«This splendid journey, like every match, has reached the final whistle.» These are words that Igor Protti wanted to leave to his family, and that the family shared during the night to announce his death. He was 58 years old and for about twelve months he had been living with the disease which he himself, a year ago, had defined on social media as “a very unwelcome guest”, a neoplasm, then surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
From Rimini to Messina, the first goals
Born in Rimini in 1967, Protti grew up in his hometown team before getting noticed in Messina, where in three seasons he scored 31 goals, taking up the legacy of Totò Schillaci, who had just moved to Juventus. From there Bari, who bought him in 1992 and with whom, in his third championship, he achieved promotion to Serie A.
Top scorer and relegation
The 1995-1996 season remains the most singular of his career: 24 goals, top scorer on par with Giuseppe Signori, and the team’s relegation. A record that no one else shares, the only one to win the top league scorers’ ranking and finish in Serie B with his team. Those goals weren’t even enough to convince coach Sacchi to take him to Euro ’96.
Lazio, Napoli and Maradona’s number 10
Then Lazio, seven goals and a goal in the derby, and the loan to Napoli, where he received the number 10 shirt that had belonged to Maradona, in a team that was relegated. Protti’s name remains linked above all to Livorno. Returning to Amaranth in 1999, after a season on loan at Reggiana, he was top scorer first in Serie C1 and then in Serie B, completing a journey that made him, together with Dario Hübner, the only player capable of winning the top scorers’ rankings in all three of the main Italian categories.
The missed retirement and the return to Serie A
He even announced his retirement in 2002-2003. It was his teammates and fans who changed his mind: the following year he scored 24 goals in Serie B which, added to Cristiano Lucarelli’s 29 goals, brought Livorno back to Serie A after 54 years. At 37 he played another season in the top division, scoring six goals, and ended his career in 2005. He never coached and remained at the club as a manager.
The last apparition and condolence
The last public image dates back to a few weeks ago. At the end of May he published on Instagram a photo of his daughter Noemi’s wedding, whom he had accompanied to the altar despite her illness. The Livorno Sports Union greeted him like this: «We can’t find the words. Igor forever.” Napoli remembered his “tough spirit” and his attachment to life and family.
Tomorrow the body will be at the Picchi stadium
Tomorrow at 6pm the body will be taken to the Armando Picchi stadium in Livorno, the same one where he had been a protagonist many times in the amaranth shirt. Mayor Luca Salvetti announced this after hearing from the family; the Municipality is preparing to proclaim city mourning. Anyone who wants to say their last goodbyes can do so from 3pm today in the Frongillo farewell room, at the Cecina cemetery.
