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Gigi Riva (r.) in a duel with Berti Vogts
Photo:
dpa
Italian football is mourning the loss of one of its stars: Gigi Riva has died at the age of 79.
This was announced by the Italian football association FIGC.
According to consistent media reports, Riva had to be taken to a hospital in Cagliari on Sardinia in the past few days because of a heart attack.
He therefore died as a result.
"I am shocked and deeply saddened that Italian football is mourning the loss of a true national monument," said FIGC President Gabriele Gravina.
In his memory, a minute's silence will be observed before games in all leagues, which take place from Tuesday to the weekend.
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Gigi Riva in 2015
Photo:
Enrico Locci / AP
The Lombard native, who played almost his entire career for US Cagliari, was one of the world's best strikers in the 1960s and 1970s.
In Germany he is best known for his goal in the “game of the century” at the 1970 World Cup semi-final in Mexico (4:3 n.V.) – on the German side, the recently deceased Franz Beckenbauer played with his arm in a sling.
Luigi “Gigi” Riva was honorary president of US Cagliari.
He only needed 42 appearances for his 35 international goals.
He became European champion in 1968 and, after the “game of the century,” his team also reached the World Cup final in 1970, which Italy lost 4-1 to Brazil.
After his playing career, he became team manager of the national team and accompanied the Azzurri at six World Cups.
His greatest success in this position was Italy's World Cup victory in 2006. He lived in Sardinia until the end.
Former teammates paid tribute to the deceased as a “force of nature on the pitch,” as Roberto Boninsegna, also a goalscorer against Germany in 1970, put it.
Goalkeeper legend Dino Zoff said he was losing "a good friend, it's incredibly sad."
sol/dpa/sid