Italian football is mourning the loss of one of its former stars: Gigi Riva has died at the age of 79. The Italian football association FIGC announced this on Monday evening (January 22, 2024).
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
Minute of silence in all Italian leagues
“I am shocked and deeply saddened that Italian football is mourning the loss of a true national monument”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.
In the 1960s, the Italian was considered one of the best strikers 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.
World Cup 1970 – goalscorer in “Game of the Century”
In Germany he is best known for his goal in the “game of the century” at the 1970 World Cup semi-final in Mexico (4:3 nV) – on the German side, the recently deceased Franz Beckenbauer played with his arm in a sling.
Riva played early on at various amateur clubs. In 1963 he moved to the Sardinian club US Cagliari, for whom he was active as a professional for almost his entire career. At Cagliari, of which he was honorary president, he played 315 games and won the Scudetto in the 1969/1970 season.
After his playing career, he 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.