Salvatore Schillaci

Salvatore Schillaci
OMRI

Schillaci in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Salvatore Schillaci[1]
Date of birth	(1964-12-01)1 December 1964[2]
Place of birth	Palermo, Italy
Date of death	18 September 2024(2024-09-18) (aged 59)
Place of death	Palermo, Italy
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
1981	AMAT Palermo
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1982–1989	Messina	219	(61)
1989–1992	Juventus	90	(26)
1992–1994	Internazionale	30	(11)
1994–1997	Júbilo Iwata	78	(56)
Total		417	(154)
International career
1989	Italy U21	1	(0)
1989	Italy B[3]	1	(0)
1990–1991	Italy	16	(7)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Italy FIFA World Cup 1990 Italy
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Salvatore Schillaci OMRI (Italian: [salvaˈtoːre skilˈlaːtʃi]; 1 December 1964 – 18 September 2024), commonly known as Totò Schillaci,^[4][5] 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).^[6]

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,^[7] and received the Golden Ball as player of the tournament^[8] ahead of Lothar Matthäus and Diego Maradona, who placed second and third respectively.^[9] That year he also placed second in the 1990 Ballon d'Or, behind Matthäus.^[6]

Club career

Born on 1 December 1964 in Palermo, Italy,^[2] 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.^[10] 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.^[11] 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.^[4][6][10]

After the end of the 1990 World Cup, Schillaci played two more years for Juventus, alongside his Italy attacking team-mate Roberto Baggio, before joining Internazionale.^[12] 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.^[4][13] He retired in 1999.^[10]

International career

Having represented Italy U21, on 31 March 1990, Schillaci made his senior international debut for Italy under manager Azeglio Vicini in a 1–0 friendly away victory over Switzerland, in Basel.^[14] He was subsequently called up for Italy's squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup that was played on home soil.^[15]

At the 1990 FIFA World Cup, Schillaci replaced Andrea Carnevale during Italy's first match against Austria.^[16] He scored the decisive goal as the match ended with a 1–0 win for Italy.^[17] Against Czechoslovakia, alongside Roberto Baggio. Italy won 2–0, with Baggio and Schillaci both scoring.^[18] 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^[19] and the Republic of Ireland respectively,^[20] and set up Aldo Serena's goal against Uruguay.^[21]

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.^[10]

After setting up Baggio's opening goal, Schillaci scored the winning goal in Italy's 2–1 win in the third-place match against England from a penalty,^[22] and won the Golden Boot,^[7] with six goals, as well as the Golden Ball Award for the best player of the tournament.^[8] Overall, he scored seven goals in sixteen caps for Italy between 1990 and 1991, scoring his only other goal for Italy in a 2–1 defeat away against Norway, in 1991, in a UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying match.^[23]

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".^[24] 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."^{[4][6][25][26][27][28][29]}

Retirement

Schillaci retired in 1999. He returned to his native Palermo, where he owned a youth academy of football.^[10]

He appeared as a guest on Craig Doyle Live during UEFA Euro 2012.^[30] Former South Africa national team captain Steven Pienaar is nicknamed Schillo after Schillaci.^[31][32]

Personal life and death

Schillaci's nephew Francesco Di Mariano and cousin Antonio Maurizio Schillaci have also played professional football.^[33][34] He married twice and had three children.^[35] He considered himself Roman Catholic.^{[36][clarification needed]}

