Farewell to Marco Bonamico, Virtus Bologna remembers the 'Marine'

Of his 20-year playing career, Marco Bonamico had spent almost half of it at Virtus Bologna, in four separate periods, winning just with the Black Vu’s two Scudetti (including the star one, in 1984) and as many Italian Cups. The bianconero club, on the day of the ‘Marine’s passing at 68, wanted to remember him through its official channels.

“Virtus Olidata Bologna participates movedly in the condolences for the passing of Marco Bonamico– the note reads.

Of the fifteen seasons he spent in Serie A, he spent eight of them wearing the Vu nere’s jersey, earning the nickname ‘Marine’ for the determination, strength and talent with which he carried the Bianconeri” colors to the top.

“With the Azzurra jersey he played 151 games, many of them as a star player, winning a European gold medal in France in ’83 and an Olympic silver medal in the USSR in 1980. Hello Marco” concludes the club in the statement released shortly after confirmation of the tragic news, made known on Monday morning. Bonamico, as ‘Il Resto del Carlino’ reported, had been hospitalized for several weeks at ‘Bellaria’ in Bologna.

His historical teammates also wished to remember him: “I lose not only a friend, but also a brother,” Virtus captain Renato Villalta, Italian champion for the 10th time in 1984, told the ‘Resto del Carlino. Another Bonamico teammate at Virtus, Mario Martini, wrote on Facebook, “Hello Marco, you left us too soon but you will always be with us.”