Niccolò Galli (footballer, born 1983)

Niccolò Galli (22 May 1983 — 10 February 2001) was a promising professional footballer who played as a centre-back; he died in a road traffic accident aged 17.

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

Career

The son of former Italian international goalkeeper Giovanni Galli, he began with his hometown club, Fiorentina, before moving to Arsenal in August 1999. He spent one year in London, winning the FA Youth Cup in 2000, then returning to Italy to finish his studies. He was on loan with Bologna during this time. It was here that the promising young 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 Giovanni Galli, was also a professional footballer; a former goalkeeper, he played for Fiorentina, Milan, Napoli, Torino, Parma, and 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. 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. "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.
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