Italian football mourning Fiorentina hero Luigi Milan

Fiorentina and Italian football are mourning the death of former forward Luigi Milan, who passed away on Friday aged 85.

Milan, who scored 30 goals in 219 Serie A games with Udinese, Fiorentina, Catania and Atalanta, famously netted three for the Viola in the inaugural two-legged UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final in 1961. He scored both goals as Fiorentina won 2-0 in Glasgow, earning the nickname of "Lions of Ibrox", and the opening goal when the Viola won 2-1 at home. It was the first success of an Italian club in UEFA competitions.

The same season, Milan also helped Fiorentina win the Coppa Italia, finishing the tournament as top scorer with four goals, including one in the semi-final against Juventus and one in the final against Lazio. The following season, Fiorentina reached another UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final only to lose against Atlético de Madrid in the replay after drawing 1-1 in the first game.

"All of Fiorentina expresses its condolences for the passing of Luigi Milan, protagonist of the victory of the Coppa Italia and the Cup Winners' Cup in the 1960/61 season," reads a Fiorentina statement. "President Rocco Commisso, his family and the whole club are close to Milan’s family."