This year, for the first time (on record), an Englishman is on one of the calcio storico teams.
James Zikic, from Harrow, a cage fighter and rugby player, first read about calcio storico online and decided that it was something he wanted to do.
Calcio storico is not only one of the oldest, but also one of the most violent sports around (see TF 145 and 165). Said by modern spectators and participants to be a strange mix of rugby, wrestling and boxing, it is widely believed to be the father of modern-day football.
Four teams represent each of the city’s historic districts: Santa Croce (blue), Santa Maria Novella (red), San Giovanni (green) and Santo Spirito (white). Famed for its lack of rules (biting, head-butting, punching and kicking are all allowed), the game is played as a tournament each June, with the final on June 24, when the city celebrates its patron saint San Giovanni, Saint John the Baptist. This most traditional of Florentine events is famed for its lack of rules, but one of the few is that each team is only allowed up to five players from outside Florence, although they are usually Italians. Undaunted, Zikic arrived in Florence four weeks ago, and after a series of tough trials he was accepted onto Santo Spirito’s ‘white’ team.
Zikic does not speak Italian but says he is able to communicate quite easily with his Italian teammates because they are so expressive. ‘I’ve been welcomed onto the team like I am part of the family. The hospitality they have shown me is amazing.’
With victory usually coming down to the strength and endurance of players, Zikic appears to be a welcome addition to the squadra bianca.
