Nicolas Giani dead at 39: farewell to'former Spal captain

Italian soccer is mourning the death of Nicolas Giani, former Spal defender and captain, who passed away Monday night at the age of 39 after struggling with a serious illness. Growing up in Inter’s youth sector, in the same year as Bonucci and Andreolli, he had also tasted Serie A with a bench in the Nerazzurri. In the course of his career he had then worn the jerseys of Cremonese, Pro Patria and Vicenza where, under the guidance of Angelo Gregucci, he was able to reinvent himself as a full-back, offering high-level performances.

The most significant chapter of his football history, however, remains the one linked to Spal. Arriving in Ferrara in 2014, he soon became its landmark and captain, leading the team from Lega Pro to Serie A in the memorable 2016-2017 season. It was a historic feat that brought the Estense club back to the soccer that counts after 23 years and delivered Giani forever to the memory and history of the Biancazzurra, with the fans never forgetting him.

Cremonese remembered him with a photo on its X profile and a “Rest in peace Nicolas” while Inter itself paid tribute to him with a longer post: “FC Internazionale Milano expresses its condolences for the passing of Nicolas Giani, a defender who played in the Nerazzurri youth team from 1998 to 2005. The club rallies around the family in this time of mourning”.

“Spezia Calcio expresses its condolences for the untimely death of Nicolas Giani, Aquilotto footballer in the 17/18 and 18/19 seasons. To the Giani family goes the thoughts and strong embrace of the whole club” reads the Ligurian club profile. “The L.R. Vicenza club expresses its condolences for the passing of Nicolas Giani, a former Lane player who between 2008 and 2012 collected 108 appearances with the biancorossa jersey”, the biancorossa note.