Tributes pour in after death of great Rossi (64)
Italian went from outcast to national hero after inspiring World Cup ’82 joy
THE Italian Football Federation led the tributes to Italy’s former World Cup winner Paolo Rossi, who died yesterday aged 64. He had been ill for some time with cancer.
Former Juventus and AC Milan striker Rossi was instrumental in Italy’s World Cup triumph in 1982 as he finished the tournament as top goalscorer.
He is especially remembered for his hat-trick in a dramatic 3-2 group phase win over favourites Brazil that changed the course of the tournament and destination of the trophy.
His six goals in the last three games of the tournament also marked his redemption with the Italian football public and changed his life, from outcast to national hero.
He had been banned for three years in 1980 as part of the “Totonero” match-fixing scandal but always denied any wrongdoing.
The ban was later reduced to two years, allowing him to return to the Italy squad and carve out his slice of World Cup history at Spain ’82.
His selection was initially criticised by pundits, who wrote him off as out of shape, but they were left eating their words when he struck one of the World Cup’s great hat-tricks against Brazil.
Italy’s 3-2 victory in that classic encounter in the second group phase booked them a place in the semis against Poland, where Rossi again made the difference.
He sunk the Poles with a brace in a 2-0 win that fired his side into the World Cup decider against West Germany.
Rossi then scored Italy’s first in a 3-1 victory that gave them their third World Cup title and their first since 1938.
He won the Golden Boot as the top scorer and Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament, a campaign regarded as one of the best individual World Cup performances of all time.
FIGC pres i dent Gabriel e Gravina said in a statement on the governing body’s official website: “The disappearance of Pablito is another deep pain, a wound to the heart of all fans, difficult to heal.
“We lose a friend and an icon, who dragged the (1982 World Cup) national team to success with his goals. He took an entire country by the hand, which rejoiced in the streets, for him and with him.
“He has indissolubly linked his name to Azzurro and has inspired, with his style of play, many forwards of future generations.”
The FIGC confirmed
flags were at half mast at their headquarters in Allegri and technical centre in Coverciano.
His wife, Federica Cappelletti, shared a photo of the pair on Instagram with the caption “Per sempre” (“forever”).
Juventus said that Rossi would not only be remembered as a World Cup hero.
“He was the hero of an unforgettable World Cup for all of Italy, but for us he was much, much more,” the Serie A champions said on their official website.
“Paolo represents so much for an entire nation of Juventus fans who celebrated with him in front of their television sets, week after week after week.
“And though those television sets gradually began showing the action in colour, those special moments remained gloriously black and white for us.”
Former Germany and Bayern Munich manager Jurgen Klinsmann also paid his respects on Twitter, writing: “Dear Pablito, we always remember you!”
Former club Vicenza posted on Twitter: “Sometimes there are simply no words to express the pain we are all experiencing. Ciao Paolo.”
All last night’s Europa League matches were preceded by a moment of silence in tribute to Rossi.
He spent his entire club career in Italy, starting out at Vicenza before moving on to Juventus, with whom he won two Serie A titles and the 1984 European Cup. He also played for AC Milan and Verona.
Born in Prato, Tuscany, Rossi also scored three goals at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina.
With a total of nine goals, he remains Italy’s joint highest scorer at the World Cup alongside Roberto Baggio and Christian Vieri.
His death comes with the football world still in mourning for Argentina icon Diego Maradona, who passed away late last month.