Daniele De Rossi, Luciano Spalletti, Andriy Shevchenko, Valentina Giacinti, Roberto Boninsegna (veteran Azzurri player) and Ariedo Braida (manager) are the new entries into the Hall of Fame of Italian football, awarded in the ceremony held at the Federal Technical Centre of Coverciano in Florence.
Memorial awards for Agostino Di Bartolomei and Vincenzo D'Amico, historic flags of Rome and Lazio, and Manlio Scopigno, coach of the Cagliari team that won the championship , while the "Davide Astori" award for fair play went to the psychiatrist Santo Rullo for the 'Crazy for Football' project, the national five-a-side football team for people with mental health problems.
"No one will ever forget them, they will remain in history because they represent models to follow," said Gabriele Gravina, president of the FIGC, according to whom the Hall of Fame recognition "is a symbol of affection and admiration for these protagonists who had the ability to mark a significant moment in the history of football."
Also in the room were today's Azzurri players Niccolò Pisilli, Guglielmo Vicario, Daniel Maldini and Sandro Tonali . And on stage Gigi Buffon, head of delegation of the Italian national team: «I believe that to have an idea of where to go in the future», he said, «we need to know our past, strengthen the sense of belonging, a value that can make the difference in sport».
(Online Union)