The world of football and Sardinian fans mourn Comunardo Niccolai, who passed away in Pistoia. He was 77 years old and one of the heroes of the 1969-70 championship.
Having arrived in Cagliari in 1964, passing through Sassari (Torres), he played in defense in a role that no longer exists today, the stopper, and had gone down in history for his propensity for own goals. With Cagliari, in ten seasons, he made 222 appearances, scoring 4 goals.
He wore the blue shirt three times, participating in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, with Italy (many Cagliaritans on the pitch, starting with Gigi Riva) who finished in second place.
«All of Cagliari Calcio mourns the passing of Comunardo Niccolai, the unforgettable protagonist of the 1970 Scudetto»: thus begins the note from the rossoblù club.
Below is the press release from Cagliari Calcio.
He was born in Uzzano, a small town in the province of Pistoia, on 15 December 1946. He owes his curious first name to his father, Lorenzo, who called him Communard in homage to the Paris Commune.
After starting out in the Montecatini nursery, Niccolai arrived at a very young age in Sardinia, at Torres. It was 1963: he played 22 games in Serie C, making himself one of the best prospects in the category. An excellent season which earned him the attention of Cagliari, who bought him ahead of all the teams interested in his contract.
Niccolai also confirmed his skills in rossoblù, even if initially he had to act as a reserve for the more experienced Vescovi. With the latter's departure in 1968, he definitively took possession of the number 5 shirt. He remained at Cagliari until 1976, before moving to Perugia and ending his career at Prato. With Cagliari he made over 270 appearances with 6 goals to his credit.
He then began his career as a coach within the FIGC. He was an appreciated selector of the Italian youth team, introducing players who would write the history of the national team, such as Gianluigi Buffon and Francesco Totti. In 1993-94 he led the senior women's national team.
