The FIGC and President Gabriele Gravina express their deepest sympathies to the loved ones of Fabio Cudicini, who passed away yesterday at the age of 89. In his memory, a minute’s silence will be observed before every match in every competition this coming weekend.

One of the best goalkeepers in the history of Italian football, Cudicini was nicknamed the ‘Black Spider’ (like his Russian counterpart Lev Yashin) for his agility between the sticks. During an extraordinary career, he won every possible trophy at club level. Born in Trieste, the shot-stopper began his professional career at Udinese, where he made his Serie B and Serie A debuts before moving to Roma in 1958. He played for the Giallorossi for eight seasons, winning the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and the Coppa Italia. After a spell a Brescia, he joined AC Milan, where, under Nereo Rocco, he enjoyed huge success, winning the European Cup, the Intercontinental Cup, the European Cup Winners’ Cup, the Scudetto and another Coppa Italia.

“With the passing of Cudicini, we lose another huge figure of the Italian game,” said FIGC President Gabriele Gravina. “With his innate class, he earned the affection and admiration of fans and opponents, winning trophies and becoming a legend. Thanks to him, an entire generation of Italians dreamed of becoming a goalkeeper.”