Romeu Italo Ripoli

Romeu Italo Ripoli (Piracicaba, 21 November 1916 – Piracicaba, 28 October 1983) was an agronomist, businessman, politician and sports manager. He was president of the Esporte Clube XV de Novembro (Piracicaba), soccer team of the city.

Biography Early life Son of the humble Italian immigrants Caetano Ripoli (1866–1940) and Emilia Viccini Ripoli (1875–1972), he passed the childhood and adolescence in his native city. In 1935, he was enlisted in Brazilian Army, serving in the Piracicaba Reservists Formation Center (Tiro de Guerra).

After great effort, due to the lack of means of his family, graduated in 1940 by Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo (ESALQ), also located in Piracicaba. In its university period it had strong performance and work by the construction of own headquarters of Academic Center Luiz de Queiroz, which would only be fulfilled in 1963. In 1943, published the book "Forty Years of Glories", narrating the history of the Athletic Association Academic Luiz de Queiroz, between 1903 and 1943.

Sports director However, the area in which Ripoli most stood out was like president of the Esporte Clube XV de Novembro (Piracicaba). He was at the head of the club for 17 years, in two periods: between 1959 and 1966 and then between 1973 and 1983.

In 1964, he took the XV on a tour through Europe and Asia. At that time, Brazil was already two-time world champion and only Santos and Botafogo made this type of trip. The team played in Sweden, Poland, West Germany and East Germany, Denmark and, at the height of Cold War, in the then Soviet Republics of Russia, Moldova, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

In 1976, XV was vice champion the Paulista Football Championship, the team's greatest title to date and the first club in the interior of São Paulo to reach such a standings.

A victim of lung cancer, he died in 1983, shortly before his 67th birthday and XV to become champion of the second division, returning to the elite of the soccer of São Paulo.

"In his hands", Losso Netto assures us in Jornal de Piracicaba on 29 October 1983, "the veterans club lived its greatest moments of glory. An intimidating fighter, he did not compromise with injustice. In sports politics, full of malice and dishonesty, Ripoli never let the rights of his club or the little ones be taken away. That's why he was a true leader in football in São Paulo, listened to, respected, a leader of the most authentic in Brazil's most popular sport."

Tributes Piracicaba elected Ripoli as one of the personalities of the year, in 1975/1976. He received numerous diplomas and decorations. An avenue in the city is named after him, in Parque Residencial Eldorado, parallel to avenue Eurico Gaspar Dutra and close to SP-308 (Rodovia do Açúcar, Comendador Mário Dedini).