Cup champion in 1934 with Italy, Monti is the only footballer to have played two World Cup finals with two different national teams.

He began his career with Huracàn, winning the Argentine Championship in 1921. With San Lorenzo, he added three more national titles in 1923-24 and 1927. After the 1928 Olympics and 1930 World Cup, Monti went to Italy to play for Juventus, with whom he won four Serie A titles (1932-35) and an Italian cup (1938). Monti was one of three foreign-born players of Italian extraction (with Guaita and Orsi) called up for the 1934 World Cup.

After the world title, Italy faced England in a friendly the following November, remembered as “The Battle of Highbury” for the fierce competition. Monti broke a bone in his foot during the game, but later played two more internationals – in 1935 (Italy-Hungary 2-2) and in 1936 (Switzerland-Italy 1-2), earning 18 caps in his career. From 1939-50 he coached USC Triestina, Juventus, Varese Calcio, Atalanta Bergamasca, Vigevano, Huracàn (in Argentina), and finally SC Pisa.