The death of Salvatore Schillaci on Wednesday evening sparked a wave of reactions in the world of football; from organizations such as the FIFA and the UEFA Even friends of the striker, such as Rubén Sosa, regretted his death.
FIFA and UEFA have highlighted the magical nights of the 1990 World Cup in Italy, which were dominated by “Toto”, whom they described as “a great king who came from the people” and as an “icon” of football.
“Those magical nights of Italy 90. The expression in the eyes after scoring. Sprinting with arms raised high. That spring that defined a career, from Palermo to eternity. Dear Totò Schillaci, you were a great king who came from the people and you kept the common touch despite your greatness“, wrote FIFA President Gianni Infantino on social media.
The governing body of world football also published an article remembering the extraordinary player, who among many other things is remembered as the top scorer at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
UEFA also expressed its regret at the unfortunate incident, thanking the 1990 Europa League champion for his legacy with Juventus.
“A football icon has left us, a man who entered the hearts of Italians and sports fans around the world.. Thank you for the emotions you gave us, for making us dream, rejoice, hug each other and wave our flags. Have a good trip, champion,” UEFA added.
The clubs where he played also sent their condolences, with Inter Milan and Juventus being the most recognised.
“You made an entire nation dream during the ‘Magical Nights’ of Italy 90″Inter Milan sends its condolences to the Schillaci family on the passing of Totò,” the Nerazzurri club posted.
You made an entire nation dream during the ‘Notti Magiche’ of Italy ’90 🇮🇹💙
FC Internazionale Milano sends its condolences to the Schillaci family on the passing of Totò.#FCIM pic.twitter.com/63lXdpn8cX
— Inter (@Inter_es) September 18, 2024
Meanwhile, “The Old Lady”, with whom Schillaci won an Italian Cup and the UEFA Europa League, said goodbye to the player recalling those famous and impressive “magic nights of Italia 90” of which he was the protagonist.
“We fell in love with Toto, with his desire, with his story, with his passionate being, and it was demonstrated in every game he played.At Juve we were lucky enough to be moved by him before the whole of Italy did in that incredible summer of 1990.delighted by their wonderful and energetic celebrations.
Evidently, the Italian national team He did not ignore the death and said goodbye to the player who lived his best moment with the Azzurri squad in the last World Cup they held at home.
“Goodbye, ‘Totò’. Hero of the Magical Nights“, wrote the tricolor team.
Rubén Sosa says goodbye to his accomplice at Inter
Finally, the charrúa Rubén Sosa, his partner and accomplice in the Inter Milan attack During the 1992-93 season, he remembered the player and said goodbye to him with very emotional words.
“We had our house very close, we both lived in Como. Every now and then I would pick him up and we would go to training. Afterwards he would pick me up. We became very good friends. A good guy, a happy guy. I have very nice memories of him.(…) We were both playing up front and we had Dennis Bergkamp behind us,” said the former Nerazzurri player in an interview with the EFE agency.
“For me he was a Goal Man. He didn’t have much technique, but he was a goalscorer (…) ‘Totò’ Schillaci had the goal between his eyebrows”The Goal Man,” Sosa emphasized.
He has an indelible memory of the 1990 World Cup in Italy, in which Uruguay and Argentina were rivals, because it was the one in which the Italian made an entire nation dream and scored tirelessly. Uruguay did not escape and was also its victim.
“‘Totò’ started as a substitute and then, when he came on, he was the top scorer in the World Cup. That was his great World Cup. He scored goals of all kinds,” he said.
What did Schillaci die of?
The former footballer born in Palermo had been admitted to the Civic Hospital of the Sicilian capital since September 9, after A two-year battle against colon cancerHis condition worsened on Tuesday night and his death was confirmed on Wednesday.
*With information from EFE.
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