Schillaci was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022. In September 2024, he was hospitalised with an atrial arrhythmia.^[37] Schillaci died on the morning of 18 September 2024, at the age of 59.^[38] Inter Milan led the tributes to Schillaci stating "He made an entire nation dream during the Magic Nights of Italia 90".^[39]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Messina	1982–83	Serie C2	26	3	—		—		—		26	3
	1983–84	Serie C1	26	4	—		—		—		26	4
	1984–85	Serie C1	31	4	—		—		—		31	4
	1985–86	Serie C1	31	11	6	1	—		—		37	12
	1986–87	Serie B	33	3	3	2	—		—		36	5
	1987–88	Serie B	37	13	5	2	—		—		42	15
	1988–89	Serie B	35	23	4	2	—		—		39	25
	Total		219	61	18	7	—		—		237	68
Juventus	1989–90	Serie A	30	15	8	2	12	4	—		50	21
	1990–91	Serie A	29	5	5	0	7	3	1	0	42	8
	1991–92	Serie A	31	6	9	1	—		—		40	7
	Total		90	26	22	3	19	7	1	0	132	36
Inter Milan	1992–93	Serie A	21	6	2	1	—		—		23	7
	1993–94	Serie A	9	5	1	0	3	0	—		13	5
	Total		30	11	3	1	3	0	—		36	12
Júbilo Iwata	1994	J1 League	18	9	1	0	4	5	—		23	14
	1995	J1 League	34	31	0	0	—		—		34	31
	1996	J1 League	23	15	0	0	8	3	—		31	18
	1997	J1 League	3	1	0	0	2	1	—		5	2
	Total		78	56	1	0	14	9	—		93	65
Career total			417	154	44	11	36	16	1	0	498	181

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year^[40]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Italy	1990	12	6
	1991	4	1
Total		16	7

Scores and results list Italy's goal tally first.

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	9 June 1990	Stadio Olimpico, Rome	Austria	1–0	1–0	1990 FIFA World Cup
2	19 June 1990	Stadio Olimpico, Rome	Czechoslovakia	1–0	2–0	1990 FIFA World Cup
3	25 June 1990	Stadio Olimpico, Rome	Uruguay	1–0	2–0	1990 FIFA World Cup
4	30 June 1990	Stadio Olimpico, Rome	Republic of Ireland	1–0	1–0	1990 FIFA World Cup
5	3 July 1990	Stadio San Paolo, Naples	Argentina	1–0	1–1 (aet, 3–4 pen.)	1990 FIFA World Cup
6	7 July 1990	Stadio San Nicola, Bari	England	2–1	2–1	1990 FIFA World Cup
7	5 June 1991	Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo	Norway	1–2	1–2	UEFA Euro 1992 qualifier

Honours

Messina

• Serie C1: 1985–86^[41]
• Serie C2: 1982–83^[41]

Juventus

• Coppa Italia: 1989–90^[42]
• UEFA Cup: 1989–90^[43][44]

Internazionale

• UEFA Cup: 1993–94^[42]

Júbilo Iwata

• J.League: 1997^[42]

Italy

• FIFA World Cup third place: 1990^[45]

Individual

• Serie B top-scorer: 1988–89^[46]
• FIFA World Cup Golden Boot: 1990^[7]
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1990^[8]
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1990^[47]
• Ballon d'Or second place: 1990^[48]
• Onze d'Argent: 1990^[49]

Orders

5th Class / Knight: Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 1991^[50]

