Salvatore SCHILLACI

Salvatore 'Toto' Schillaci's career with the Italian National Team had all the makings of a fairytale. Born into a poor family in rural Palermo, Southern Italy, he played for an amateur side for a number of years before being signed up to Sicilian-based Messina in 1982. The fairytale began in 1990, after recently being transferred to Turin-based Serie-A giants Juventus, when Italian National Coach Azeglio Vicini included 'Toto' in his squad for the 1990 World Cup to be hosted in Italy. To play in a World Cup is a tremendous achievement for any player, and even more of an honour when you are playing at home in front of your own supporters, but 'Toto' was ready and equal for the task ahead, despite having very little international experience. His debut was on March 1st 1990 in a warm-up game against Switzerland, but his real opportunity to shine came in Italy's opening World Cup game against Austria on June 9th 1990. With less than 20 minutes remaining and the scoreline still locked at 0-0, coach Vicini was desperate to avoid a draw, desperate enough to play his wild card inclusion into the squad, Salvatore Schillaci. Toto came on in the 72nd minute, and scored in the 78th to win the game. The rest is history.

Vicini brought him on again as a substitute against the USA, and he impressed enough to earn himself a regular starting position up front in all the games from then on. In the final group game against Czechoslovakia, he scored in the 9th minute, easing Italy into the last 16. From there onwards the Italian supporters began to believe that as long as Toto was up front the team were unstoppable, and he did not disappoint. Further goals against Uruguay and the Republic of Ireland took Italy though to the last four and it was that man Schillaci who sent the fans wild by opening the scoring in the 17th minute of the semi-final against Argentina (see photo above, an ecstatic Toto celebrating the goal). Sadly, though, the fairytale was not to be.

Argentina's Claudio Caniggia equalised for Argentina and it was the South Americans who won through in the ensuing penalty shoot-out, leaving a nation heartbroken. For Schillaci, though, there was some personal glory to be gained for his memorable performances at the cup. His penalty against England in the 3rd/4th play-off notched his goal tally up to 6, earning him the Golden Boot Award for the most goals scored by a player, and the Golden Ball Award for the Player of the Tournament, a remarkable achievement for a player who was a virtual unknown going into the tournament. Alas, Schillaci was never able to rise to the form he had found at the 1990 World Cup, and he went on to play only 8 more games for his country, his final appearance coming against Bulgaria on September 9th 1991, just 18 months after his debut.

Schillaci is remembered for many things: his bulging eyes and expressive face when pleading for a penalty or free-kick, his decisive goals during the summer nights at Italia 90, but, above all, he was the player who rose from nowhere to capture the hearts of a demanding footballing nation on football's greatest stage. (Carlo Rocuzzi)