Tuttosport
A sports daily founded in Turin in 1945 by Renato Casalbore, who died at Superga in 1949; it covers mainly Juventus and Torino.
Tuttosport is the sports daily of Turin, the sports paper born under the Mole. Founded in 1945, in a city just emerged from the war, it was at first published twice a week and became a daily in 1951[1]. For eighty years it has covered mainly the city's two clubs, Juventus and Torino, which drive its sales[2].
The origins: Casalbore and Turin in 1945
The founder, Renato Casalbore, came from the Neapolitan journalism scene that grew up around the Scarfoglio family. He arrived in Turin in 1912, worked for Stampa Sportiva and, from 1913, for Sport del Popolo; in 1914 he moved to the Gazzetta del Popolo, where he stayed for thirty years. He chaired the association of Turin's sports journalists and had also been an aviation pioneer and an athlete[3]. After the Liberation he founded Tuttosport and edited it, without ever stopping writing himself[3].
The first issue was ready on the night of 29 July 1945, and the paper celebrates its anniversary on 30 July. The current editor reconstructed that night as follows[4]:
«Eighty years ago, on 29 July 1945, in a Turin torn apart by the war, Renato Casalbore held in his hands the first issue of the newspaper he had just founded»
According to Vaciago himself, in a city "in pieces" the founder saw in sport a path for the country's rebirth[4]. Growth was gradual: twice-weekly at launch, the paper moved to three issues a week in 1946 and to a daily schedule in 1951[1].
Superga, 4 May 1949
The founder did not live to see the paper become a daily. Casalbore was aboard the aircraft that, on 4 May 1949, returning from the friendly match between Torino and Benfica, crashed into the hill of Superga: in the Superga air disaster the players of Grande Torino died, and with them three journalists from Turin papers: Casalbore, Luigi Cavallero of La Stampa and Renato Tosatti of the Gazzetta del Popolo[3]. What remained of him was the memory of a professional known for "gentlemanliness and correctness," with a fast style able to convey the sense of an event immediately[3].
A national newspaper made in Turin
Tuttosport has nationwide circulation. In 2006 average circulation was 114,385 copies a day, rising to 127,271 on Mondays[1]. Ownership rests with the Amodei family group, which also publishes the Corriere dello Sport[2].
The coverage of the two home clubs also weighs on the paper's leadership. In April 2022 Xavier Jacobelli, who had led the paper for about nine years over two separate periods, stepped down as editor while remaining with the group in other roles; he was succeeded by Guido Vaciago, on the staff for over twenty years and regarded as an authority on Juventus and Torino affairs, as well as the author of several sports books published by the same publishing house[2].
The newspaper and the city
The relationship with city institutions has also taken the form of special editions. In September 2015 the press office of the City of Turin curated a special supplement issued with the paper for the Festa dello Sport, a route that started from Piazza Castello and took in squares in the historic centre and the outskirts[5].
Closeness to the clubs sometimes also produces public clashes. In May 2024, after the Coppa Italia final between Atalanta and Juventus, Vaciago said he had been shoved and threatened by Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri; Allegri, through his lawyer, admitted only to a heated verbal argument and denied any physical contact or threat. The Italian Football Federation opened an inquiry, but the matter was closed with a joint statement in which the coach expressed regret and stated that he had not meant to threaten or offend the editor[6].
The eightieth anniversary
On 30 July 2025 the paper celebrated its eightieth birthday: the Mole Antonelliana was lit up in the paper's colours and logo, giant reproductions of its most famous front pages were displayed under the arcades of via Po, and the photographic exhibition «Il cinema e lo sport» (Cinema and Sport), with photographs by Umberto Pizzi, was opened. The commemorative book «Tutto lo sport della nostra vita» (All the Sport of Our Life) went on sale with the 30 July issue. Among those attending the celebration were Juventus general manager Damien Comolli and Giorgio Chiellini[4]. Publisher Roberto Amodei recalled the paper's origins in a country under reconstruction:
«Over eight decades we have documented epic feats, celebrated champions, and recounted defeats and rebirths»
Vaciago linked the anniversary to the founder's gesture: "we are still here, under the Mole that he looked up at that night in search of a good omen"[4].
Related articles: Superga air disaster
Pages linking here
Sources
- Treccani
- Prima Comunicazione (Primaonline) — 20 April 2022
- Il Catenaccio
- Prima Comunicazione (Primaonline) — 1 August 2025
- TorinoClick – Città di Torino — 9 September 2015
- Prima Comunicazione (Primaonline) — 17 May 2024