Gigi Meroni

Infobox Football biography
playername = Gigi Meroni


fullname = Luigi "Gigi" Meroni
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1943|2|24|mf=y
cityofbirth = Como, Lombardy
countryofbirth = Italy
dateofdeath = death date and age|1967|10|15|1943|2|24
cityofdeath = Torino, Piedmont
countryofdeath = Italy
currentclub =
position = Right winger
height = height|meter=1.70
clubnumber =
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1961-1962
1962-1964
1964-1967
clubs = Como
Genoa
Torino
caps(goals) = 0260(3)
0420(7)
103 (22)
nationalyears = 1966-1967
nationalteam = Italy
nationalcaps(goals) = 060(2)
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

Luigi "Gigi" Meroni (1944 — 1967) was an Italian football player who played for Torino. He died at the age of 24 in a car crash in Corso Re Umberto, on the corner with Via Legnano, while he was celebrating a 4-2 win of his team over Sampdoria. He was a "butterfly" on the field, a fantastic dribbler and an expert at nutmegging (threading the ball through the opponent's legs). His style and ability led to comparisons with Northern Irish star George Best.

Meroni played for Genoa from 1962-64 and for Torino from 1964-67 and broke into the Italian national side in 1966. The tragedy of his early death denied Torino its first Scudetto since Superga.

External links

* [http://www.gigimeroni.it/ Fan site]