Fri Sep 20 12:34:32 UTC 2024: ## Football Legend Totò Schillaci Passes Away at 59

Palermo, Italy – Former Italian football star Salvatore “Totò” Schillaci passed away on Wednesday at the age of 59 after a battle with colon cancer. He was best known for his incredible performance during the 1990 World Cup, held in Italy, where he led the Azzurri to the third-place finish.

Schillaci’s daughter, Jessica, shared emotional details about their final days together. She revealed that her father expressed regret for not being more present in her life, saying, “He told us: ‘I only care about you’. And he said he was sorry for not being present all the times he would’ve wished, and we would’ve wished.”

Jessica also recalled their final moments, sharing a touching anecdote of a trip to the beach in July. “We settled for a bath in the sea and a fish lunch; it was wonderful,” she said, adding that she could see her father struggling as he took her back to the airport.

Schillaci’s funeral, held in Palermo Cathedral on Friday morning, was attended by thousands of fans and mourners. He was remembered not only as a football hero, but also as a loving father and dedicated family man.

“He was a hero in his own way, but he was just a father to me,” Jessica said. “He played it until the end, not thinking about him but about all the people he loved, and he’ll keep loving wherever he is now.”

Schillaci played for several prominent Italian clubs, including Juventus and Inter Milan, winning a Coppa Italia and a UEFA Cup with the Bianconeri. He also had a brief spell in Japan before retiring in 1994.

“Totò Schillaci will always be ‘Uno di Noi’! God Bless you wherever you are now, Toto’. God bless your family too in this difficult moment. E Grazie for the Notti Magiche!” wrote a fan on an online tribute.

Read More