Bio:
n Rome, Chinaglia’s family faced abuse from opposing fans and threats of kidnap by terrorist groups, and he voiced frustration at Italian tax and corporate laws that he said led to business failures.[8] 1972, Chinaglia began investing in American real estate while on a tour of the United States with Lazio. And in 1975, his family bought a house in Englewood, New Jersey with the idea that he would commute to matches from there. Instead, he walked into the office of Clive Toye, then president of the New York Cosmos of NASL, and said he would either play for the Cosmos or buy his own team.
Chinaglia (#9) with the New York Cosmos before playing a friendly match v. Club Cipolletti in Argentina, March 1980
Chinaglia joined the Cosmos in 1976 and finished his career in New York with 397 goals in outdoor games and 38 goals in 21 indoor, a total of 435 goals in 413 matches. He led his team in scoring for 13 straight seasons, 6 at Lazio and 7 at the Cosmos, scored 2 or more goals 54 times for the Cosmos, of which 14 were playoff games, scored 3 or more goals in a game 16 times, 5 in the playoffs, and scored 7 goals in a playoff game against the Tulsa Roughnecks in 1980 as well as 7 goals in an indoor game against the Chicago Sting on 8 December 1981. Chinaglia won the NASL Most Valuable Player Award in 1981.
Chinaglia scored 49 goals in 41 playoff games for the Cosmos for his career and scored 5 goals in 5 Soccer Bowls, 3 of which were game winners (1977, 1978, and 1982).
In 1980 Chinaglia scored 76 goals in 66 total matches, including 32 goals in 32 regular-season games and 18 goals in 7 playoff games. The NASL regular-season record for most goals is also held by Chinaglia with 34 goals in 1978.
In December 1981, Chinaglia played indoor soccer, and in his first game against the Chicago Sting, he set an individual all-time NASL indoor record for most goals in a single match, by netting 7.
He also became a close associate of Warner Brothers president Steve Ross, part-owner of the franchise, and was known to thoroughly enjoy the cultural diversions that New York provided.
In 1984, Cosmos, facing mounting losses and having never turned a profit, sold 60 percent of the club’s ownership to Chinaglia, with no money exchanging hands.[17] Chinaglia, at that time Lazio’s president, handed the controls to his personal assistant and general manager Peppe Pinton.[18] When the league and the club folded in 1986, Pinton ended up retaining the rights to the Cosmos name and memorabilia, including trophies and playing gear, associated with the club.
In 2000, he was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
In 2009, Pinton sold the Cosmos name to new owners, and in 2014 the new Cosmos team retired Chinaglia’s n° 9 jersey. The ceremony was held before a match, with the three children from his first marriage in attendance.[
Factfile:
- Full Name: Georgio Chinaglia
- Position: Forward
- Date of Birth: 24.01.1947
- Birthplace: Carrara
- Nation: Italy
- Club Career: New York Cosmos
- Period: 1976-1983
- League Games, 213
- League Goals, 193
- Previous Club: Lazio
- Transfer Fee: Unknown
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