Former Italy striker Salvatore ‘Toto’ Schillaci has died on the age of 59.
Schillaci was the main scorer on the Italia 90 World Cup, along with his six objectives firing his nation to a third-place end and cementing his place as one in every of his era’s most beloved cult figures.
The previous Inter and Juventus striker had been recognized with colon most cancers in 2022 and was taken to a hospital in Palermo final week, with an announcement launched saying he was receiving therapy to stabilise his heartbeat.
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“He made a complete nation dream through the Magic Nights of Italia ‘90,” Inter mentioned in an announcement. “FC Internazionale Milan gathers across the Schillaci household for the passing of Totò.”
Schillaci had gone into the 1990 World Cup as a fringe participant for the Azzurri, competing with the likes of Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Mancini for a spot within the beginning XI, however after scoring the winner in Italy’s opener towards Switzerland stored his place within the group. The objectives stored coming as Italy went on to lose to defending champions Argentina within the semi-final earlier than Schillaci netted his sixth purpose of the event in a 2-1 win over England within the third-placed play-off.
Schillaci would add the Golden Ball award for the event’s greatest participant to his Golden Boot and he completed second within the 1990 Ballon d’Or voting, behind Germany skipper Lothar Matthaus.
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Born in Palermo, Schillaci started his senior profession with Sicilian facet Messina, ending the 1988/89 season as the highest scorer in Serie B, earlier than signing for Juventus that summer season. His 21 objectives within the 1989/90 season noticed him earn a spot within the Italia 90 World Cup squad.
That event would show to be the excessive level of Schillaci’s profession, as accidents hampered his progress, that means he would web solely 15 objectives over the following two seasons at Juventus earlier than shifting to Inter in 1992.
After two years on the San Siro, Schillaci moved to Japanese facet Jubilo Iwata, the place he spent three prolific seasons and have become the primary Italian participant to play in after which win the J.League, as he bowed out with a title win in 1997, earlier than saying his retirement in 1999.
After hanging up his boots he opened a youth soccer academy again in Palermo. He was sadly recognized with colon most cancers two years in the past and leaves behind three kids: Jessica, Mattia and Nicole.
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