Giovanni Paramithiotti (Albanian: Gjon Paramithioti) was an Italian sporting director of Albanian origins. He was one of the founders and first chairman of the football club Internazionale (1908–1909).[1]
Giovanni Paramithiotti | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chairman of Inter Milan | |
| In office 1908–1909 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Ettore Strauss |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Venice, Italy |
| Died | 11 March 1943 New York City, United States |
| Occupation | Chairman of Inter Milan |
| Known for | One of the founders and first chairman of Inter Milan |
Biography
editParamithiotti was born in Venice, Italy, into a wealthy family of Cham Albanian origins.[2][3][4] In the 18th century, his ancestors left Albania, which was part of the Ottoman Empire at that time, by joining the Albanian diaspora for better life opportunities. They moved away from Yanina Sanjak, in the region of Epirus, precisely from the current area of Paramythia, and preserved their origin as being from Paramythia with the surname Paramithiotti.[5][6] They moved to Venice, Italy, where he was born.
He was one of the founders of Inter Milan in 1908 after they severed ties with AC Milan[2] and was elected as the first chairman of the new football club, remaining in office for only one year.[7] According to the chronicles of the time, Paramithiotti was not particularly liked by the supporters due to his reputation as a jinx, which forced him not to show up at the stadium.[6][8] However, one day, he was not recognised because he was watching the match with a fake beard and moustache, and as Inter won the match, his bad reputation was put to an end.[6][9]
In 1909, after one year, he was succeeded by Ettore Strauss in his place, following the wishes of the Swiss majority of the club's members.[6]
He died in New York City on 11 March 1943.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Chi fu il primo presidente dell'Inter". Lettera43 (in Italian). 19 May 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Giovanni Paramithiotti". Inter-calcio.it (in Italian). Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ Cozzi, Luisa (3 September 2016). "10 cose che forse non sapete dei momenti topici dell'Inter". Milano Città Stato (in Italian). Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ Damascelli, Tony (3 May 2021). "Internazionale, se la Serie A si concede al patron straniero". il Giornale (in Italian). Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ "Ky është shqiptari që themeloi Interin (Foto)". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 15 March 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ a b c d e De Stefani, Luigi (19 March 2019). "Inter, Giovanni Paramithiotti: la storia del primo presidente". InterLive.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ "I presidenti". Inter.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
- ^ Pinto, Piergiuseppe (27 November 2017). "L'Inter ricorda Toccaferro, il primo presidente della storia nerazzurra". Spazio Inter (in Italian). Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ "Toccaferro, è arrivato il presidente!". 110.Inter.it (in Italian). Retrieved 17 May 2022.