Comunardo Niccolai

Comunardo Niccolai
Niccolai with Cagliari in the 1960s
Personal information
Full name Comunardo Niccolai
Date of birth (1946-12-15)15 December 1946
Place of birth Uzzano, Italy
Date of death c.2 July 2024(2024-07-02) (aged 77)
Place of death Pistoia
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) 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)
International career
1970 Italy 3 (0)
Medal record
Representing  Italy
Men's Football
FIFA World Cup
Runner-up1970 Mexico
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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. A tough, physically strong centre-back, Niccolai initially began his career with Torres in 1963, 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. 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.

His death was announced on 2 July 2024, at the age of 77.

Club career statistics

Club statistics League
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals
ItalyLeague
1963–64Polisportiva Sassari TorresSerie C220
1964–65CagliariSerie A00
1965–6610
1966–6750
1967–68131
1968–69270
1969–70290
1970–71281
1971–72260
1972–73300
1973–74150
1974–75252
1975–76190
1976–77PerugiaSerie A70
CountryItaly 2474
Total 2474

International career statistics

Italy national team
YearAppsGoals
197030
Total30

References

  1. ↑ "Niccolai, Cumunardo" (in Italian). FIGC. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  2. ↑ Nanni Boi (16 December 2013). "I 5 gol veri di Niccolai che finì in nazionale per due autoreti non sue" (in Italian). Tiscali. Retrieved 22 November 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (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.
  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.
  5. ↑ Federico Ventagliò (19 November 2012). "ESCLUSIVA TC - Comunardo Niccolai: "I miei bellissimi autogol"" (in Italian). Tutto Cagliari. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "Storia dell'autogol" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. Archived from the original on 23 September 2008. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  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.