Niccolai died at the age of 77: he won the scudetto with Cagliari
He wore the rossoblù shirt for ten seasons, playing 222 games and scoring 4 goals. He went down in history for his "propensity" for own goals. The company: «It is unfair to tie one's career to these setbacks»The world of football and Sardinian fans mourn Comunardo Niccolai, who passed away in Pistoia. He was 77 years old and one of the heroes of the 1969-70 championship.
Having arrived in Cagliari in 1964, passing through Sassari (Torres), he played in defense in a role that no longer exists today, the stopper, and had gone down in history for his propensity for own goals. With Cagliari, in ten seasons, he made 222 appearances, scoring 4 goals.
He wore the blue shirt three times, participating in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, with Italy (many Cagliaritans on the pitch, starting with Gigi Riva) who finished in second place.
«All of Cagliari Calcio mourns the passing of Comunardo Niccolai, the unforgettable protagonist of the 1970 Scudetto»: thus begins the note from the rossoblù club.
Below is the press release from Cagliari Calcio.
He was born in Uzzano, a small town in the province of Pistoia, on 15 December 1946. He owes his curious first name to his father, Lorenzo, who called him Communard in homage to the Paris Commune.
After starting out in the Montecatini nursery, Niccolai arrived at a very young age in Sardinia, at Torres. It was 1963: he played 22 games in Serie C, making himself one of the best prospects in the category. An excellent season which earned him the attention of Cagliari, who bought him ahead of all the teams interested in his contract.
Niccolai also confirmed his skills in rossoblù, even if initially he had to act as a reserve for the more experienced Vescovi. With the latter's departure in 1968, he definitively took possession of the number 5 shirt. He remained at Cagliari until 1976, before moving to Perugia and ending his career at Prato. With Cagliari he made over 270 appearances with 6 goals to his credit.
He then began his career as a coach within the FIGC. He was an appreciated selector of the Italian youth team, introducing players who would write the history of the national team, such as Gianluigi Buffon and Francesco Totti. In 1993-94 he led the senior women's national team.
His name is traditionally linked to own goals, some of which have remained famous. He himself spoke about it with philosophy and self-irony: “At first it bothered me but then I got used to it. There are players who have had excellent careers but no one remembers them; at least I left a mark in the history of Italian football."
However, it would be unfair to limit one's career to these unfortunate setbacks. In reality, Niccolai was a defender of great value, grim, careful in marking, but also good at leaving the area with the ball at his feet and keeping his head held high. His exchanges with the libero, Cera or Tomasini, were ahead of their time: over the years, the exchange of positions between the central defenders has become a practice in the way of defending required by modern football. The exceptional performance of the defensive department in the year of the championship (only 11 goals against, a record still unbeaten in the 16-team championships) is also due to his formidable contribution. It is no coincidence that he was included in the list of 22 Italians called up for the World Cup in Mexico. Coach Ferruccio Valcareggi started him in the first match against Sweden. He made 3 appearances for the Azzurri.
Niccolai leaves the memory of a great sportsman, a polite, kind, respectful, friendly man who knew how to make himself loved. A master of football and life.
