Massimo Scalingi Memorial

A memorial that has become a tradition

The Massimo Scalingi Memorial is much more than just a football tournament: it is the event through which Castel Frentano, a hilltop village in the province of Chieti, in the heart of the Frentano Abruzzo region, keeps the memory of one of its most beloved sons alive. Every summer, the Municipal Stadium fills up for an entire weekend, becoming a meeting point for the whole community to gather around football, togetherness, and remembrance.

Who was Massimo Scalingi

Massimo Scalingi was one of the most prolific strikers in Abruzzo's amateur football scene. Raised in Castel Frentano, he reached Serie B as a young man playing for Foggia, coached by Zdeněk Zeman, before scoring hundreds of goals over a career spanning nearly forty years. A right-winger with an extraordinary nose for goal, he earned the nickname "the Frentano bomber." Since his passing in 2014, he has remained a cherished figure for the entire town: the Memorial was created to ensure he is never forgotten and to pass on his values of passion and belonging to new generations.

Three days of football and festivities

The event, organized by Virtus Castel Frentano, takes place over a weekend. It typically kicks off on Friday evening with a high-profile friendly match between local teams, continues throughout the weekend with youth football academy tournaments—dozens of teams and hundreds of children on the pitch—and finds its most heartfelt moments in the legends' match and the "Special" triangular tournament, dedicated to inclusion. Music, conviviality, and food areas are always present, having become an integral part of the event's atmosphere.

Sport, memory, and solidarity

With over 80 youth teams involved and thousands of spectators, the Massimo Scalingi Memorial has established itself as one of the most popular sporting events in the Frentano area. At its core is not competition for its own sake, but football in its purest form: inclusion, joy, and sharing. The event also carries a message of solidarity, thanks to collaborations with local organizations, and confirms year after year the deep bond between Castel Frentano and its eternal striker.