Calcio is actually the name of the Italian football league. Literally, “calcio” means “kick”. For a player, we say “calciatore”, which means kicker. Which is ultimately the definition of a footballer.
Why this name rather than football? Calcio existed long before the birth of football in England. In the middle of the 19th century, a game called Florentine Calcio had been played since the Renaissance in Tuscany. It was a mix of football, rugby, wrestling and boxing. A sport with a minimum of rules, considered the most violent team game in the world.
Two teams of 27 players had to score a goal by putting a round ball in the opponent’s net by any means possible, including beating up the opposing players. After 50 minutes, the winning team received not a cup but a calf.
When football arrived in Italy and as it is quite close in principle, the Italians, chauvinists, gave it the name of “Calcio”. The original Calcio has disappeared. Except once a year and it is at this time that a tournament is played in a lighter version in shots, more in keeping with the romantic image of Florence.
