Former Italy football captain Facchetti dies

Milan:

Giacinto Facchetti, a former Italy player who led the Azzurri to the 1970 World Cup final and was Inter Milan's president, died on Monday, the club said in a statement. He was 64. Facchetti died at Milan's cancer institute, Inter said. The club did not say what type of cancer Facchetti was being treated for. Facchetti played for Inter from 1961-78 in the club's most successful period, when it won four Italian league titles, two Champions Cups, two Intercontinental Cups and one Italian Cup. A left back who was as potent in attack as he was sure in defence, Facchetti played 94 times for Italy - 70 as captain - leading the Azzurri to the European Championship title in 1968 and to the World Cup final in 1970, where it lost to Brazil 4-1. Pele, who played against Facchetti in the 1970 final, called the Italian one of the top 125 living soccer players in March 2004. "He was the captain of my generation," said Italy's all-time leading scorer Luigi Riva, now the national team manager. "We won a European Championship together in '68 and played the World Cup final. He was a special person and an example for everyone." Italy will wear black armbands during Wednesday's European Championship qualifier against France to mourn Facchetti's death. Facchetti had served as Inter's president since 2004, after spells in a number of administrative roles within the club. He succeeded Inter owner Massimo Moratti. "We will miss Giacinto a great deal because he was an extraordinary person, a very, very good human being in every sense. He played his part and will always play a part in the history of Inter," Inter captain Javier Zanetti said. Facchetti is survived by his wife, Giovanna, and four children, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. (AP)