Totò Schillaci didn’t make it. The champion of Italia ’90 was unable to win his last match against colon cancer, for which he had already undergone two operations. The former Italian striker died at the Civico hospital in Palermo, at the age of 59.
Totò Schillaci, from his beginnings to the explosion of the champion
He was born in Palermo in 1964. He made his debut in football with Messina in 1982, when he was almost 18 years old. Totò Schillaci immediately distinguished himself, leading the Sicilians to promotion to Serie B. In the second division, a few years later, he was top scorer under the guidance of mister Zdenek Zeman. And there, in the ’88-’89 season, he arrived at the football that counts wearing the Juventus jersey. With the black and white club he immediately reached the title of top scorer, winning the Italian Cup and the UEFA Cup.
Totò Schillaci idol of Italy ’90
Coach Azeglio Vicino called him up for the 90 World Cup in Italy. His debut came against Austria, when a few minutes after coming on to the field, replacing Carnevale, he scored the header that led the Azzurri to victory. Schillaci, who became a regular alongside Roberto Baggio, scored in all subsequent games. Vicini’s national team came third in that edition of the World Cup, eliminated in Naples in the semifinal by Maradona’s Argentina. Schillaci, however, won the titles of top scorer and best player of the competition. His haunted eyes when he scored remain unforgettable.
The move to Inter, then the end of his career
Schillaci remained with the Bianconeri until 1992, later moving to Inter, winners of the UEFA Cup in 1994. Then, he moved to Japan to Júbilo Iwata where he became the first Italian footballer to play in the Japanese championship, until his retirement from football.
The world of TV
In 2004 Schillaci took part in the reality show “L’isola dei famosi” and in 2008 he took part in the film “Amori bugie e calcetto” together with other former footballers. In 2011 he played the role of a mafia boss in an episode of “Squadra antimafia – Palermo oggi”. The following year he made a cameo in an episode of the series “Benvenuti a tavola – Nord vs Sud”. In 2021 he took part as a competitor in the television program “Back to School”, in 2023 together with his wife Barbara, he reached the semifinals in the reality show “Pechino Express”.
The Dark Evil, Farewell to the Champion of Magical Nights
He had been fighting against a dark disease for years. Two years ago it seemed to have been defeated but the sudden worsening of the situation led to the death of one of the protagonists of Notti Magiche. The former footballer had been hospitalized in serious conditions last September 7 in the pneumology department of the Civico hospital in Palermo.
A minute of silence in all football fields
To remember Totò Schillaci, a minute’s silence will be observed before all championship matches scheduled from today until next weekend.
