Italian football mourns legendary goalkeeper Fabio Cudicini
Thursday, January 9, 2025
Article summary
Italian football is mourning the loss of Fabio Cudicini, the legendary goalkeeper known as the Black Spider, who died on Wednesday at the age of 89.
Article top media content
Article body
Born in Trieste in 1935, Cudicini played for Udinese, AS Roma and AC Milan and was renowned for his agility and long reach. He won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and the Coppa Italia with the Giallorossi before joining the Rossoneri in 1967.
At Milan, he was instrumental in winning a Serie A title, a Coppa Italia, a European Cup, a Cup Winners' Cup and Milan's first Intercontinental Cup in 1969.
Football runs in the Cudicini family. The son of Ponziana Trieste defender Guglielmo, Fabio's career gave inspiration to his own son, Carlo, who also enjoyed success as a goalkeeper. Following in his father's footsteps at Milan, Carlo eventually became a fans' favourite in England with Chelsea, going on to join the club's backroom coaching staff.
"The spider's web on our Rossoneri heart. Forever. Fabio Cudicini, champion of everything with Milan, a great goalkeeper and a great person, has passed away," said the club in a statement. "The condolences of all the Rossoneri to his son Carlo, who grew up in the club, and to the whole family. Ciao Fabio."
Roma also paid tribute, saying: "AS Roma mourns the passing of Fabio Cudicini. Historic Giallorossi goalkeeper, he won a Fairs Cup and an Italian Cup in eight seasons between 1958 and 1966. The condolences and embrace of the entire Roma family go to his family."