Italian football is mourning the death at the age of 79 of Luigi “Gigi” Rivawho had been admitted to the Brotzu Hospital in Cagliari after suffering a heart attack.
RivaEuropean champion with the blue In 1968, he remained in stable condition, but had to undergo heart surgery after having suffered a decompensation at home.
The former attacker, known as Thunderclaphad been interned in Cardiology at the Brotzu hospital in Cagliariwhere he had undergone medical studies after the discomfort he had previously felt.
Given this scenario, the hashtag had been registered on social networks Gigi Force to support Riva, honorary president of Cagliari since 2019, club he led to win the Scudetto from Serie A 1969-70.
Riva, who was also president of the Cagliari in 1986, he remains the top scorer of the italian team, with 35 goals in 42 games who played with the Azzurra. With the Italian national team he also played in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, where he reached the final, but lost to Brazil.
He was wanderingas they called him in Cagliari, arrived in 1963 from Legnano to the club in the city of the island of Sardinia, where he remained until 1976.
“Here, since I practically have no family, I found many”Riva told someone who asked him the reason for his stay in Cagliari, the club where he decided to retire at the age of 32.
In addition to being revered by the fans of Red Bluethe former forward immediately became an idol of the Italian National Team, where the fans They praised him for his high-profile goals and his constant generosity.
Among the 35 goals he scored for Italy, the one that led the way in the 2-0 victory against Yugoslavia stands out especially, which meant the crowning of the Azzurra in the final of the Euro 68′.
In addition, he was the top scorer in Serie A in three editions: 1966/1967 with 18 goals, 20 goals in the 1968-69 season and 21 goals in the 1969-70 season.
Gigi had an outstanding level in “Calcio”, which allowed him to be considered a candidate for the Ballon d’Orbut finished second (1969) and third (1970) in the final votes, although at that time only European footballers who played for teams from the Old Continent stood out.
After his retirement, the Italian striker had the pleasure of being in charge of the Italian National Team delegation that won the 2006 World Cup in Germany, which meant the fourth star for the team. Blue.
Tribute with controversy during the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia
A large part of the Saudi fans present at the Al-Awwal Park stadium in Riyadh, where the Italian Super Cup final between Inter and Napoli is being played, whistled during the minute of silence for the death of the Italian legend.
Riva’s death was announced shortly before the start of the match, so there was no time to organize the minute of silence before kick-off.
Instead, it was done just before the start of the second act and while both teams were completely silent on the field, the Saudi fans began to whistle, interrupting the emotional moment.
The players and few Italian fans responded with applause and chants in favor of the legendary striker.