The football World was in mourning this weekend after the sudden and tragic death of Udinese player Piermario Morosini, the 25yr old midfielder suffered a cardiac arrest whilst playing on loan for Livorno against Pescara in Serie B on Saturday.
The former Italy U-21 International started his career with Atalanta before moving to Udinese in 2005. The bulk of his career appearances came during a two year spell at Vicenza (who have subsequently retired the no.25 shirt in his honour) and he also spent time on loan to several other clubs including Bologna, Reggina and Livorno.
All Italian football was suspended following the tragedy and tributes have been pouring in for the much-loved Bergamese, with former teammates Mario Balotelli and Dominico Criscito among those registering their shock at the news.
Morosini's story is a sad one. After losing both parents during his youth, his disabled brother committed suicide shortly afterwards, causing Piermario to remark “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”.
He is survived by his gravely ill sister who Udinese have pledged support to in this difficult time, with captain Antonio Di Natale vowing to take care of her in this very difficult time.
The tragedy, which occurred less than a month after the collapse of Bolton Wanderers' Fabrice Muamba in an F.A. Cup Quarter Final against Tottenham Hotspur, has increased the calls for more regular health screening for professionals in an attempt to buck a worrying trend of such incidents happening. In recent years Besian Idrizaj, Antonio Puerta and, most famously, Marc-Vivien Foe have all passed away following heart attacks. Italy have already an advanced screening process, but their sports minister Piero Gnudi has issued a statement saying, "The recent repetition of dramatic incidents like this must also force us to work on doing everything possible to guarantee accurate and frequent medical tests so that we may limit in every way the chance of this happening again."
The football community has been united in grief since the horrible events of Saturday and Livorno, along with his girlfriend Anna have released a statement thanking “all those who in these hours of pain have been close to us in their memories of a great athlete and a special person.”
Rest in peace Piermario
(1986 - 2012)
Shocking times. It is hard to believe top class athlethes can suffer heart attacks. The high profile case in Ireland was Cormac McAnallenn who died from SADS - Sudden Adult Death syndrome. This resulted in a defibrillator been available in almost every sclub in the GAA. Piermario appears to have been a man of great character and glad to see his sister been well looked after, May he Rest in Peace
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