Gianni Fanello, a former striker who wrote important pages of Italian football, has passed away, leaving an indelible memory not only for his sporting qualities, but also for his humanity. Originally from Pizzo, he was considered an authentic pride of Calabria and of the entire national football scene. Born on 21 February 1939, Fanello took his first steps in his hometown team before establishing himself with Catanzaro, where he became one of the protagonists of the historic promotion to Serie B thanks to his goals. Called up to the National Olympic team for the 1960 Rome Games, he subsequently wore the shirts of Milan, Alessandria, Naples, Catania, Turin and Reggiana.
With Napoli he won the Italian Cup in the 1961-62 season and, during his career, he collected 80 appearances and 17 goals in Serie A, as well as 218 appearances and 71 goals in Serie B. Numbers that only partially tell the value of a footballer remembered above all for his elegance on the pitch, fairness and humility. The family greeted him by calling him “a champion of sport and humanity”, recalling how, in addition to the footballer, today a man is being mourned who represented an example of goodness, honesty and healthy values for entire generations.