Gigi Riva, the all-time best scorer of the Italian national team and the legendary striker crowned European champion in 1968, has died at the age of 79.
La Gazzetta dello Sport wrote on Monday afternoon that Riva collapsed at home on Sunday and was taken to hospital where he underwent some tests as he could undergo heart surgery in the next few days. His condition improved, but suddenly worsened again, resulting in his death.
Riva played the last 14 seasons of his career, from 1963 to 1978, in Ragnar Klavan’s former club Cagliari, where he scored a record 205 goals in 374 games. He played an important role in the 1969-70 season, when the club won the only Italian scudetto in its history. In 1987-88 Riva was president of Cagliari and since 2019 he has been honorary president of the same club.
Riva was also powerful in the national team, scoring 35 goals in 42 games. He represented the Italian national team in two World Cups and one European Championship. In the years 1988-2013 Riva was the coach of the Italian national team. He was also among the background forces at the 2006 World Cup, when Italy were crowned world champions.
2024-01-22 20:29:49
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