Mourning for the world of sport. Alberto Michelotti, one of the most famous referees in the history of Italian football, died in Parma at the age of 91. Born in the Emilian city on July 15, 1930, after a short career as a goalkeeper, Michelotti had chosen a career as a referee at an old age, arriving in Serie A at the age of 38. On April 14, 1968, the debut in Napoli-Varese on the field of Fuorigrotta, the last act of his career in the top flight at 51 on May 17, 1981 with a Napoli-Juventus marked by the tribute of the San Paolo fans who, at the entering the field, they unrolled the banner “Alberto, tu si ‘na cosa grande”.
In all, Michelotti has directed 145 Serie A matches, 115 Serie B matches and 86 international matches. At the end of his career in the world of football, he entered professional cycling becoming a close collaborator of Vincenzo Torriani in organizing the Giro d’Italia. His commitment to the world of volunteering is also very intense, in particular alongside Don Gnocchi from Parma, and in the school with his lessons to the little ones in the Parmesan dialect. His last love for Verdi’s music. He was one of the members of the prestigious «club dei 27», an association made up of only 27 people who represent a work of the Swan of Busseto. For himself he had chosen the beloved don carlo.
He also joined the Italian football Hall of Fame in 2020, and in July of last year the Hague appointed him as a Meritorious Manager. Having become a referee in 1958, he joined Serie A ten years later where he directed 145 games. Three Italian Cup finals: 1975 (Fiorentina – Milan), 1980 (Rome – Turin) and 1981 (Turin – Rome). In 1974 he was awarded the Giovanni Mauro Prize. Appointed international referee in 1973, he achieved a brilliant career even outside national borders, with the Montreal Olympics in 1976, the Uefa Cup final in 1979 between Borussia and Stella Rossa, and the European Championship in 1980 (with the direction of the competition inaugural between Czechoslovakia and West Germany).
The President of The Hague Alfredo Trentalange and Deputy Duccio Baglioni, together with the members of the National Committee, express deep condolences to the family of Alberto Michelotti and to his colleagues in the Parma Section on behalf of all the Italian referees.