Salvatore ‘Toto’ Schillachi’s daughter reveals Italy legend apologised on his deathbed before tragic passing at 59
ITALY legend Salvatore ‘Toto’ Schillachi’s daughter revealed he apologised to her on his deathbed.
The Italia ’90 World Cup hero passed away aged 59 on Wednesday following a battle with colon cancer.
Thousands of fans gathered in Palermo for his funeral and his coffin was draped in scarves and football shirts.
Schillachi’s daughter Jessica described him as a “hero” and recalled the last few months they spent together, with the former striker diagnosed in 2022.
Jessica also revealed her father apologised to her and her brother Mattia on his deathbed.
She told Tuttosport: “Three days ago, as my brother Mattia and I were at his bedside, we told him that TV operators were already outside of the hospital..
“He told us: ‘I only care about you’. And he said he was sorry for not being present all the times he would’ve wished, and we would’ve wished.”
Jessica also discussed the best memories she shared with her father and a trip she took with him in the summer.
She continued: “We talked, we also joked until it was possible. We recalled the best moments in our lives, the ones you’ll never forget, that even death won’t be able to take away from me.
“He was a hero in his own way, but he was just a father to me.
“I took some days off in July to stay with my dad. We went to Isola delle Femmine; he would’ve wanted to take me on a boat trip, but he was already very tired.
“We settled for a bath in the sea and a fish lunch; it was wonderful. You could see he was struggling when he took me back to the airport.
“The situation got worse in the last days: my dad started to play a game he knew he would lose.
“But he played it until the end, not thinking about him but about all the people he loved, and he’ll keep loving wherever he is now.”
Italy legend
Schillaci represented Italian giants Juventus and Inter Milan throughout his career, but saw his most memorable moments happen in the famous blue of the Italian national team.
The Palermo-born striker was the World Cup Golden Boot winner during the Italia 90 tournament.
His six goals saw him beat footballing legend Diego Maradona to the trophy as Italy finished third in their home tournament.
Schillaci, who was virtually unknown outside of Italy prior to the tournament, soon became a household name after netting against Austria, Czechoslovakia, Uruguay, the Republic of Ireland and Argentina.
While he also denied England a third-place finish after helping Italy beat the Three Lions in the tournament’s third-place playoff match in Bari.
Schillaci retired in 1997, hanging up his boots at Japanese club Jubilo Iwata.