Nicknamed Ercolino Semprimpiedi ("Always-Standing Little Hercules"), a famous definition of Italian journalist Gianni Brera) he played for Verona, Lucchese and Brescia in Serie B, and Torino in Serie A.
He became however famous for his several striking mistakes which brought popular journalist Gianni Brera to nickname him "sciagurato Egidio" (Egidio the wretched), after a minor character from Alessandro Manzoni's novel The Betrothed.
In 1943 he married Rina Gramegna (teacher, 1920–2000) and had four sons: Franco (1944-1944), Carlo (painter, 1946–1994), Paolo (novelist, 1949-), Franco (musician, 1951-).
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The word libero for a player's particular role was created by Gianni Brera: famous nicknames of Italian players created by him included Abatino ("Little Abbot") for Gianni Rivera and Rombo di tuono ("Rolling Thunder") for Gigi Riva.
Nicknamed Il Rabdomante (the Diviner) by journalist Gianni Brera due to his skill for talent-spotting, he helped SPAL reach Serie A, well above the level expected from such a small club.
Gianni Schicchi | Gianni Alemanno | Gianni Agnelli | Gianni Rivera | Gianni Vattimo | Gianni Nicchi | Pinacoteca di Brera | Gianni Morandi | Gianni Brera | Gianni Riotta | Brera | Paolo Brera | Orto Botanico di Brera | Gianni Rodari | Gianni Paladini | Gianni Lancia | Gianni De Michelis | Gianni Cavina | ''Scenes from the Life of St Colomba: St Colomba Saved by a Bear'' by Giovanni Baronzio, Pinacoteca di Brera | Museo dell'Aeronautica Gianni Caproni | Gianni Raimondi | Gianni Petrucci | Gianni Nazzaro (''Canzonissima | Gianni Meccia | Gianni Letta | Gianni De Magistris | Gianni Cuperlo | Gianni Coscia | Gianni Caproni Museum of Aeronautics | Gianni Bugno |