Italian football player Claudio Garella, who specialized in goalkeeping, reportedly passed away at 67. The former goalkeeper of Verona and Napoli passed away in Turin this morning.
Claudio was a 1985 Hellas Verona team member that captured the club’s lone Scudetto. The footballer has nearly two decades of professional experience and has brought many satisfactions to the field by alternating exceptional interventions with some “garellata.”
Through his extensive football career, Garella demonstrated his singularity. A famous quote from Gianni Agnelli that best-encapsulated everything was, “Garella is the best goalkeeper in the world. Without his hands, however.”
Keep reading to see the reason for Garella’s death and learn more about this legendary footballer.
What Was Claudio Garella’s Death Cause?
Claudio Garella died at age 67 from heart issues brought on by surgery. The footballer-turned-goalkeeper had heart issues and passed away today after having surgery.
To illustrate, Claudio had recently undergone heart surgery when he succumbed to cardiovascular complications in a Turin hospital. He was hospitalized after becoming ill while on vacation in Liguria.
Garella left a lasting impression on the football community due to his distinctive style. He won the championship with Verona and Napoli’s zealous first-ever Scudetto defender.
Claudio Garella was fearless and also went by the name “Garellik”. His interventions in his line of work resemble those of a comic book superhero. The class of 1955 was prepared to do anything to prevent the opponents from scoring.
With Napoli from 1986-1987, Garellik added a Serie A championship and a Coppa Italia to his collection of awards. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport and Sky Sport Italia, the former goalkeeper passed away in Turin this morning.
Obituary: Legendary Goalkeeper Passed Away At 67
The legendary goalkeeper Claudio Garella passed away three days before the championship’s first game, where the two teams that made Garella famous at Bentegodi will face off against one another.
While his family has yet to release the obituary, the news was circulated among several football players, and different social media websites have posted the information about his demise.
The goalkeeper made his professional debut in his hometown of Turin, where he was born and raised before starting his protracted journey. Eventually, he played for Juniorcasale, Novara, Lazio, and Sampdoria, followed by Verona, Naples, Udinese, and Avellino.
After the end of his playing career, Garella became a goalkeeper trainer, a director and a scout for Pecetto Torinese (Promozione) and Canavase in Serie D.
Everyone who talks about him cannot help but recall his role in Osvaldo Bagnoli’s legendary Verona winning the Scudetto. A true talisman, also for Napoli, Claudio helped the team close the door on the opposition and win the first Italian championship outside of the Coppa Italia of 1986-1987.
Garella worked as an assistant coach and goalkeeper coach with teams Barracuda, Pergogrema, and Cit Turin. His style will always be linked to a distinctive, unusual, and possibly dated technique that achieved historically significant titles.
Claudio Garella’s Death: Details On His Wife And Family
Claudio Garella married Laura, and the couple had two daughters- Claudia and Chantal. The former goalkeeper died unexpectedly at age 67 in Verona from heart complications following surgery, leaving football fans everywhere in sadness.