Igor Protti dies at 58; Livorno and Rimini plan public farewells for the club legend

Igor Protti, the former Livorno captain and 1995–96 Serie A joint top scorer with 24 goals, died late Thursday at age 58 after a long illness, his family announced. Across two stints he scored 120 goals for the Tuscan club, leading it from the third tier back to Serie A; his number 10 shirt was retired in 2005.

“There are people who belong to a team. And then there are people to whom a team belongs. Igor was Livorno.”

Former teammate Cristiano Lucarelli called him a mentor and wrote an emotional goodbye on Instagram, while coach Massimiliano Allegri visited the funeral home in Cecina without making statements.

The body will lie in state at Livorno’s Stadio Armando Picchi from 6 p.m. on Friday, and mayor Luca Salvetti said the city is preparing to declare a day of mourning. On Sunday, the municipality of Rimini, Protti’s birthplace, will open the Stadio Romeo Neri for a public salute from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., in accord with the family’s wishes.