References

1. "Schillaci Sig. Salvatore" [Schillaci Mr. Salvatore]. Quirinale (in Italian). Presidenza della Repubblica Italiana. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
2. "Salvatore Schillaci". FBref.com.
3. Courtney, Barrie (22 May 2014). "England – International Results B-Team – Details". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
4. Bedeschi, Stefano (1 December 2013). "Gli eroi in bianconero: Salvatore SCHILLACI" (in Italian). Tutto Juve. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
5. "Salvatore Schillaci: A story that will burn forever in memory of those who experienced it". BBC Sport. 18 September 2024.
6. "Salvatore Schillaci". Retrieved 12 November 2014.
7. "World Cup 1990 – Scorers' list". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
8. Pierrend, José Luis (12 February 2015). "FIFA Awards: FIFA World Cup Golden Ball Awards". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
9. Salvatore Schillaci Statistics FIFA. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
10. Clemente Angelo Lisi (2011). "A History of the World Cup, 1930–2010". p. 220. Scarecrow Press, 2011.
11. "Ciao Totò Schillaci, the wide-eyed dreamer who stole Italian hearts". Guardian. 19 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
12. "e' ufficiale: Schillaci all' Inter per 9 miliardi". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 26 June 1992. p. 1. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011.
13. "Schillaci, Accoglienza Da Star in Giappone – La Repubblica". Ricerca.repubblica.it (in Italian). 15 April 1994.
14. "31 Marzo 1990, la prima "notte magica" di Schillaci: l'esordio con l'Italia" [31 March 1990, Schillaci's first "magical night": his debut with Italy]. TuttoSport (in Italian). 31 March 2020.
15. McNulty, Phil (18 September 2024). "'Schillaci's story will burn forever in memory of all who experienced it'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
16. Vecsey, George. "Italy Edges Austria". New York Times. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
17. McNulty, Phil (18 September 2024). "'Schillaci's story will burn forever in memory of all who experienced it'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
18. "Italia 2–0 Cecoslovacchia: E lo Stadio urlò: è nato il genio che ci farà felici". Storie di Calcio (in Italian). Retrieved 26 June 2014.
19. "Italia 2–0 Uruguay: Un Serena per amico". Storie di Calcio (in Italian). Retrieved 26 June 2014.
20. "Italia 1–0 Eire: Schillaci ci prende gusto". Storie di Calcio (in Italian). Retrieved 26 June 2014.
21. "Italy Reaches Semifinals". The New York Times. 1 July 1990. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
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24. Horncastle, James (30 May 2014). "World Cup 2014: Ciro Immobile is primed and ready to be Italy's new Toto Schillaci". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
25. "Salvatore SCHILLACI". Il Pallone Racconta (in Italian). 1 December 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
26. O'Callaghan, Eoin (19 June 2015). "'Don't wake me up, let me enjoy the dream': The eternal sadness of Toto Schillaci". The 42. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
27. "Totò Schillaci" (in Italian). 12 August 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
28. Hunt, Chris (4 June 2014). "Salvatore Schillaci on Italia 90: 'When Italy went out I spent two hours smoking and crying'". Four Four Two. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
29. Badolato, Franco (6 January 1994). "Lo zar: di Van Basten ce n'è uno". La Stampa (in Italian). p. 26. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
30. "Schillaci set to join Craig Doyle tonight". RTÉ. 8 June 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
31. Landheer, Ernest (11 June 2008). "Pienaar: "South Africa Must Create A Family Unit"". mtnfootball.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
32. Hawkey, Ian (19 April 2009). "Steven Pienaar: mother's pride". The Times. London. Retrieved 7 May 2010.^{[dead link‍]}(subscription required)
33. "Semi-finalist profile: Roma". 8 April 2015.
34. "Salvatore Schillaci cousin became a beggar – both have major health problems". Tribuna.com. 14 September 2024.
35. "Totò Schillaci: età, moglie, figli e carriera dell'ex calciatore". tag24.it (in Italian). 5 March 2023.
36. Giordano, Lucio (11 August 2023). "Ho ricominciato a credere in Dio quando ho avuto paura di morire". Dipiù (in Italian). No. 32. pp. 86–89.
37. "Italy great Schillaci hospitalized in Palermo". TSN.ca. 10 September 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
38. "Salvatore Schillaci: Italy's World Cup icon dies aged 59". BBC Sport. 18 September 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
39. "Totò Schillaci, Italy's goalscoring hero of 1990 World Cup, dies aged 59". The Guardian. 18 September 2024. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
40. Salvatore Schillaci at National-Football-Teams.com
41. Bertè, Fabrizio (19 September 2024). "Messina ricorda il suo idolo: "Totò Schillaci adesso sorride lassù con il professore Scoglio"". la Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 20 September 2024.
42. "Totò Schillaci". Eurosport. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
43. "UEFA Cup: All-time finals". Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 12 April 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
44. The European Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (1958–1971) was a football tournament organized by foreign trade fairs in European seven cities (London, Barcelona, Copenhagen, and others) played by professional and—in its first editions—amateur clubs. Along these lines, that competition is not recognised by the Union of European Football Associations as an UEFA club competition; cf. "UEFA Europa League: History". Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
45. "World Cup 1990 – Third Place Match". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
46. "Italy – Serie B Top Scorers". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
47. "FIFA World Cup Awards: All-Star Team". Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
48. Moore, Rob; Stokkermans, Karel (21 January 2011). "European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or")". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
49. Pierrend, José Luis (6 March 2012). ""Onze Mondial" Awards: Onze de Onze 1976–2011". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
50. "Onoreficenze". quirinale.it (in Italian). 30 September 1991. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015.

External links

• Salvatore Schillaci at IMDb
• Salvatore Schillaci at National-Football-Teams.com
• Salvatore Schillaci at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)