Toto Schillaci: A story that will burn forever in the memories of those who experienced it

The moment that changed Schillaci’s life came on June 9, 1990, when Italy were struggling to beat Austria in their first match at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Schillaci controlled a cross from Gianluca Vialli from the right and headed the ball in the 79th minute, just three minutes after coming on as a substitute.

Schillaci ran away to the sideline, almost in disbelief, his arms outstretched and his eyes wide, lost in the ecstasy of the celebration. It seemed he would not stop running until he was stopped, engulfed by elated Italian team-mates.

An unlikely superstar was born.

Vicini resisted the temptation to play Schillaci, who came on as a substitute, in the narrowly won match against the United States. However, he gave in to national demands and let the strong Sicilian play alongside the great Roberto Baggio against the Czech Republic.

Schillaci and Baggio both scored in a 2-0 win and were quickly hailed as a dream ticket, with the headline on the front of Gazzetta Dello Sport reading: ‘Italy in delirium with Schillaci and Baggio. How beautiful you are’.

The remarkable saga continued with Schillaci scoring one and setting up another for Aldo Serena to see Uruguay through to the last 16. He ended the Republic of Ireland’s magnificent World Cup campaign in the quarter-finals with the decisive goal in a 1-0 win, and also scored against Argentina in the last four, but the dream died when Italy were knocked out on penalties.

Italia ’90 ended on a personal high when he scored a late penalty as the hosts beat England 2-1 to secure third place. He was the recipient of a generous gesture from Baggio, who stepped aside as penalty taker to allow Schillaci to finish as the tournament’s top scorer, ahead of Czech striker Tomas Skuhravy.

Baggio’s decision showed that Schillaci’s down-to-earth personality and selfless playing style had made him as popular with his Italian team-mates as he was with the rest of the world.

As far as Italy was concerned, Schillaci was now immortal and forever recognised in his homeland, with stories of children and animals – including thoroughbred horses – named after the man who began his career on a salary of £1.50 per goal for a local amateur team.

Schillaci’s World Cup past lived on, but his fame as a player did not.

The goals for club and country dried up. For Italy he scored just once more, making seven goals in sixteen appearances. Six in those glorious weeks of Italia ’90 that will remain with all who lived through the experience.

West Germany won the World Cup in a miserable final against Argentina, but mention Italy ’90 – apart from England at least – and the first name and image that comes to mind for many is that of Schillaci, his memorable glorious save and the facial expression of a gleeful goalscorer.

He told BBC Sport in 2014 that he knew exactly what people would say when they recognised him: “The eyes. The eyes. Every time I meet people they want me to do the ‘wild eyes’. It was an instinctive gesture that stuck in people’s minds. I’ve done it many, many times.”

Schillaci left Juventus for Inter Milan in 1992, but his move was hampered by injuries and loss of form. He ended his career in a more productive manner with Jubilo Iwata in Japan, the first Italian to play in the fledgling J-League.

After the end of his career he returned to Palmermo, where he continued his lifestyle and image as a ‘man of the people’, an image that many could identify with – not only in Italy but all over the world – as he rode around town on his scooter as this well-known, famous figure.

Schillaci’s football story can be effectively summed up by that fleeting golden period in the Italian summer of 1990. However, it is a story that will be forever etched in the memories of all who experienced it.