Beppe Savoldi, his son Gianluca’s moving thanksgiving
Gianluca Savoldi, son of Beppe, who passed away yesterday at age 79, wrote a touching message on his social media. “Love has no time, knows no space, love is. And in these hours all of Italy is mourning Beppe, my dad; there are really countless messages we are receiving from people who need to be there, in some way.”
“For those who wanted and were able to be there, I inform that the funeral chamber is set up in Bergamo at the Casa del Commiato, Via Suardi 36, and will welcome those who want to be there between 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. today. Beppe’s final farewell will take place tomorrow, Saturday, March 28, at 10:30 a.m. at All Saints Church in Bergamo Cemetery.”
“Meanwhile, from our side, just an immense thank you for all the love you are gratifying us with. In Beppe’s name,” concluded the former striker.
Beppe Savoldi, born in Bergamo in 1947, was one of the most prolific bombers in the history of Italian soccer. He grew up at Atalanta, where he had made his professional debut in 1966, and then moved to Bologna in 1968, becoming a true legend for the Rossoblù fans over the course of seven seasons. With the Emilian club he had won two Italian Cups, in 1970 and 1974.
In 1975 came the transfer to Napoli for the record sum of two billion lire, a deal that had made history in Italian soccer at the time. Under Vesuvius, Savoldi had also managed to win over the Neapolitan square, staying in the Azzurri for four years and winning another Coppa Italia. He had then returned to Bologna before ending his career with Atalanta in Serie B in the 1982-1983 season.
The numbers of his career speak for themselves: 168 goals in 405 Serie A matches, for a total that exceeds 230 goals considering also the cups. Savoldi had also worn the Italian national team jersey on four occasions, sealing a goal in a friendly against Greece. After retiring from playing soccer, he had embarked on a coaching career in the late 1980s and early 2000s, leading clubs such as Carrarese, Spezia, Lecco, Massese, Saronno, Siena, and Leffe in Serie C.
