Italia ’90 hero Toto Schillaci (59) dies in Rome

Schillaci was the face of the 1990 World Cup finals, as he finished as the tournament’s top goal scorer and ended Ireland’s campaign with the winning goal in the quarter-finals.

His passionate goal celebrations ensured Schillaci became a folk hero in Italy, with his presence in Irish sporting folklore also assured following his goal in that famous Rome quarter-final.

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He played for Juventus and Inter in a glittering career spanning 384 matches, scoring 159 goals, yet his international career spanned only two years between 1990 and 1991 as he collected 16 caps.

Schillaci’s spell as Italy’s lead striker may have been brief, but it did not dilute the influence he had on the soccer loving nation.

In an interview with the BBC, he reflected on the impact his summer of 1990 had on the nation, as he suggested he touched the hearts of Italy.

“There have been times when people have just burst into tears when they meet me,” said Schillaci. “It is great that when I meet people I see a big smile on their faces, they are so happy to meet me.

“I think success is hard won so it is nice when people still remember you. The tough thing is when people no longer appreciate you. So I don’t mind the attention at all.”

He also looked back on his World Cup story, with his inclusion in the squad named by Italy boss Azeglio Vicini far from assured in the months ahead of the tournament.

“I had got the last place in the squad so I did not even expect to be on the bench,” Schillaci recalled. “I thought I would be watching from the stands.

“So, late in the game, with the score 0-0, when the manager Azeglio Vicini called me over and told me to get warmed up because I was coming on, I could not believe it. I asked him, ‘do you mean me?’.

“After the tournament, I went away to somewhere quiet. Everybody wanted a piece of me but I just wanted to get away from it all, especially after the pain of our semi-final defeat.”