Cagliari legend
©IMAGO
Italian football is mourning the loss of one of its biggest stars: Luigi Riva has died at the age of 79. The Italian association FIGC announced this on Monday evening. According to consistent media reports, Riva had to be taken to a hospital in Cagliari on Sardinia in the past few days because of a heart attack. He therefore died as a result.
“I am shocked and deeply saddened that Italian football is mourning a true national monument that has passed away,” said FIGC President Gabriele Gravina. In his memory, a minute’s silence will be observed before games in all leagues, which take place from Tuesday to the weekend.
Gigi Riva is considered a football icon in Italy. In the 1960s, the Italian was one of the best strikers in the world and played for the national team for nine years. He scored 35 goals in 42 international matches, making him his country’s record goalscorer. In 1968 he became European champion and at the 1970 World Cup he scored a goal in the semi-final against Germany. Italy made it to the final, where they lost to Brazil and became runners-up.
Riva, who was born in Leggiuno on Lake Maggiore, began his career in 1961 at Legnano AC. In 1963 he moved to the Sardinian club US Cagliari, for which he played almost his entire professional career. At Cagliari, of which he was honorary president, he played 315 games and won the Scudetto in the 1969/1970 season. The number eleven, which he wore as a player, has not been given out since 2005. After his playing career, Riva became team manager of the national team and accompanied the Azzurri at six World Cups. His greatest success in this position was Italy’s World Cup victory in 2006. He lived in Sardinia until the end.
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