Salvatore Schillaci: When 'Toto's stare was the star
Photo credit: Getty Images
Salvatore Schillaci has passed away at the age of 59.
Italian legend Salvatore Schillaci, who was the leading goal scorer at the 1990 World Cup, has passed away at the age of 59.
Schillaci, commonly referred to as 'Toto', netted six goals to clinch the Golden Boot during the 1990 World Cup held in Italy.
In 2014, BBC Sport had a conversation with the Italian regarding the tournament and his experiences. Here is a rephrased edition of the interview that was released at that time.
Salvatore Schillaci became the most beloved figure in Italy at the conclusion of the 1990 World Cup. However, his journey began on a chaotic note when he was surrounded by a crowd of 3,000 furious fans who cornered him in his car, hurling insults, spitting on the windows, and pounding on the vehicle.
That marked his arrival at the Azzurri's training camp in Florence ahead of the World Cup, where he unexpectedly found himself caught in a tumult caused by his team, Juventus, acquiring Fiorentina's standout striker, Roberto Baggio.
Schillaci, who needed help from the police, was simply an unfortunate person caught in an unfortunate situation. However, the summer took a complete turn when he began scoring one goal after another, showcasing his incredible ability to seize opportunities.
It was surprising enough that he made it into the Italy national team. The dark-skinned striker from Sicily, who had never received an education and was raised in the poverty of Palermo's slums, began his journey in football nine years earlier, earning just £1.50 for every goal he scored with a local amateur club.
Indeed, he was now valued at £3 million, the amount Juventus had invested to bring him from Messina in 1989. He had accomplished significant feats, including winning the UEFA Cup and the Coppa Italia, yet he remained somewhat obscure. At 25, he had just completed his inaugural season in Serie A, and the call for his first international appearance came just in time for the finals.
Schillaci took a challenging path to success, but the man commonly known as 'Toto' – a nickname derived from his full name – was determined to make the World Cup his own for Italy.
He scored six goals, earning him the Golden Boot for being the top scorer of the tournament, the Golden Ball for being the best player, and a reputation as a hero, even though the home team was eliminated in the semi-finals.
In 2014, Schillaci reflected on the four weeks that changed his life. He talked about the consequences of his incredible journey from obscurity to becoming one of the most renowned football players globally, as well as the events that followed.
He was both shocked and delighted to discover that a charming and talented Australian thoroughbred racehorse had been named in his honor.
"That's something I haven't come across before! I've heard many stories, but this one about the horse is a first for me," the 49-year-old shared with BBC Sport. "During that time, I remember many people in Italy naming their dogs 'Toto.'"
His name became widely recognized in other ways too. "When travelers reached Italy during that period, the first thing they would mention to the border officers was, 'Toto Schillaci,'" he noted.
Many Italians have shared with me that when they travel to other countries, the first thing people mention after learning about their Italian background is my name. This truly brings me joy.
His time as an unofficial representative was short-lived. Due to injuries and a decline in performance, he managed to net just one more goal for his national team following the World Cup and was dropped during a failed attempt to qualify for the 1992 European Championship. However, his impact has endured far beyond those years.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Salvatore Scillachi concluded the Italia 90 tournament as the leading goal scorer.
"There have been moments when individuals have started crying upon seeing me," Schillaci shared. "It's wonderful to witness their big smiles and the joy they feel when we meet."
"I believe that achieving success takes a lot of effort, so it's really rewarding when others continue to value your contributions. The difficult part comes when people forget your efforts. That's why I truly welcome any recognition I receive."
Schillaci's singular shining moment ties him inextricably to Italia '90, just as Italia '90 is forever linked to him. No matter where he might be in the world, he instantly understands what people want from him the moment they recognize him.
"The eyes, the eyes. Whenever I meet others, they constantly ask me to do the 'wild eyes' thing," Schillaci chuckled. "It was a spontaneous action that really stuck with people, and I’ve done it countless times."
