‘TOTO’ DEAD AT 59

Tributes from footballing world to Italy ’90 ace Schillaci

"A lovely fella to be around, a real football man"

   - RAY HOUGHTON ON MEETINGS WITH TOTO

19 Sep 2024 - Irish Daily Mirror

EXCLUSIVE BY DANNY DE VAAL news@irishmirror.ie

IRELAND legend Ray Houghton is “devastated” at the death of former Italian striker Salvatore “Toto” Schillaci aged just 59.

The footballing world was left reeling yesterday after the ex-juventus star’s family announced he had died following a battle with colon cancer.

Schillaci, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2022, had been admitted to the Civico Hospital in Palermo earlier this month where his condition had initially been described as “stable”.

The Sicilian ace broke Irish hearts when he sent Jack Charlton’s men home after he scored the only goal during the World Cup quarter-final clash with Italy on June 30, 1990, in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Boys in Green hero Houghton, who was playing when Schillaci scored, said the Italian was a “lovely fella” and told how the pair had met up a couple of times after hanging up their boots.

The player-turned-pundit, 62, told the Irish Mirror: “I’m devastated by the news.

“I’m just so saddened to hear about him passing so young – only 59.

HEARTS

“All our hearts go out to his family and friends at this sad time.”

He added: “I’ve met him a couple of times since we stopped playing together.

“Both of the occasions were in Ireland, one in Dublin and one down in the Ploughing Championships.

“He was a lovely fella to be around, a real football man.

“His English wasn’t great so at times it was a little bit difficult when conversing with each other but I think the last time we had an interpreter there.

“He could get the gist of what I was trying to say.

“He was very passionate about Italian football, he was very passionate about the international team.”

Houghton also revealed Schillaci was interested in how the Boys in Green were doing and said it was “great to be in his company”.

When asked about Toto’s goal against Ireland, Houghton said he was in the “right place at the right time” and never held it against him. He added: “I don’t remember it fondly because we lost, we were playing in the quarter-finals in the World Cup, but look you can’t take away from the campaign he had.

“He came into the squad quite late and I don’t think he played many games for Italy.

“He was a phenomenal goalscorer. He was the “Fox in the Box” in that moment you know when [Roberto] Donadoni hit the shot, Packie made the save and he was the first to react to it.

“He was in the right position at the right time to put the ball into the back of the net to get them through to the semi-finals. I never held it against him, to be honest.”

Houghton said Schillaci will be forever “synonymous” with Italia ’90 and said the striker was instrumental in helping his side reach the semifinals before they were knocked out by Argentina.

But Schillaci didn’t go home emptyhanded after picking up the Golden Boot for netting six goals throughout the tournament. Houghton said Ireland fans had a soft spot for Toto.

He said: “I think the fans loved him because he had a human side to him, there was no airs and graces about him.

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Legend felt ‘at home’ in Ireland

BY DANNY DE VAAL

SALVATORE “Totò” Schillaci said he felt “at home” in Ireland and made several trips here before he passed away.

The Italian legend also joked that he wanted to get the iconic “F**k Schillaci” T-shirt which became popular after the tournament.

The T-shirt was forever etched into Irish pop culture history when Dublin actor Colm Meaney wore it in the film adaptation of Roddy Doyle’s The Van in 1996.

In recent weeks however, when it emerged Schillaci was in hospital, versions of the T-shirt reading “Get Well Soon Schillaci” appeared online.

His position with Ireland fans was cemented even further when he appeared in an ad for Smithwicks ahead of the 2002 World Cup. Years later when Ireland had to take on Italy to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, a campaign for Boylesports saw Toto eating ice cream with Ray Houghton on Grafton Street.

During an interview last year, the top striker also said he was “sorry” for ruining Ireland’s World Cup dreams in Italia ’90. Schillaci said through a translator: “I’m sorry about what happened because I love Irish football supporters.”

“He didn’t portray himself as a big superstar. He was a really down-toearth fella who had to work hard to get himself into positions.

“Just loved the training and the playing aspects. He was just a football person and sadly we’ve lost another and so young. He had so much to live for.”

The pair went head-to-head again recently when they took part in a pizza-making challenge for Aldi at the National Ploughing Championships in 2022 – where Houghton won.

Dad-of-three Toto’s death triggered an outpouring of tributes in Italy.

His former club Juventus had a simple tribute to the star. Sharing a picture of him in their shirt, a tweet simply read: “Ciao Toto.”

Inter Milan also followed suit with their own message.

It read: “He made an entire nation dream during the Magic Nights of Italia ’90. FC Internazionale Milano gathers around the Schillaci family for the passing of Toto.”