Italy has lost one of its footballing icons, Salvatore ‘Toto’ Schillaci, who passed away at the age of 59. Schillaci, best known for his extraordinary performance during the 1990 World Cup, captured the hearts of a nation.
Born in Palermo on 1st December 1964, Schillaci’s professional football career began in Sicily with Messina, where he played from 1982 to 1989. His impressive goal-scoring ability caught the eye of Juventus, and in 1989 he made the move to Turin. It was during his time at Juventus that Schillaci was called up to the Italian national team for the 1990 World Cup.
Schillaci entered the tournament as a relatively unknown forward, but his six goals propelled Italy to the semi-finals, and he was awarded both the Golden Boot and the FIFA World Cup Silver Ball. His ability to change games with his electrifying pace and eye for goal brought hope to the nation as Italy played on home soil. The image of Schillaci, eyes wide and fists clenched, celebrating his goals became one of the lasting symbols of that summer.
Following his World Cup triumph, Schillaci continued his career at Juventus, where he made 90 appearances and scored 26 goals. In 1992, he transferred to Inter Milan, spending two seasons with the Nerazzurri and adding to his reputation as a skilled and passionate forward. He made 30 appearances and netted 11 goals for the club.
Schillaci then ventured abroad in 1994, signing with Japanese side Júbilo Iwata, a move that saw him become one of the first Italian players to embrace football in Japan. He played for the team until his retirement in 1997, helping to raise the profile of the J-League in its early years.
After football
After hanging up his boots, Schillaci remained a beloved figure in Italian football, regularly appearing on television and staying connected with the sport.
In 2022, he was diagnosed with colon cancer.
Salvatore Schillaci is survived by his wife and children.
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni on the death of Toto Schillachi: “A football icon leaves us, a man who entered the hearts of Italians and sports lovers around the world.
“Salvatore Schillaci, known to all as Toto, the bomber of the magical nights of Italia ’90 with our national team. Thank you for the emotions you gave us, for making us dream, cheer, hug and wave our Tricolore. Have a good trip, champion.”
His legacy in football, particularly his magical 1990 World Cup performance, will live on. For Italians, Schillaci will forever be the face of a summer when dreams soared, and football ignited the hearts of millions.
Tributes from Italian Football
Serie A president Lorenzo Casini: “The Lega Serie A and all its clubs join the family and the entire Italian football and fan community in their condolences for the passing of Salvatore ‘Toto’ Schillaci.
“Schillaci was a champion, who lit up the ‘magical nights’ of the 1990 World Cup in Italy, also winning the titles of top scorer and best player of the competition.
“His desire to emerge and reach the highest levels of football has been and will continue to be a source of inspiration for the many young people who chase the dream of playing in Serie A.”
In a club statement, Juventus, who Toto Schillachi played for from 1989-1992 said: “We immediately fell in love with Toto.
“His desire, his story, his being so wonderfully passionate, and it showed in every game he played.
“We at Juve were lucky enough to get excited about him before, in that incredible summer of 1990, the whole of Italy did, captivated by those wonderfully energetic celebrations of his.
“Because Toto arrived at Juve in 1989, and in that season he scored 15 goals in the league, four in the UEFA Cup and two in the Coppa Italia. Numbers that earned him the Azzurri shirt in the Italian World Cup, which – also thanks to him – became what we all remember as those ‘Magical Nights’.
“Top scorer in the competition and, with the national team, third, for an immense collective dream only stopped by those penalty kicks in Naples.
“His Juventus story went on for another two years, until 1992, making 132 appearances and scoring 36 goals – thirty-six of those magnificent strikes that we now watch over with a lump in our throats.
“Ciao, Toto. Thank you.”
