Niccolò Galli

Who was Niccolò Galli?

Niccolò Galli was a promising professional footballer who died in a road traffic accident aged 17.

The son of former Italian international goalkeeper Giovanni Galli, he began with his hometown club, Fiorentina, before moving to Arsenal in August 1999. He spent one year in London, winning the FA Youth Cup in 2000, then returning to Italy to finish his studies. He was on loan with Bologna during this time. It was here that the young central defender's career really started to take off, featuring in Serie A and being recognised by Italy's youth teams, before he died. Arsenal Manager Arsène Wenger and Head of Youth Development and Academy Director Liam Brady both praised the young defender and stated he would have been a certainty to make the Arsenal first team but for his death.

The football training centre used by Bologna FC, in the neighbourhood of Casteldebole, is named after him; Bologna FC also retired his number 27 shirt. Arsenal observed a minute's silence upon the news of his death.