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Comunardo Niccolai

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Comunardo Niccolai
Niccolai with Cagliari in the 1960s
Personal information
Date of birth (1946-12-15)15 December 1946
Place of birth Uzzano, Italy
Date of death 2 July 2024(2024-07-02) (aged 77)
Place of death Pistoia, Italy
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1963–1964 Torres 22 (0)
1964–1976 Cagliari 218 (4)
1976–1977 Perugia 7 (0)
1977–1978 Prato 4 (0)
Total 251 (4)
International career
1970 Italy 3 (0)
Medal record
Representing  Italy
Men's Football
FIFA World Cup
Runner-up 1970 Mexico
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Comunardo Niccolai (Italian pronunciation: [komuˈnardo nikkoˈlai]; 15 December 1946 – 2 July 2024) was an Italian footballer, who played as a defender.

Club career

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A tough, physically strong centre-back,[1] Niccolai initially began his career with Torres in 1963,[2] before joining Cagliari Calcio, where he played from 1964 to 1976, winning the only Serie A championship in the club's entire club history in 1970.[3] He ended his career in 1977 with Perugia.[2] Niccolai played 218 Serie A matches,[2] and is still remembered today for his proneness to score own goals, including some very spectacular ones.[4]

International career

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Niccolai made three appearances for the Italy national team in 1970, and represented the team at the 1970 FIFA World Cup, where he won a runners-up medal; he only appeared in Italy's opening group match, a 1–0 win against Sweden on 3 June, as he was replaced by Roberto Rosato in the 37th minute, after sustaining an injury which kept him out of the remainder of the tournament.[5][6] This led his Cagliari coach Manlio Scopigno to declare: "I could expect everything from my life, but to see Niccolai in international telecast".[7]

After retirement

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Niccolai worked with the Italian Football Federation as national team scout.[8] He also worked as a youth coach for the Cagliari under-18 side.[9]

Niccolai died on 2 July 2024, at the age of 77.[10][11]

Honours

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Cagliari[3]

Italy[7]

References

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  1. ^ Vittore Trabucco (4 July 2014). "MOSE GALAN COME NICCOLAI Comunardo Niccolai, arcigno difensore del Cagliari" (in Italian). Il Gazzettino. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Nanni Boi (29 May 2003). "Niccolai, autogol alla Sivori" (in Italian). La Repubblica. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  3. ^ a b Federico Ventagliò (19 November 2012). "ESCLUSIVA TC - Comunardo Niccolai: "I miei bellissimi autogol"" (in Italian). Tutto Cagliari. Archived from the original on 30 May 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  4. ^ "Storia dell'autogol" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  5. ^ "Niccolai, Cumunardo" (in Italian). FIGC. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  6. ^ Nanni Boi (16 December 2013). "I 5 gol veri di Niccolai che finì in nazionale per due autoreti non sue" (in Italian). Tiscali. Archived from the original on 2 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  7. ^ a b Sebastiano Vernazza (10 March 2007). "Niccolai, artista dell'autogol" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  8. ^ "COMUNARDO NICCOLAI". FIGC. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  9. ^ "Raffaelli, il talent scout dei giovani" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 10 June 2003. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  10. ^ "È morto Comunardo Niccolai, campione del Cagliari dello scudetto". La Nuova Sardegna. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Comunardo Niccolai è morto: re degli autogol, vinse lo scudetto con il Cagliari". Corriere della Sera. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
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