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]

Comunardo Niccolai
Comunardo Niccolai.jpg
Ferrante in the 1969–70 A.C. Cagliari Calcio season
Personal information
Full nameComunardo Niccolai
Date of birth(1946-12-15)15 December 1946
Place of birthUzzano, Italy
Date of deathc.2 July 2024(2024-07-02) (aged 77)
Place of deathPistoia
Height1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing positionCentre back
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1963–1964Torres22(0)
1964–1976Cagliari218(4)
1976–1977Perugia7(0)
1977–1978Prato4(0)
Total251(4)
National team
1970Italy3(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

[8]

Club performance League
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals
ItalyLeague
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
YearAppsGoals
1970 3 0
Total 3 0

References

  1. "Niccolai, Cumunardo" (in Italian). FIGC. Retrieved 22 November 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  2. Nanni Boi (16 December 2013). "I 5 gol veri di Niccolai che finì in nazionale per due autoreti non sue" (in Italian). Tiscali. Archived from the original on 2 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  3. Vittore Trabucco (4 July 2014). "MOSE GALAN COME NICCOLAI Comunardo Niccolai, arcigno difensore del Cagliari" (in Italian). Il Gazzettino. Retrieved 22 November 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  4. Nanni Boi (29 May 2003). "Niccolai, autogol alla Sivori" (in Italian). La Repubblica. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  5. Federico Ventagliò (19 November 2012). "ESCLUSIVA TC - Comunardo Niccolai: "I miei bellissimi autogol"" (in Italian). Tutto Cagliari. Retrieved 22 November 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  6. "Storia dell'autogol" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. Retrieved 22 November 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  7. "È morto Comunardo Niccolai, campione del Cagliari dello scudetto". La Nuova Sardegna. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  8. Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Comunardo Niccolai". www.national-football-teams.com.