Igor Protti dies at 58; Livorno and Rimini plan public farewells for the club legend
Former Livorno captain and 1995–96 Serie A top scorer Igor Protti died late Thursday at age 58 after a long illness. His body will lie in state at Livorno’s stadium before a public ceremony in his birth city of Rimini.
Igor Protti, the former Livorno captain and 1995–96 Serie A joint top scorer with 24 goals, died late Thursday at age 58 after a long illness, his family announced. Across two stints he scored 120 goals for the Tuscan club, leading it from the third tier back to Serie A; his number 10 shirt was retired in 2005.
Former teammate Cristiano Lucarelli called him a mentor and wrote an emotional goodbye on Instagram, while coach Massimiliano Allegri visited the funeral home in Cecina without making statements.There are people who belong to a team. And then there are people to whom a team belongs. Igor was Livorno.
The body will lie in state at Livorno’s Stadio Armando Picchi from 6 p.m. on Friday, and mayor Luca Salvetti said the city is preparing to declare a day of mourning. On Sunday, the municipality of Rimini, Protti’s birthplace, will open the Stadio Romeo Neri for a public salute from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., in accord with the family’s wishes.
