Italian footballer
Piermario Morosini
(5 July 1986 ? 14 April 2012) was an Italian professional
footballer
who played as a
midfielder
. On 14 April 2012, during a match between
Pescara
and
Livorno
, Morosini suffered a fatal
cardiac arrest
on the pitch.
Early life
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]
Piermario Morosini was born on 5 July 1986, in
Bergamo
, Italy. His mother Camilla died in 2001, when he was fifteen years old. His father, Aldo, died in 2003, followed shortly after by a disabled brother who committed suicide, leaving him alone with a disabled elder sister.
[1]
Shortly after his parents' death, Morosini remarked that "these are the things that change your life, but at the same time make you so angry and help you achieve what was also a dream of my parents."
[2]
Club career
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]
Morosini started his career at hometown club
Atalanta
, and was sold to
Udinese
in a co-ownership deal during 2005.
On 23 October 2005, he debuts in
Serie A
in the match
Udinese
-
Inter
, collecting in total five appearances in this league. In this season 2005?06 he debuts also in
UEFA Cup
in the match Levski Sofia-Udinese.
Udinese got full ownership from Atalanta in 2006, and loaned him to
Bologna
in order to gain experience. From 2007 to 2009 half of the registration rights was farmed to Serie B club
Vicenza Calcio
. Morosini signed four-year contract with Vicenza and sold for €500,000. Udinese acquired Morosini back from Vicenza for €300,000.
[3]
On 31 August 2009, Morosini signed for newly relegated side
Reggina
on loan.
On 1 February 2010, he was loaned to
Calcio Padova
. In June 2010, the club decided not to buy him outright.
[4]
In January 2011 he was transferred on loan to
Vicenza
and played 15 times for this club.
On 31 January 2012, he went on loan to
Livorno
playing 8 matches.
[5]
[6]
International career
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Morosini made his international debut for the
Italy U-17 team
in 2001 and his
U-21
debut in 2006.
[7]
He was called up for the
2009 European U21 Championships
as back-up.
[7]
[8]
Death and legacy
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On 14 April 2012, while representing Livorno, Morosini suffered cardiac arrest and fell to the ground in the 31st minute of the
Serie B
match away to
Pescara
.
[9]
He stumbled on the ground, trying to get up, before losing consciousness and receiving medical attention on the field.
[10]
A
defibrillator
was used on Morosini, who was conscious when he was taken on the stretcher.
[11]
According to the news agency
ANSA
, a city police car was blocking the stadium's exit for the ambulance for nearly a minute, but a heart specialist said that the delay made no difference.
[12]
After Morosini was taken to the hospital, the match was abandoned with Livorno leading 2?0, and some players reportedly "left the field in tears".
[13]
Morosini was rushed to the Santo Spirito hospital, but reports later indicated he died before reaching the hospital.
[14]
[15]
Italian media reports were alerted of Morosini's death after an "explosion of shouts and tears" by his teammates who had gone to the hospital.
[16]
All of the Italian football league matches for the weekend were suspended.
[17]
Livorno and Vicenza then decided they would retire the number 25, the number Morosini wore whilst their player.
[18]
Morosini's death came four weeks after
Fabrice Muamba
suffered a cardiac arrest in an English
FA Cup
match, after which awareness of heart risk had been raised in Italian football.
[15]
Morosini's sister, who is disabled, was left with no family. However,
Udinese
player
Antonio Di Natale
confirmed that he would financially support and look after her.
[19]
[20]
Several days after Morosini's death, the
Curva
Sud of the
Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia
?the home stadium of Atalanta?was renamed the
Curva Piermario Morosini
in his honor.
[21]
On the third anniversary of his death,
Juventus
goalkeeper
Gianluigi Buffon
dedicated his side's 1?0 away win over
Monaco
in the
2014?15 UEFA Champions League
quarter-final to Morosini.
[22]
The award for the best player of Campionato Primavera is named after him.
References
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External links
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