Renato Curi (20 September 1953 – 30 October 1977) was an Italian footballer who played as a midfielder. He is best known for his tenure as a Perugia mainstay in the 1970s until his tragic death during a league game against Juventus.
 Curi with Perugia in 1975 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Renato Curi | ||
| Date of birth | 20 September 1953 | ||
| Place of birth | Montefiore dell'Aso, Italy | ||
| Date of death | 30 October 1977 (aged 24) | ||
| Place of death | Perugia, Italy | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1969–1973 | Giulianova | 105 | (3) |
| 1973–1974 | Como | 24 | (0) |
| 1974–1977 | Perugia | 81 | (7) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Biography
editRenato Curi was born in Montefiore dell'Aso, Province of Ascoli Piceno in 1953. He started his professional career in 1969 with then-amateur club Giulianova, helping his side win promotion to Serie C. He left Giulianova in 1973 for Como, and then joined Serie B club Perugia one year later. Under the guidance of coach Ilario Castagner, he contributed to Perugia's historical first promotion to Serie A and became a grifoni mainstay in the following years. Notably, his impressive performances were instrumental in securing Perugia a historic sixth-place finish in their 1976–77 Serie A campaign, fueling rumours of a possible call-up to the Italy national football team. However, this never came to fruition, as Curi suddenly died on 30 October 1977, during a home match against Juventus, just five minutes into the second half, due to a myocardial infarction.[1]
Legacy
editThe Perugia home stadium where Curi died was later named after him.[2] Also, a Serie D team is named Renato Curi Angolana.[3]
References
edit- ^ Kennedy, Francis (8 December 1998). "Football: Italian magistrate investigates 'suspect deaths' of 45 players". Independent. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- ^ Gillon, Doug (19 March 2012). "'It verges on the obscene in striking apparently fit and healthy young people'". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- ^ Ashdown, John (17 February 2010). "Which clubs are named after people?". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
Bibliography
edit- Bacci, Andrea; Paolo Sollier (2005). Continua a correre Renato Curi. Torino: Bradipolibri.