La leva calcistica della classe '68
La leva calcistica della classe '68 (The Football Draft of the Class of ’68) is a 1982 single by Italian singer Francesco De Gregori. It was released by RCA Italiana and appears on the album Titanic. The single runs 4 minutes and 22 seconds and has a B-side titled Centocinquanta stelle.
About the song
- The lyrics tell the story of a 12-year-old boy who is being chosen for a football team. Football is used as a metaphor for life and growing up.
- Over the years, listeners have read the protagonist as a symbol of an entire generation, with some associations to famous players like Agostino Di Bartolomei or Bruno Conti.
- The music nods to Elton John’s The Greatest Discovery, and the ending quotes Lucio Battisti’s Vento nel vento. Mimmo Locasciulli played piano and keyboards on the track.
Reception and legacy
- The song has been linked to social and political themes of its era, especially around 1968, and is seen as a reflection on society and youth.
- It was featured in the soundtrack of the 1989 film Marrakech Express.
- In 2015, the Italian Footballers’ Association awarded De Gregori its Football Leader Prize, praising the song for capturing the deeper meaning of football.
- A live version with Lucio Dalla was released in 2010 on the album Work in Progress, and a remake appeared as the fourth single from the 2015 album Vivavoce.
Other versions and covers
- The song has been covered by Massimo Ranieri, Nomadi, and Schola Cantorum.
Track listing
- A-side: La leva calcistica della classe '68 — 4:22
- B-side: Centocinquanta stelle — 3:23
Certifications
- In Italy, the single was certified Platinum by FIMI (50,000 copies sold, certification figures noted from 2009).
This page was last edited on 1 February 2026, at 23:06 (CET).