Emiliano Mascetti died at the age of 79, due to an illness that he had been suffering from for some time. He made the history of Verona, making 330 appearances and scoring 42 goals in 11 seasons as a player, with a brief stint at Torino (from 1973 to 1975).
His career in football went well beyond his days as a player as he also covered the role of sports director at Verona for 9 years. He was there in the days of the Scaligeri‘s historical conquest of the Scudetto in 1985, with Osvaldo Bagnoli on the bench and players like captain Roberto Tricella and goalkeeper Claudio Garella on the field.
He then worked as sports director for eight years at Roma, where he won a Coppa Italia, then at Atalanta, and finally as a consultant at Sampdoria.
“Ciccio” Mascetti is mourned today by the whole soccer world, in particular by Verona and Turin. Both teams released statements to remember him:
“Hellas Verona FC mourns the passing of an authentic Legend of its more than 100-year history: Emiliano Mascetti, known as Ciccio, left us today at the age of 79. Beyond the numbers, Emiliano is still remembered as an extraordinary man, capable of making many generations of Verona fans fall in love with Hellas, of achieving historic results while always maintaining the class, correctness and goodness that distinguished him on and off the field. A point of reference for everyone, who will be greatly missed by his family, who loved him and to whom President Maurizio Setti and the entire Club extend a hug full of affection and emotion.”
“President Urbano Cairo and the entire Torino Football Club send their heartfelt condolences to the Mascetti family for the passing of Emiliano Mascetti, former Granata midfielder and later appreciated sports manager. The world of Torino Football Club sends its condolences and brotherly embrace to his dearest relatives and friends.”