Whether he was asking for a penalty or celebrating another goal, that intense Schillaci gaze quickly became a recognizable feature on his highly expressive face, beginning right after he entered the field in Italy's opening match against Austria.
"I ended up being the last one selected for the team, so I didn’t even think I would make it to the bench," Schillaci reminisced. "I assumed I'd be watching the game from the stands."
As the match was nearing its conclusion and the score was still tied at 0-0, I was in disbelief when manager Azeglio Vicini summoned me and said to start warming up because I was going to be substituted in. I couldn't help but ask him, “Are you talking about me?”
Beside Schillaci was his Juventus teammate, goalkeeper Stefano Tacconi, who encouraged him to "go ahead and score a header like John Charles." Taking inspiration from the Welsh and Juventus legend, Schillaci did exactly that with a powerful shot, impressively marking his first header goal of the season.
"When I scored, I instantly took off running and didn't slow down until I reached the bench, where I embraced Tacconi because of his previous words to me," Schillaci shared. "It was pure happiness."
Following another brief appearance in a close victory against the United States, which didn't yield any results, Vicini decided to listen to the fans' wishes and started Schillaci alongside Baggio in their match against the Czech Republic.
Both players netted goals in a 2-0 victory, marking the start of Italy's journey in the World Cup. The headline in Gazzetta Dello Sport exclaimed, "Italy in a frenzy with Schillaci and Baggio," adding, "How wonderful you are."
Two additional goals came soon after, leading to Uruguay's defeat in the Round of 16 and the Republic of Ireland's loss in the quarter-finals, solidifying Schillaci's legendary status. He was regarded as the nation's hero. The official World Cup song, "Magic Nights," turned into his own personal anthem.
At this point, people were drawing parallels to Paolo Rossi, who had been a motivating force behind Italy's victory at the 1982 World Cup.
"Rossi was a true champion," Schillaci commented before their semi-final match against Argentina, which his team was anticipated to win. "I'm just a regular, down-to-earth person. I simply wish to keep performing as I have been."
He scored first with a quick and opportunistic goal, but this time it wasn't enough. Italy broke England’s record of 499 minutes without allowing a goal during a finals match before their defense was finally cracked in the second half. The dream ended when they lost in the penalty shootout.
All the major newspapers in Italy featured the headline "The Dream is Over," while Gazzetta and Corriere dello Sport opted for a bold "NO" displayed prominently on their front pages.
"We truly earned that victory," Schillaci noted. "I believe that if we had overcome Argentina, we would have gone on to clinch the World Cup."
But that wasn't the final chapter of the Schillaci tale. Just a day before West Germany triumphed over Argentina in the championship match, he netted his sixth goal in the third-place playoff against England, surpassing Czech player Tomas Skuhravy to become the tournament's top scorer.
"Once the tournament ended, I took some time to escape to a tranquil place," Schillaci shares. "Everyone was eager to talk to me, but I really just needed to distance myself from everything, particularly after the heartache of losing in the semi-finals."
The next time he found himself in the news, it was for a far more troubling issue. The following November, he received a one-game suspension for making a threat to have Fabio Poll shot after the Bologna player hit him during a confrontation on the field.
At that point, his scoring had also decreased significantly. He netted just five goals in the 1990-91 season and managed six the next year. His transfer to Inter Milan in 1992 was marred by injuries, preventing him from bouncing back. Ultimately, he concluded his playing days far from home—though it was quite a profitable opportunity—becoming the first Italian to join Japan's emerging J-League.
During his time in Serie A, when he was having difficulty getting back to his World Cup level, Schillaci expressed, "Even if I don't make the Italian team anymore, I will always carry the incredible memories of Italy '90 with me for the rest of my life."
He retained them even after going back to his hometown to manage the youth academy where he once played.
It was evident from my conversation with Schillaci that he loved reminiscing about his successful moments during exhibition games. However, he also expressed satisfaction that his fame hadn't significantly altered his character.
