Niccolò Galli (footballer, born 1983)

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Niccolò Galli
Personal information
Date of birth (1983-05-22)22 May 1983
Place of birth Florence, Italy
Date of death 10 February 2001(2001-02-10) (aged 17)
Place of death Bologna, Italy
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)
Centre-back
Youth career
1993–1994
Torino
1994–1995
Parma
1995–1999 Fiorentina
1999–2001 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2001 Arsenal 0 (0)
2000–2001 →
Bologna
(loan)		 1 (0)
International career
1999 Italy U16 1 (0)
2000–2001 Italy U17 5 (1)
2000 Italy U18 3 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Niccolò Galli (22 May 1983 — 10 February 2001) was a professional

centre-back
; he died in a road traffic accident aged 17.

Career

The son of former

central defender's career really started to take off, featuring in Serie A and being recognised by Italy's youth teams, before he died; during this time, he was regarded as one of the most promising young footballers in his position.[1]

Death

On 9 February 2001, Galli died in a road accident while riding on his moped, on the way home from practice at Bologna's training centre, aged 17.[2][3]

Legacy

Following his death, Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger and Head of Youth Development and Academy Director Liam Brady both praised the young defender and stated he would have been a certainty to make the Arsenal first team but for his death.[1] Wenger even went as far as to state “I have no doubt in my mind that had he lived, he would have been captain of Arsenal and of Italy.”[1][4] Brady later also stated "I always remember Niccolo. Losing a boy that young was a real tragedy. He was a great footballing talent. He had a great future ahead of him." He stated that he stood out from his teammates due to his "maturity and intelligence", describing him as a "complete player", stating: "He had it all -- the ball control, passing, the physicality."[1] [5]
The football training centre used by Bologna FC, in the neighbourhood of Casteldebole, is named after Galli; Bologna FC also retired his number 27 shirt.[1] Arsenal observed a minute's silence upon the news of his death.[1] Galli's childhood friend and youth academy teammate Fabio Quagliarella wears the number 27 in his honour.[6] A foundation has also been dedicated to Galli in his honour.[7]

Personal life

Niccolò's father

Lucchese, as well as the Italy national team, before pursuing a career in politics after his retirement.[7] His mother's name is Anna; he also had two sisters, Camilla and Carolina.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Mattias Karen (10 February 2016). "Remembering Niccolo Galli: One of Arsenal's great 'what-ifs'". ESPN FC. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  2. ^ Gigi Marcucci (14 December 2003). ""La morte di Galli non fu una fatalità" Il giovane calciatore mor ì contro un guardrail senza protezione. Il Pm chiede 4 rinvii a g iudizio" (in Italian). L'Unità. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  3. ^ "La morte del giovane Niccolò Galli tre assolti per prescrizione" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 18 March 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  4. ^ "Where are they now?". Arsenal.com. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  5. ^ "Lost soccer talents: teen players who sparkled too early". 90soccer.com. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  6. ^ "A Quagliarella la maglia 27". solonapoli.com (in Italian). 2 June 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Giovanni GALLI" (in Italian). Magliarossonera.it. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  8. ^ Sara D'Oriano (15 April 2010). "Giovanni Galli, la lezione di uno che non molla mai" (in Italian). Toscana Oggi. Retrieved 30 August 2016.

External links

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