Comunardo Niccolai
Comunardo Niccolai (Italian pronunciation: [komuˈnardo nikkoˈlai]; 15 December 1946 – c.2 July 2024) was an Italian footballer, who played as a defender. He has played for Italy's national team.[1][2] A tough, physically strong centre-back,[3] Niccolai initially began his career with Torres in 1963,[4] before joining Cagliari Calcio, where he played from 1964 to 1976, winning the only Serie A championship in the club's entire club history in 1970.[5] He ended his career in 1977 with Perugia. Niccolai played 218 Serie A matches, and is still remembered today for his proneness to score own goals, including some very spectacular ones.[6]
 Niccolai with Cagliari in the 1960s | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Comunardo Niccolai | ||
| Date of birth | 15 December 1946 | ||
| Place of birth | Uzzano, Italy | ||
| Date of death | c.2 July 2024 (aged 77) | ||
| Place of death | Pistoia | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Playing position | Centre back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1963–1964 | Torres | 22 | (0) |
| 1964–1976 | Cagliari | 218 | (4) |
| 1976–1977 | Perugia | 7 | (0) |
| 1977–1978 | Prato | 4 | (0) |
| Total | 251 | (4) | |
| National team | |||
| 1970 | Italy | 3 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
His death was announced on 2 July 2024, at the age of 77.[7]
Club career statistics
| Club performance | League | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals |
| Italy | League | |||
| 1963–64 | Polisportiva Sassari Torres | Serie C | 22 | 0 |
| 1964–65 | Cagliari | Serie A | 0 | 0 |
| 1965–66 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1966–67 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 1967–68 | 13 | 1 | ||
| 1968–69 | 27 | 0 | ||
| 1969–70 | 29 | 0 | ||
| 1970–71 | 28 | 1 | ||
| 1971–72 | 26 | 0 | ||
| 1972–73 | 30 | 0 | ||
| 1973–74 | 15 | 0 | ||
| 1974–75 | 25 | 2 | ||
| 1975–76 | 19 | 0 | ||
| 1976–77 | Perugia | Serie A | 7 | 0 |
| Country | Italy | 247 | 4 | |
| Total | 247 | 4 | ||
International career statistics
| Italy national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 1970 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 3 | 0 |
References
- ↑ Niccolai, Cumunardo (in Italian)FIGC. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- ↑ Nanni Boi. I 5 gol veri di Niccolai che finì in nazionale per due autoreti non sue (in Italian) (16 December 2013)Tiscali. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- ↑ Vittore Trabucco. MOSE GALAN COME NICCOLAI Comunardo Niccolai, arcigno difensore del Cagliari (in Italian) (4 July 2014)Il Gazzettino. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- ↑ Nanni Boi. Niccolai, autogol alla Sivori (in Italian) (29 May 2003)La Repubblica. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- ↑ Federico Ventagliò. ESCLUSIVA TC - Comunardo Niccolai: "I miei bellissimi autogol" (in Italian) (19 November 2012)Tutto Cagliari. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- ↑ Storia dell'autogol (in Italian)Storie di Calcio. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- ↑ È morto Comunardo Niccolai, campione del Cagliari dello scudetto. La Nuova Sardegna. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ↑ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. Comunardo Niccolai. www.national-football-teams.com.
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