By Anna Italia
Follow me on Twitter @ItalianSerieA,
Facebook: Anna Italia Page
Instagram: annaitalia2
Italian Soccer Serie A

🇮🇹   Italy final farewell to legend Gigi Riva during his funeral on Wednesday 24 January 2024. Riva died at the age of 79 on Monday 22 January. Gigi was born in Leggiuno, in the province of Varese. Gigi is referred to as the “Rombo di Tuono” (Roar of Thunder).  Riva’s coffin was covered with two jerseys: the red-blue one of Cagliari and the blue one of the Italian National team. In 2019, Gigi was named honorary president of Cagliari in recognition of his extraordinary career and contribution to soccer.

According to the Police Headquarters, about thirty thousand people attended to pay their final respects.
Fans gathered outside the Basilica of Our Lady of Bonaria in Cagliari ahead of the funeral. The Archbishop of Cagliari and secretary general of the Italian Episcopal Conference, Monsignor Giuseppe Baturi emphasized during his homily about Sardinian’s great love for Gigi and how he felt loved by his people. The connection was real because Riva’s career and life were connected to Sardinia, becoming a true idol and symbol. The President of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Gabriele Gravina, the coach Luciano Spalletti, and the Azzurri delegation leader Gigi Buffon.   It was also an emotional moment for the children attending the football school founded by Riva in Cagliari.

In the front row was coach Claudio Ranieri, president Tommaso Giulini and then the whole team. Present in the church were many soccer VIPs such as Coni president Giovanni Malagò, Gianfranco Zola, Gianluigi Buffon, and with him a delegation from Italy’s 2006 world champion including Fabio Cannavaro. Also at the church were Cagliari Mayor Paolo Truzzu and Minister of Sport Abodi.

👉Goodbye Gigi Riva, the last farewell to Cagliari – La Vita live
👉Addio Gigi Riva, l’ultimo saluto a Cagliari – La Vita in diretta

👉Gigi Riva, today the last farewell to “Roar of Thunder”
👉Gigi Riva, oggi l’ultimo saluto a “Rombo di tuono”

👉Farewell to Gigi Riva – Bellama’
👉 L’addio a Gigi Riva – Bellama’

👉Gigi Riva funeral, coffin arrives greeted by applause from the crowd /
👉Funerali Gigi Riva, feretro arriva accolto dagli applausi della folla

👉 Cagliari. Death of Gigi Riva. Thousands of people attended the funeral
👉 Cagliari. Morte Gigi Riva. Migliaia di persone hanno partecipato al funerale 24 01 24

👉Gigi Riva’s funeral, the last farewell to Rombo di Thundero in his native Cagliari
👉I funerali di Gigi Riva, l’ultimo saluto a Rombo di tuono nella sua Cagliari

👉La Russa pays homage to Gigi Riva, the memory and the applause in the Senate
👉La Russa omaggia Gigi Riva, il ricordo e l’applauso in Senato

👉Cagliari. Morte Gigi Riva. Il ricordo di Luciano Spalletti e di Gianfranco Zola
👉Cagliari. Death of Gigi Riva. Memories from Luciano Spalletti and Gianfranco Zola

👉The last farewell to Gigi Riva – Italian stories 01/24/2024
👉L’ultimo saluto a Gigi Riva – Storie italiane 24/01/2024

👉 Farewell to Gigi Riva, a legend of Italian football – La Volta Buona
👉 Addio a Gigi Riva, leggenda del calcio italiano – La Volta Buona

👉Goodbye to Gigi Riva – Agorà
👉Addio a Gigi Riva – Agorà

👉 Gigi Riva has died, the Council of Sardinia is in mourning: “He was a true Sardinian”
👉E’ morto Gigi Riva, il Consiglio della Sardegna in lutto: “Era un vero sardo”

Adiosu, Gigi 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/nl0s7N0vsT

— Cagliari Calcio (@CagliariCalcio) January 24, 2024

Un Gigi Riva 1️⃣1️⃣ pic.twitter.com/H9yiDwNML4

— Cagliari Calcio (@CagliariCalcio) January 25, 2024

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La camera ardente per l’ultimo saluto al nostro Gigi verrà allestita all’interno della Unipol Domus a partire dalle 14 di oggi sino alle 22.

Domani, mercoledì 24, verrà riaperta dalle 7 sino alle 13.

