Luigi Mauro Cichero (16 October 1951 – 20 January 2019) was a footballer who played as a central defender. Born in Italy, he represented Venezuela internationally. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1980 Summer Olympics.[2][3]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Luigi Mauro Cichero | ||
| Date of birth | 16 October 1951 | ||
| Place of birth | Genoa, Italy | ||
| Date of death | 20 January 2019 (aged 67)[1] | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Deportivo Italia | |||
| Unión Deportiva Canarias | |||
| ULA Mérida | |||
| Grosseto | |||
| International career | |||
| 1980 | Venezuela | 9 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Early life
editCichero was born in Genoa, Italy and spent his early life there until he was 14, when his family moved to Venezuela.[4]
Playing career
editCichero played professionally in Venezuela for Deportivo Italia, Unión Deportiva Canarias, and ULA Mérida during the 1970s.[5] He made a name for himself in Venezuela thanks to his skill, resulting in the opportunity to go to Italy and went on trial with AC Milan. While he did not make the team, he ended up moving to Serie B club Grosseto.[6]
He also represented the Venezuela national team. His first appearances came at the seven team 1980 Olympic qualifying tournament. They came in 4th did not originally qualify for the 1980 Summer Olympics, however, Argentina was part of the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott, thereby vacating their spot,[7] allowing Venezuela to compete in the Olympic football tournament, where he played three games[6] and served as team captain.[8] He also continued to represent the national team afterwards.[9]
Post-playing career
editAfter retiring from professional football, he began his coaching career. He began working at the football school of the Colegio Campo Alegre de las Mercedes in Caracas, Venezuela and became a professor of Sport Sciences at a school and established a football program there.[6] In 1999, he moved to Norman, Oklahoma to become the Director of Coaching for the Norman Youth Soccer Association.[10] In 2003, he was named as the head coach of the St. Gregory's University men's soccer team in Oklahoma.[8]
He died on 20 January 2019 in the United States,[11] following a battle with cancer.[5]
Personal life
editHe is the father of professional football players Alejandro Cichero, Gabriel Cichero, and Mauro Cichero.[6]
References
edit- ^ De Armas, Esteban (23 January 2019). "FVF expresa su pesar por la muerte de Mauro Cichero" [FVF expresses its regret for the death of Mauro Cichero]. One Football (in Spanish).
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Mauro Cichero Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ "Luigi Mauro Cichero". Olympic Games.
- ^ De Simone, Fioravante (21 January 2019). "Mondo del calcio in lutto: è morto Mauro Cichero" [Mourning football world: Mauro Cichero died]. La Voce d'Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- ^ a b "#NotadeDuelo Falleció en los Estados Unidos el vinotinto Mauro Cichero" [#MourningNote Mauro Cichero died in the United States]. Balonazos (in Spanish). 20 January 2019.
- ^ a b c d De Simone, Fioravante (15 March 2018). "Mauro Cichero, uno dei pilastri della vinotinto olimpionica" [Mauro Cichero, one of the pillars of the olympic vinotinto]. La Voce d'Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ De Simone, Fioravante (20 January 2019). "El mundo del fútbol llora la muerte de Mauro Cichero" [The world of football mourns the death of Mauro Cichero]. Venezuela Futbol (in Spanish).
- ^ a b Howell, Melissa (7 April 2003). "Ex-Olympian to coach St. Gregory's soccer team". The Oklahoman.
- ^ "Falleció el ex futbolista Mauro Cichero" [Former footballer Mauro Cichero passed away]. Deportes Digital (in Spanish). 22 January 2019.
- ^ Anderson, Bobby (29 October 1999). "Tournament first test for Cichero". The Oklahoman.
- ^ "FVF lamentó el fallecimiento de Mauro Cichero" [FVF mourned the death of Mauro Cichero]. El Nacional (in Spanish). 21 January 2019.
