The forward of the Italy national football team Salvatore ‘Toto’ Schillaci, which had a lot of prominence in the 1990 World Cupdied at the age of 59, announced this Wednesday the Italian Federation (FIGC).
“Toto Schillaci, player-symbol of the World Cup-1990 in Italypassed away this Wednesday at the age of 59,” the organization said in a statement, in which it specified that a minute of silence will be observed in his memory in all matches played in the country from this Wednesday to next Sunday.
“He made an entire country dream during the magical nights of World Cup-1990. He Inter Milan is with the family Schillaci after the disappearance of Toto“said the reigning Italian champions, the club for which the striker played between 1992 and 1994.
“Their goal celebrations, which became a symbol of collective joy, will forever remain part of the legacy of Italian football,” added the president of the FIGC Gabriele Gravina.
Grief in Italian football: Toto Schillaci, hero of the 1990 World Cup, dies
Schillaci He had been suffering from colon cancer for several months and was hospitalized in intensive care last week. According to the Italian press, the former footballer died in Palermo Civic Hospital.
In addition to the Inter and after training and making his debut as a professional in the Messinaon his native island of Sicily, Schillaci wore the shirt of the Juventus from 1989 to 1992.
“At Juve we were lucky enough to be moved by him before, in that incredible summer of 1990, all of Italy did so, delighted by his wonderful and energetic celebrations,” recalled the Piedmontese club, with whom Schillaci won the UEFA Cup in 1990.
He lived his moment of glory in the World Cup held in Italy, where he finished as top scorer with six goals that led to the ‘Blue Squad’ to the semi-finals of the tournament, where they lost on penalties (1-1 after extra time, 4-3 on penalties) to Argentina. Diego Maradona.
In that match, Schillaci He opened the scoring in the 17th minute. He wore the ‘azzurri’ shirt on 16 occasions, scoring seven goals.
He finished his sporting career in 1997 playing in the Japanese championship. After his retirement, he returned to Sicily and created a football school in Palermo.
In 2004, she appeared on a reality show and recently appeared on another show, where she revealed that she was suffering from cancer.
Source: Ambito
