Gennaro Marchese

Gennaro Marchese started his refereeing career in 1944, and made his Serie A début on 26 November 1950. Between then, and his final game (Bologna-Lazio) on 31 May 1964, he officiated in 163 top flight games. He won the 1958 Giovanni Mauro Award as Best Referee of the Year, and that same year, obtained his full FIFA badge. To make it a memorable year for Marchese, he also refereed that year’s Italian Cup final between Lazio and Fiorentina.

Internationally, Marchese was a linesman in three matches at the 1960 Roma Olympics, and refereed in all three major European club competitions. His most memorable game was probably the 4-4 draw between Barcelona and HSV Hamburg in the 1963/64 European Cup Winners’ Cup, which the Germans eventually won after a play-off match.

Following his retirement, Marchese was a vice-president of the A. I. A. (Associazione Italiana Arbitri), the Association of Italian Football Referees in the late-1970s/early-80s, at a time when Giulio Campanati was president.