John Aldridge remembers ‘Toto’ Schillaci as ‘a lovely fella’ – even after he ended Ireland’s World Cup dream

Schillaci’s death at the age of 59 inspired a rush of tributes for the hero of Italy’s attempt to win the 1990 World Cup on home soil, with his six goals in that tournament firing the Azzurri to a third place finish.

Had Italy got their hands on the trophy in that glorious summer, tournament top scorer Schillaci’s legacy would have been cast in gold, yet his moment in the sun will never be forgotten.

He only played 16 games at senior international level, with six of his seven goals coming in that memorable World Cup 34 years ago and one of those strikes ended the hopes of Jack Charlton’s Ireland team at the quarter-final stage.

While Schillaci and Italy’s dream died in the semi-final against Diego Maradona’s Argentina, his legend had long since been cemented.

And it says much about the significance of that summer that all these memories seem so fresh for those of us who lived through them and the same is true for John Aldridge, who led the Ireland forward line in that last eight clash in Rome.

“When you have been a part of something as big as that was for Ireland and Italy, you remember every second and that is how I feel about the 1990 World Cup,” Aldridge told the Irish Independent.

“Hearing ‘Toto’ had passed away brought back so many memories and I had a chance to get to spend some time with him a few years ago.

“Schillaci came over to play in a match that was raising money for a charity associated with England legend Alan Ball at the MK Dons stadium and I had a chance to have a good chat with him.

“What a lovely fella. His English wasn’t bad and he had some lovely memories of what 1990 meant for him.

“He had a strange story in many ways as he didn’t do much before or after that World Cup. He peaked at just the right time to try and win the biggest tournament of them all on home soil and he very nearly did it.

“I had a little dig at him when we met up for ruining our dream, but we all came away as winners.

“To this day, Irish people come up to me and tell me what that summer meant to them and I’m so proud to have played a part in it.

“When you come back from a trip like that, you do pinch yourself and wonder whether it actually happened. Did we really get to the quarter-finals of the World Cup? Did Jack arrange for us all to meet the Pope?

“The reception we received when we came home to Dublin confirmed that the Irish people appreciated what we had done and the fun we had along the way made the experience all the more memorable.

“It was so sad to hear Schillaci passed away. I send my best wishes to his family and friends.”

Italia ’90 was an adventure etched into Irish folklore and not just of a sporting variety, as this was a once-in-a-lifetime injection of joy that lifted our spirits like never before.

The sights and sounds of that summer will never be forgotten and when you hear the opening burst of the iconic “Put ‘Em Under Pressure” 1990 World Cup song – with Charlton’s rallying cry at the start of a track produced by U2’s Larry Mullen – you are transported back to a very different and more simple time.

Social media was still an ill-conceived fantasy back then as Charles Haughey’s Ireland was ready for an injection of joy. It was provided by a band of sporting heroes who allowed us all to dare to dream.

Famously, bingo halls didn’t bother opening on the night of the quarter-final against Italy and by the end of that tournament, ‘little’ Ireland were one of the top eight teams in the world.

We had never seen our national team performing on a global stage as grand as we witnessed in the opening match against England and then as they marched beyond Romania in the last-16 and onto the meeting with Italy in the Eternal City.

The famous meeting with Pope John Paul II was part of the build-up and Aldridge recalls another pre-match plan that reminds us these were very different times.

“Two days before we were due to play Italy, the lads were getting restless so Jack said we could have a couple of pints each when the Guinness truck came to the hotel in Rome,” continued Aldridge.

“The Guinness was set up round the pool with all the media people hanging round, plus the Italian police who were guarding us.

“The cops couldn’t believe that the Ireland players were drinking two days before we were due to play Italy and that the manager was in the thick of it.

“Jack treated you like a man. If he saw someone drinking a Coke, he’d say, ‘What are you drinking that s*** for? Guinness is better for you!’.

“Football is very different now and life is very different now, but is it better? I’m not so sure.”

Schillaci’s story after he became a national hero included a big-money move to Inter Milan before he spent some time in Japanese football with Jubilo Iwata, but his time in the spotlight had come and gone.

What can never be erased are the images of Schillaci’s joy as he fired Italy to the brink of World Cup glory.

He may have ended Ireland’s World Cup dreams with his goal in Rome, but no one in this country can look back on Italia ’90 with anything other than joy.

That explains why the player who ended our dream will always be cherished for his role as one of the symbols of our fairytale.