Trovate al link tutti i dettagli: https://t.co/M8xyimQ2uc pic.twitter.com/TKY1xMItih

— Cagliari Calcio (@CagliariCalcio) January 23, 2024

Un Rombo di Tuono che fa tremare il cielo ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/2DY4b6etfU

— Cagliari Calcio (@CagliariCalcio) January 23, 2024

Il saluto del presidente Giulini, di mister Ranieri e della squadra all’apertura della camera ardente. pic.twitter.com/a3dcnPZ5rA

— Cagliari Calcio (@CagliariCalcio) January 23, 2024

By Anna Italia
Follow me on Twitter @ItalianSerieA,
Facebook: Anna Italia Page
Instagram: annaitalia2
Italian Soccer Serie A

👉   The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) confirmed Gigi Riva has died after heart attack on Monday 22 January 2024 at the age of 79. Gigi, referred as the “Rombo di Tuono” (Roar of Thunder), is considered as one of the greatest Italian legends and forwards of all time. Gigi was born on 7 November 1944 in Leggiuno, Italy. Riva, with 35 goals, is the all-time leading goalscorer for the Italian National team with 42 appearances. In remembrance, a minute’s silence will be held before every league game from tomorrow until the end of the week.

Gigi Riva is also a Cagliari legend, he made 315 appearances and won one Scudetto with Cagliari in 1969/70, the only one in the Rossoblu history. Gigi was the first player from Cagliari to receive a call-up to the Italy squad with whom he made his debut at 20 years old. Gigi is still top scorer in Cagliari’s history, with a total of 164 goals.

In his international career with the Italian national team, Riva was part of the team that won the 1968 European Championship in Rome scoring a crucial goal in the final against Yugoslavia. In 1970, Riva was vice-world champion in Mexico.

Gigi was placed 74º in the list of the best footballers of the 20th century compiled by World Soccer magazine. Gigi took the role of Accompanying Director of the National team in the 90s, before being the Team Manager. In sum, Gigi participated in 6 World Cups including the 2006 win and 5 Euros, becoming a fundamental part of the dressing room and an important cornerstone for many players. In 2011, he became part of the ‘Italian Football Hall of Fame’.

FIGC President, Gabriele Gravina, spoke: “I am shaken and grieved, Italian football is in mourning because a true national icon has left us. Gigi Riva embodied the idea of a free man and extraordinary footballer: his pride, his class, and his sense of justice united generations and roused the passion of millions of people. ‘Roar of Thunder’, his extraordinary career as an athlete and then staff member is interwoven with the Azzurri, thanks to him we won the 1968 Euros and the 2006 World Cup. Those who had, like me, the fortune to know him, have lost a friend and an icon today”.

Gianluigi ‘Gigi’ Buffon said goodbye to Riva with a post on his social media profiles: “You were one of the best players in Italy and a giant off the pitch. You offered me guidance and were a cornerstone for me in the Azzurri. We shared difficult moments, defeats, and the most beautiful victory. Keep up the advice from up there. Goodbye, Roar of Thunder!”.

Goodbye, Roar of Thunder. Forever an Azzurri legend 💙 pic.twitter.com/T8x2euT4o6

— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) January 22, 2024

Da oggi siamo tutti più soli.

Con le radici strappate.

Come se ne fosse andato anche un pezzo di noi stessi.

Come se ci fossimo destati da un sogno lungo, intenso, meraviglioso．

Dal quale non avremmo mai voluto svegliarci. pic.twitter.com/RrIVAtNmMx

— Cagliari Calcio (@CagliariCalcio) January 22, 2024

Per sempre GIGI RIVA 🖤 pic.twitter.com/ws8CePoGJ4

— Cagliari Calcio (@CagliariCalcio) January 22, 2024

Siamo con te, forza Gigi ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/qDfGxTWkJW

— Cagliari Calcio (@CagliariCalcio) January 22, 2024

Grazie per averci ricordato ogni giorno quanto è bello essere Sardi. Lo hai fatto con i tuoi gesti, con le tue scelte, con i tuoi silenzi. Con i tuoi meravigliosi e indimenticabili gol.

È la notte più lunga della nostra storia. pic.twitter.com/su6sGONgHk

— Cagliari Calcio (@CagliariCalcio) January 22, 2024