Max Pezzali Remembers Igor Protti; Audience Moved by Tribute to the Late Striker

The Bari leg of Max Pezzali’s tour turned into a deeply moving moment on Sunday evening. At Bari’s San Nicola Stadium, packed with tens of thousands of spectators, the singer-songwriter from Pavia paid tribute to Igor Protti, who passed away on June 19 after a long battle with colon cancer.

During the concert, Pezzali projected images of the former Bari forward onto the giant screens, accompanying them with a special dedication. Protti’s Bari jerseys were also displayed on stage, flanking the singer as he performed some of his most famous songs. The tribute reached its climax during the performance of the song “Gli anni,” when the stadium erupted in a collective round of applause and the crowd chanted Protti’s name at the top of their lungs.

Igor Protti, deeply beloved by Bari fans, played four seasons for Bari between 1992 and 1996, helping the team earn promotion to Serie A in 1993. In his final season with the red-and-whites, despite the team’s relegation, he topped the Serie A scoring charts with 24 goals, becoming the first (and so far, the only) player to win the top scorer title in Italy’s top division in a season that ended in relegation.

Pezzali’s tribute—as a huge soccer fan—brought to mind the special bond between Protti and the city of Bari, transforming the concert into a collective embrace for a few minutes. It was a gesture that moved the crowd at San Nicola Stadium and served as yet another reminder of the profound sporting and human legacy left by the striker, who played professionally from 1983 to 2005.