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Italy’s 1990 World Cup hero Totò Schillaci dies aged 59

Former Italy striker Totò Schillaci, most famous for being top scorer at the 1990 World Cup, died on Wednesday at the age of 59.

Published: 18 September 2024 11:46 CEST
Italian forward Salvatore Schillaci celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the World Cup semifinal between Italy and Argentina in July 1990
Italian forward Salvatore Schillaci celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the World Cup semifinal between Italy and Argentina in July 1990. Photo by DANIEL GARCIA / AFP

Italian media reported that Schillaci died at Palermo’s Civico hospital after a battle with colon cancer.

Juventus were among Italy’s football clubs to pay tribute to Schillaci, who became an icon for his unexpected goalscoring exploits at his country’s home World Cup.

“Ciao Totò,” Juventus said on social media, posting a picture of him in a black-and-white shirt.

Italy’s football federation FIGC said that all matches played in Italy between now and the end of the coming weekend would have a “minute of silence” before kick-off.

“His goal celebrations, in which his face became the symbol of collective joy, will remain forever part of Italian football heritage,” FIGC chief Gabriele Gravina said in a statement.

Schillaci played for Juventus and Inter Milan after beginning his career in the early 1980s at Messina and had moderate success in his club career.

But he became a national hero in the summer of 1990 by scoring six goals as Italy reached the semi-finals of that year’s World Cup.

Schillaci won the Golden Boot for being top scorer and won the Golden Ball as player of the tournament ahead of the likes of Lothar Matthaus and Diego Maradona, the former of whom won the tournament with West Germany.

Italy were knocked out on penalties by Argentina in the last four as Napoli legend Maradona helped knock out the host nation in front of his own fans in Naples.

Schillaci, who was capped 16 times for his country, only scored one other goal for Italy in his career.

Four years after the 1990 World Cup, he left Inter Milan for Jubilo Iwata in Japan, where he ended his career.

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HEALTH

Reader question: How can I get a medical certificate for sports in Italy?

From joining a gym to swimming at a public pool, signing up for sporting activities or programs requires a health certificate in Italy – but how do you get one and how much does it cost?

Published: 4 September 2024 14:48 CEST
Updated: 8 September 2024 05:44 CEST
Reader question: How can I get a medical certificate for sports in Italy?

Whether you’re looking to join your local gym, take up swimming or diving classes, or play five-a-side football on a regular basis, simply turning up and paying the required fee won’t be enough in Italy as you’ll first need to prove your physical fitness via a medical certificate. 

This can frequently come as a shock to foreign nationals as many countries don’t require a medical certificate for non-competitive activities (though they may do for any sport or activity practised at a competitive or professional level). 

There are two kinds of medical certificates in Italy: the certificato sportivo non-agonistico (non-competitive sports certificate) and the certificato sportivo agonistico (competitive sports certificate).

Here’s what you need to know about them.

Certificato sportivo non-agonistico

The non-competitive certificate is necessary to engage in any type of regular, non-professional physical activity carried out in contexts or venues that are overseen by a sports club or association.

This includes anything from standard gym memberships to tennis courses to ballet. 

The certificate can be issued by your Italian general practitioner (medico di base), by a paediatrician if it is for a child, or by a sports medicine specialist.

READ ALSO: The key Italian vocabulary you’ll need for a doctor’s visit

It can only be released following a series of tests, including: a review of your medical history and that of your family, a medical examination including heart and lung auscultation, blood pressure measurements, and an electrocardiogram (ECG).

In most cases, you won’t be able to undergo all of the above tests during the same visit as the ECG is generally carried out in a separate medical facility.

How much does it cost?

The certificate is issued free of charge for minors that need it to take part in non-competitive extracurricular sporting activities at school (though you’ll still have to pay for the ECG, which costs around €12 in the public sector).

Children under the age of six are not required to get a medical certificate (the requirement kicks in after they turn six).

For adults, issuance costs amount to around €40 on average if you choose to get the certificate through your general practitioner. 

The figure is slightly higher – €46 on average – if you go to a private clinic or sports medicine centre. 

Whether you go public or private, issuance costs will add to the cost of the mandatory ECG. This is around €12 in the public sector but can cost up to €30-40 in private centres.

The certificate is valid for one year from the date of issuance, after which you must renew it in order to continue practising the relevant sport or activity.

Certificato sportivo agonistico 

If you’re a professional athlete or planning on participating in competitions such as a marathon or an Ironman race, you’ll need to obtain a certificato sportivo agonistico from a sports medicine doctor in the public or private sector (this cannot be issued by a general practitioner).

The certificate can only be issued following: a review of your medical history, blood pressure checks, a cardiac stress test (or exercise electrocardiogram), and the analysis of a urine sample. 

In many cases, you won’t be able to undergo all of the above tests during the same visit as the cardiac stress test and urine sample analysis are generally carried out in separate medical facilities.

READ ALSO: Why changing your doctor in Italy can be a nightmare

Also, you may be required to undergo additional tests depending on the type of sport or activity you practise.

How much does it cost?

For athletes under the age of 18 and people with disabilities, the certificate is free of charge.

For all other patients, costs range from €30 to 100 (this includes issuance costs and the cost of the required exams) if you choose to get the certificate through your local health authority (or ASL). 

Costs may be higher if you choose a private clinic.

Please note that The Local cannot advise on individual cases. For more details on getting a medical sports certificate, seek advice from your doctor or a qualified sports medicine centre.

Please note that The Local cannot advise on individual cases. For more details on getting a medical certificate for sports, seek advice from your doctor or a qualified sports medicine centre.

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