Salvatore Schillaci

Salvatore Schillaci (; 1 December 1964 – 18 September 2024), also known as Totò Schillaci, was an Italian professional footballer who played as a striker. During his club career, he played for Messina (1982–1989), Juventus (1989–1992), Internazionale (1992–1994) and Júbilo Iwata (1994–1997).

At the international level, Schillaci was the surprise star of the 1990 FIFA World Cup, as he helped Italy to a third-place finish on home soil. Coming on as substitute in Italy's first game, Schillaci went on to score six goals throughout the World Cup, claiming the Golden Boot as the leading goalscorer, That year he also placed second in the 1990 Ballon d'Or, behind Matthäus. from a poor family, Schillaci started to play for an amateur team of his native city, Amat Palermo, the football team of the local bus company bearing the same name. He then signed in 1982 for the Sicilian club Messina, where he played until 1989 and showed his goal-scoring abilities, most notably winning the Serie B top-scorer award during the 1988–89 Serie B season, with 23 goals. He then joined Turin club Juventus, and made his debut in Serie A on 27 August 1989. Juventus, the "Old Lady" of Italian football, was at the time suffering from the breakup of the wonder team which dominated Italian football in the 1980s, under manager Giovanni Trapattoni; Schillaci's arrival coincided with a return to form under the direction of former legendary Juventus goalkeeper Dino Zoff. He featured prominently for the Turinese club that season, scoring 15 league goals and 21 in all competitions in a very positive year, which ended with Juventus winning both the 1989–90 Coppa Italia and the UEFA Cup titles. Due to his clever, inventive, and aggressive attacking style, he was then selected by head coach of Italy, Azeglio Vicini, to play in the 1990 FIFA World Cup, to be hosted by Italy itself, despite being a novice in the arena of national team competitions. Schillaci ultimately fell short of the expectations of the Inter fans, as well as those of Juventus, mainly because of the physical troubles which he suffered after the 1990 campaign. In 1994, he joined Japanese club Júbilo Iwata, becoming the first Italian player to play in the J.League, and he won the J.League Division 1 title with the club in 1997. He retired in 1999. He was subsequently called up for Italy's squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup that was played on home soil.

At the 1990 FIFA World Cup, Schillaci replaced Andrea Carnevale during Italy's first match against Austria. He scored as the match ended with a 1–0 win for Italy. Against Czechoslovakia, alongside Roberto Baggio. Italy won 2–0, with Baggio and Schillaci both scoring. Schillaci started alongside Baggio in Italy's next two matches of the knock-out stages, also opening the scoring in the round of 16 and quarter-finals, against Uruguay and the Republic of Ireland respectively, and set up Aldo Serena's goal against Uruguay.

For the semi-final match against defending champions Argentina, Gianluca Vialli replaced Baggio in the starting line-up, whereas Schillaci kept his place in the team. The match ended 1–1, with Schillaci scoring his fifth goal of the tournament, but Italy were eliminated after a penalty shoot-out, in which he refused to take a penalty, citing injury as his reason. and won the Golden Boot,

Style of play Schillaci was a small, quick, agile, and mobile striker, with an eye for the goal, and solid technique. A prolific, reliable, and opportunistic goalscorer, Schillaci was known in particular for his anticipation, reactions, and his excellent positional sense, which, along with his acceleration, enabled him to make attacking runs to beat opponents to the ball in the area, giving him the reputation for frequently being "in the right place at the right time". He was capable of finishing well both inside and outside the area, as well as from volleys, with powerful strikes, and was capable of scoring with his head as well as with his feet, despite not being particularly imposing in the air; he was also accurate on set pieces and effective on penalties. Although he was primarily known for his selfish and instinctive style of play, he was also capable of linking-up with and playing off of his team-mates, despite not being a particularly notable passer. Due to his goalscoring exploits, his former Messina manager Francesco Scoglio described him by saying he had "never seen a player who wanted to score as much as him."

Retirement Schillaci retired in 1999. He returned to his native Palermo, where he owned a youth academy of football. Former South Africa national team captain Steven Pienaar is nicknamed Schillo after Schillaci.

Personal life and death Schillaci's nephew Francesco Di Mariano and cousin Antonio Maurizio Schillaci have also played professional football. He married twice and had three children. He considered himself Catholic.

Schillaci was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022. In September 2024, he was hospitalised with an atrial arrhythmia. Schillaci died on the morning of 18 September 2024, at the age of 59. Inter Milan led the tributes to Schillaci, stating: "He made an entire nation dream during the Magic Nights of Italia 90".

Career statistics Club

International

Scores and results list Italy's goal tally first. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 9 June 1990 Stadio Olimpico, Rome 1–0 1–0 1990 FIFA World Cup 2 19 June 1990 Stadio Olimpico, Rome 1–0 2–0 1990 FIFA World Cup 3 25 June 1990 Stadio Olimpico, Rome 1–0 2–0 1990 FIFA World Cup 4 30 June 1990 Stadio Olimpico, Rome 1–0 1–0 1990 FIFA World Cup 5 3 July 1990 Stadio San Paolo, Naples 1–0 1990 FIFA World Cup 6 7 July 1990 Stadio San Nicola, Bari 2–1 2–1 1990 FIFA World Cup 7 5 June 1991 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo 1–2 1–2 UEFA Euro 1992 qualifier

Honours Messina Serie C1: 1985–86 Serie C2: 1982–83 UEFA Cup: 1989–90

Internazionale UEFA Cup: 1993–94

Individual Serie B top-scorer: 1988–89 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot: 1990 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1990 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1990 Ballon d'Or second place: 1990 Onze d'Argent: 1990

Orders