European football mourns Stefano Borgonovo

European football is mourning the death of former AC Milan and ACF Fiorentina striker Stefano Borgonovo at the age of 49 following a long battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Borgonovo was diagnosed with ALS, a severe neurological condition that causes the progressive loss of all muscle function, at the age of 42. The Stefano Borgonovo Foundation was subsequently set up by the former Italian international, his wife Chantal and eldest daughter Alessandra on 13 December 2008 with the goal of helping the 350,000 ALS sufferers worldwide.

The UEFA Monaco Charity Award recognised the work of the foundation with the presentation of a €1m cheque in support of its research last year.

"Stefano Borgonovo was and will remain an example for us all," said UEFA President Michel Platini. "His courage, his joy for life and his love of football – all features which he maintained during his long and brave battle against this terrible illness – provide an important lesson for us all.

2012 award to the Stefano Borgonovo Foundation©Getty Images for UEFA

"On behalf of all of the European football family, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the Borgonovo family, and our thoughts are with his wife, Chantal, and their four children at this sad time."

Borgonovo, who started his career with Como Calcio in 1981, moved to Milan five years later before a successful loan stint at Fiorentina, during which he scored 14 goals in 30 Serie A outings.

A member of the Rossoneri's European Champion Clubs' Cup-winning squad in 1989/90, he left for Fiorentina on a permanent basis the following season and finished his career with spells at Pescara Calcio, Udinese Calcio and Brescia Calcio before retiring in 1995.

Borgonovo won three caps for Italy after making his debut in a 1-0 friendly victory against Denmark in 1989.