Two days after the joy of the triumph in the Super Cup, Milan says goodbye to one of its most iconic players: the goalkeeper Fabio Cudicini. The “Black Spider”, a nickname he was known for throughout his career and beyond, died last night at the age of 89: it was given to him by the British press, as “Black Spider”, after two great performances in Glasgow and Manchester in which he stood out – in addition to his feats – for his all-black outfit, a tradition for goalkeepers at the time.
With the Rossoneri club he won practically everything from 1967 to 1972, the year in which he ended his career: Champions Cup, Intercontinental Cup, Scudetto, Cup Winners' Cup, Italian Cup . A trophy cabinet to which can be added another Italian Cup and a Fairs Cup won with Roma, where he had played - after his debut at Udinese - for eight seasons from 1958 to 1966, earning instead in the Capital the nickname of "Pennellone" due to his height.
Born in Trieste on October 20, 1935, Cudicini grew up in the Udinese youth team before moving to Roma and finally Milan: Nereo Rocco strongly wanted him, despite the skepticism of those who believed he was on a downward spiral. Instead, he was decisive for all the Rossoneri victories of that fortunate period . Milan was the first club to remember him with these words, also posting a photo of him on social media: "The Spider's Web on our Rossoneri Heart. Forever. Fabio Cudicini, a champion of everything with Milan, a great goalkeeper and a great person, has passed away. The condolences of all the Rossoneri to his son Carlo, who grew up in the club, and to the whole family. Goodbye Fabio."
Famous are the duels with Cagliari in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when he had to oppose Gigi Riva and all the other great rossoblù champions who had become legends. The Myth managed to beat him four times: a brace in 66-67 when Cudicini was at Brescia, then with Milan in the championship season, 69-70, when in the first leg match that ended 1-1 at Amsicora on 28 December 1969 Riva kicked a powerful free kick from the edge that left Cudicini immobile with no chance to save . A goal, from a penalty, also in 71-72 was worth a 2-1 victory at the end.
Compared to the legendary Lev Yashin, also because of his black suit, he had a slender physique. Essential in his interventions but not very spectacular, Cudicini also entered the history of Milan as a penalty saver. He holds a record of 1132 minutes of unbeaten play at San Siro that still stands today . Despite his successes with his club, he never played for the national team, where Ricky Albertosi, the "rival" who wore the Cagliari jersey, and Dino Zoff were almost immovable as goalkeepers. His son Carlo also defended the goalposts: he played, among others, with Chelsea, Lazio and Tottenham.
(Unioneonline/r.sp.)
