The hero of Italy 90hospitalized at the Civic Hospital of Palermo since the beginning of September, is again in critical condition. In recent days there have been encouraging improvements with the reduction of respiratory oxygen, but in recent hours, according to what has been learned from health sources at the Palermo hospital complex, the situation has become delicate and difficult again.
Toto Schillaci, He has been treated for cancer for several years, has already undergone operations, has been treated at the La Maddalena clinic and is currently in the city hospital. A first communication about his conditions appeared on his social profile a few days ago: “Totò is in a stable condition and is being monitored day and night by a team of doctors. Go Totò”.
The family had decided to communicate “given the countless calls from many newspapers and the bad news circulating.” Then the wish to recover, “Go Totò”. Schillaci, 59, has already undergone two colon operations and spoke about his illness, the treatments, the fear at the time of diagnosis and then the illness that marked him. An illness that he had conquered and that would now return.
As he plays the most important match of all time, the Italians who followed him under the jerseys of the national team and then Messina, Juventus, Inter and Jubilo Iwata continue to leave messages of encouragement and affection for the great champion on social networks.
The message from the family of Totò Schillaci (Instagram)
The clichés of Italia 90 and the wish: “Go Totò”
Kissed after the goal, then brought together before walking on the pitch with the blue jersey during the “magical nights”. Plans are changing Toto Schillaci and Roberto Baggio shared on the hospitalized striker's social media page and accompanied by the encouraging phrase: “Go Totò”. The best wishes to the striker who made fans dream during the last World Cup played at home by Italy come from the very popular Roberto Baggio fan page, and not directly from the former number ten.
The objectives of the “magical nights”
The goals of the “magic nights” of Italia 90 – immortalized by the song of Gianna Nannini and Edorado Bennato – delivered Toto Schillacifrom San Giovanni Apostolo, Palermo, to the history of Italian football. Coach Azeglio Vicini's Italy was aiming for the final, driven by the goals of a Sicilian boy called up as a reserve and made a starter with goals. One goal after another that moved Vicini's Azzurri eleven meters away from the World Cup final.
Totò Schillaci scores for England at Italia 90 (Handle)
The dream was shattered in Argentina Maradonawho beat the Azzurri on penalties in the semi-final in Naples. In that unfortunate World Cup for the Azzurri – we finished third – Totò was the top scorer. And in 1990, he even came second in the Ballon d'Or standings. “We could have won, but that's how things happened,” he always said, remembering that time.
“It was a team of great champions, Baggio, Baresi, Vialli, Maldini, Ancelotti – he said – and I had the honour of playing with them. It was an important environment, I was proud because it's not like there were all these Sicilians in the blue circle.”
“I fought like hell to earn a starting place with the Azzurri, I thought about nothing else. Were the Italians in love with me? I didn't understand that enthusiasm, I discovered it later and I still see it today. Everywhere they recognise me and celebrate me, they show me the videos, they want me to tell stories, people remember Italia 90 and ask me to make my eyes go crazy again!” Schillaci has many memories of that time, one in particular.
“In the final against England I received a penalty. Baggio told me: you take it, so you win the scorers' ranking. An unexpected gift.” However, they said he had argued with Baggio…
Life, career
Born on December 1, 1964 in Palermo and raised in the working-class district of San Giovanni Apostolo, he began playing in the local team that represented the Palermo municipal society of the same name.
In 1982, he was hired by Messinain Serie C2. During the 1985-86 season he contributed with 11 goals for the team's promotion to Serie B. His trainer Franco Scoglio said of him: “He had a desire to score goals that I have never seen in anyone.”
From the Messina landed at Juventus, Inter and Jubilo Iwata (Japan), where he became an idol.
Italia 90 footballers received at the Quirinale (Handle)
Three brothers and a sister, his father, who was a mason, was always his biggest fan and accompanied him everywhere just to make him play. He worked as a tire salesman, pastry chef, street vendor. Until the recruitment in Messina.
Schillaci was at the La Maddalena oncology clinic when, on January 16, 2023, Messina boss Denaro arrested. “It was 8:15 in the morning – he said himself – I was waiting for my check-up, because there I am treated by doctors Mezzatesta and Mandalà. I had just finished breakfast at the bar, in an instant I found myself surrounded by hooded people armed with guns. I thought it was an attack. Then the police came forward, but for a moment, me and my entourage were afraid, there was confusion.”
The former bomber He also ran a youth sports center for years“I love Palermo and it bothers me a lot to see it associated only with crime, because it offers so many beautiful things. We must invest in the neighborhoods, yes, by getting young people off the streets. I took over the sports center, Louis Ribolla, in a working-class neighborhood, precisely to give back a little of what the city gave me,” he said.
In 2004 he participated in the Island of the Famous, a year ago he participated with his wife Barbara in the program Pékin Express. Shortly before, he had undergone two cancer surgeries. “The show – he said – was a revenge on the disease that made me suffer so much”.
Totò Schillaci on the Island of the Famous in 2004 (The Press)
