Another sad day for basketball: Marco Abbiati has died at the age of 58

First as a player, then as an executive, Marco Abbiati earned widespread respect in the world of basketball, particularly for his contributions to the development of his communities: Cremona, his birthplace, where he spent most of his athletic and professional career and where he passed away at the age of 58, and Brescia, which welcomed him in 2011, the year he took on the role of sports director for a project as ambitious as it was valuable.

“There are people in sports who don’t simply hold a position, but leave an indelible mark on the hearts of everyone who crosses their path,” said Graziella Bragaglio, president of Leonessa Brescia. “Marco was just that for all of us: a constant presence, a friend with whom to share every victory and every defeat. He will be sorely missed, but his passion will forever remain our guiding light. Thank you for everything.”

Legabasket also joins the basketball community in mourning the passing of Marco Abbiati. “From 2011 to 2021, he served as sports director first for Basket Brescia Leonessa and then for Pallacanestro Brescia, an executive who played an active role during the club’s years of growth, its promotion to the LBA in 2016, and the subsequent seasons of consolidation in Italy’s top league,” the statement recalls.

“Today we say goodbye to Marco Abbiati, a person with whom I shared an important part of my life and my basketball journey, from 2006 to 2020”—reflects Matteo Bonetti, longtime owner of Brescia’s basketball team and currently a member of the Technical Sports Committee of Leonessa Brescia. Together we experienced unforgettable moments and won three championships: the B2 in Cremona, the Amateur A League, and then the A2 in Brescia. But beyond the victories and athletic achievements, what remains is the memory of a great man: serious, honest, fair, and upright. A person of true values, with whom it was a privilege to share work, responsibilities, and above all, a passion for basketball. With Marco, I shared intense years, sacrifices, joys, and many emotions. Wonderful memories that I will always carry with me. Goodbye, Marco. Thank you for everything we experienced together. You will always be a part of my story and my heart.”