Twenty-eight years have passed since the disappearance of Federico “Chicco” Pisani, a promising Atalanta striker, and his fiancée Alessandra Midali. On the night of February 12, 1997, after an evening spent with friends at the Campione d’Italia casino, the couple lost their lives in a tragic car accident just outside Milan. The car in which they were traveling crashed into an overpass pylon and, despite rescue attempts, both died while being transported to the hospital.
Pisani was considered one of the many talents that emerged from the Atalanta nursery. He made his Serie A debut at only 17 years old under Marcello Giorgi, immediately proving his worth. After 16 appearances and 1 goal with the Nerazzurri, he was loaned to Monza to gain experience, where he collected 21 appearances and 2 goals in Serie B. Back at Atalanta, he found more space, playing 48 games and scoring 5 goals. His future looked promising, but fate robbed him of the chance to continue his career.
His death shocked the entire Atalanta environment. President Ivan Ruggeri, general manager Giacomo Randazzo and coach Emiliano Mondonico were among the first to receive the tragic news. The deeply affected coach communicated it to the team, leaving Pisani’s teammates in disbelief. Captain Daniele Fortunato and the entire club cringed in grief at the loss of a boy only 22 years old.
Atalanta paid tribute to the memory of Chicco Pisani by naming the stadium’s Curva Nord after him and retiring the number 14 jersey, a symbol of his talent and passion for soccer. A tribute that keeps alive the memory of a young man who could have written important pages in the history of the Nerazzurri club.
The article 28 years without Chicco Pisani comes from CalcioAtalanta.
