Salvatore Schillaci
Salvatore Schillaci was born on the 1st of December 1964 in Palermo, Italy. He grew up in a poor family within that Sicilian city. His first steps into football began with Amat Palermo, an amateur team run by the local bus company. This humble start offered little promise for a future global star. The young striker honed his skills in these lower-division Sicilian clubs before making a name for himself. By 1982, he had signed for Messina, where he would play until 1989. His goal-scoring abilities became undeniable during this period. He won the Serie B top-scorer award in the 1988, 89 season with 23 goals. That achievement caught the eye of Turin club Juventus. They brought him to their ranks in 1989. The arrival coincided with a return to form under legendary goalkeeper Dino Zoff. Schillaci scored 15 league goals and 21 in all competitions that very first year. It ended with Juventus winning both the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Cup titles.
Schillaci replaced Andrea Carnevale during Italy's first match against Austria at the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He scored as the match ended with a 1, 0 win for Italy on the 9th of June 1990. Against Czechoslovakia, he played alongside Roberto Baggio. Both men scored in the 2, 0 victory. Schillaci started alongside Baggio in the next two matches of the knock-out stages. He opened the scoring in the round of 16 against Uruguay. He also set up Aldo Serena's goal in that same match. In the quarter-finals against the Republic of Ireland, he scored again. For the semi-final match against defending champions Argentina, Gianluca Vialli replaced Baggio in the starting line-up. Schillaci kept his place in the team. The match ended 1, 1, with Schillaci scoring his fifth goal of the tournament. Italy were eliminated after a penalty shoot-out. He refused to take a penalty, citing injury as his reason. 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. He won the Golden Boot with six goals and the Golden Ball Award for the best player of the tournament.
After the end of the 1990 World Cup, Schillaci played two more years for Juventus. He played alongside his Italy attacking team-mate Roberto Baggio during this time. He then joined Internazionale in 1992. Schillaci ultimately fell short of the expectations of the Inter fans. This failure stemmed mainly from physical troubles which he suffered after the 1990 campaign. In 1994, he joined Japanese club Júbilo Iwata. He became the first Italian player to play in the J.League. He won the J.League Division 1 title with the club in 1997. He retired in 1999. His time at Inter Milan saw him make 30 appearances and score 11 goals. The physical struggles marked a sharp contrast to his peak performance years. The transition to Japan offered a new chapter but could not restore his former dominance. The decline was evident in his reduced playing time and goal output compared to his earlier achievements.
Schillaci was a small, quick, agile, and mobile striker. He possessed an eye for the goal and solid technique. A prolific, reliable, and opportunistic goalscorer, he relied on anticipation and reactions. His excellent positional sense enabled him to make attacking runs to beat opponents to the ball in the area. He frequently found himself "in the right place at the right time". He was capable of finishing well both inside and outside the area. He scored from volleys with powerful strikes. He was also accurate on set pieces and effective on penalties. Although primarily known for his selfish and instinctive style of play, he linked up with team-mates when needed. His former Messina manager Francesco Scoglio described him by saying he had "never seen a player who wanted to score as much as him." Despite not being particularly imposing in the air, he scored with his head as well as with his feet.
Schillaci retired in 1999 and returned to his native Palermo. There he owned a youth academy of football. He appeared as a guest on Craig Doyle Live during UEFA Euro 2012. Former South Africa national team captain Steven Pienaar is nicknamed Schillo after Schillaci. Schillaci's nephew Francesco Di Mariano and cousin Antonio Maurizio Schillaci have also played professional football. He married twice and had three children. He considered himself Roman Catholic. Schillaci was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022. In September 2024, he was hospitalised with an atrial arrhythmia. Schillaci died on the morning of the 18th of September 2024 at the age of 59. Inter Milan led the tributes stating "He made an entire nation dream during the Magic Nights of Italia 90". The legacy of his World Cup performance remains a defining moment for Italian football history.
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Common questions
When was Salvatore Schillaci born and where did he grow up?
Salvatore Schillaci was born on the 1st of December 1964 in Palermo, Italy. He grew up in a poor family within that Sicilian city.
What awards did Salvatore Schillaci win during the 1990 FIFA World Cup?
Salvatore Schillaci won the Golden Boot with six goals and the Golden Ball Award for the best player of the tournament. He scored five goals during the knockout stages including the winning goal against England in the third-place match.
Which clubs did Salvatore Schillaci play for after leaving Juventus in 1992?
Salvatore Schillaci joined Internazionale in 1992 before moving to Japanese club Júbilo Iwata in 1994. He retired from professional football in 1999 after playing for these two teams.
How old was Salvatore Schillaci when he died and what caused his death?
Salvatore Schillaci died on the morning of the 18th of September 2024 at the age of 59. He had been diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022 and was hospitalised with an atrial arrhythmia in September 2024.
Who were some notable teammates of Salvatore Schillaci during his career?
Salvatore Schillaci played alongside Roberto Baggio during Italy's 1990 World Cup campaign and later at Juventus. His nephew Francesco Di Mariano and cousin Antonio Maurizio Schillaci also played professional football.