The death of footballer “Toto” Schilacci, the unlikely hero of the 1990 World Cup who “reunited Italy” – Libération

2024-09-18 14:21:00

His career was that of a shooting star, but he has kept a special place in the hearts of Italians: the top scorer of the 1990 World Cup has died at the age of 59, the Italian Football Federation announced today.

“Toto” the hero is missing. When he arrived from nowhere to sleep in the World Cup organized by Italy thirty-four years ago only to leave as soon as the noise was over, Salvatore Schillaci‚ “song-symbol of World Cup 1990», died at the age of 59 in Palermo, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced on Thursday, September 18. The former player announced last year that he was suffering from skin cancer and had been hospitalized in intensive care since last week.

We return to the story of Toto, a pure Sicilian and a pocket size for a pedestrian (1.73 m), who carries his resources as a pedestrian in his face and in his appearance. terror (“earthy-ass”) as the Italians of the North despised their counterparts from the deep south. Among the first, the supporters of Juventus in Turin, where he arrived in 1989, were quick to mock his close expression before succumbing to the man’s leadership and simplicity.

Schilacci, however, is not a child of the world but of the mixed, of the working-class neighborhood of Palermo where he was born. Among the Schillacis, we do not roll on the lire, Salvatore multiplying odd jobs while showing, on the field balls, a desire and anger to score which impressed all the coaches he met. From the car factory of the city of Palermo, he moved to Messina, which he took from the 4th to the 2nd division then to Juventus, with whom he had a successful 1989-1990 season: Italian Cup, UEFA Cup, 21 objectives.

“My work, in a way, lasts three weeks”

It was not enough to give him the confidence to close the door of Nazionale, who were preparing to play the 1990 World Cup at home, with a cheek. He was called at the last minute by coach Azeglio Vicini. YOU HAVE groupin 2014, he said: “He was an incredible newsman. I called my parents Palermo, it’s beautiful. I was happy to be there, even if I had no tricks. I said to myself: “At least you will be in the stands, you will be able to watch the matches up close.” Holding, on the other hand, is impossible.

Replace during the first match, it is and score. In grace mode, he will no longer leave the side and kill the pawns. He scored the fifth goal in Italy’s defeat against Argentina’s Maradona (1-2) and the sixth against England in the match for third place (1-1, 4 tab to 3). Six goals that make him the best scorer in this World Cup. Six wins he celebrated by going across the field with an aerial view, which will be remembered as his ability to rise above the defenders. Six goals that terminate the symbolic border between the North and the South of Italy: “I have rebuilt Italy”he even said during the competition.

After the World Cup, he played eight times for the national team (the last in September 1991), scoring once. After two unsuccessful seasons at Juventus and then at Inter, he was the first Italian player to sign a golden contract for Japan before returning to Palermo in 2000 to oversee a football academy. “My work, in a way, lasts three weeks. But I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world for the titles. “he said. Toto Schillaci did not ride the wave of sporting success but the enchanted interlude of the summer of 1990 reserved a special place in the hearts of Italians for this man with an interesting personality, who is also seen in the a transalpine tribe of Celebrity Island or Beijing Express.