Gigi Meroni

Meroni, of Romani heritage, began playing football at the Oratorio di San Bartolomeo in Como. His father died when Meroni was two years old. His mother Rosa, a professional weaver, raised him and his two siblings, Celestino and Maria. Before his professional football career, Meroni worked as a designer of silk neckties and devoted time to painting. His football career began in the Como youth sector, where he eventually made his first-team debut in the second division. He was subsequently transferred to Genoa. During the final match of the 1963–64 Serie A season, Meroni failed to undergo a doping control examination, stating he had forgotten the test in his hotel. Following positive tests for amphetamines among three other players, Meroni was suspended for the first five games of the following season. In 1964, Meroni was sold to Torino, managed by Nereo Rocco. The transfer fee was 300 million lira, a record at the time for a 21-year-old player. At Torino, he earned the nickname la farfalla granata ("the maroon butterfly") in reference to his style of play, and the beatnik del gol ("the beatnik of the goal") for his artistic interests and nonconformist lifestyle. His personal life, including cohabiting with Cristiana Uderstadt, a young divorcee, was considered controversial in Italy at the time. On the pitch, he formed a successful attacking partnership with striker Nestor Combin. When cross-city rivals Juventus made an offer of 750 million lire for Meroni, Torino president…

Meroni made six appearances for the Italy national team between 1966 and 1967, scoring two goals. He made his debut on 19 March 1966 in a 0–0 away draw against France. He scored his first international goal in Bologna on 14 June 1966 during a 6–1 friendly victory over Bulgaria in preparation for the 1966 FIFA World Cup. He scored his second goal eight days later in a 3–0 friendly win over Argentina in Turin. Meroni was included in manager Edmondo Fabbri's squad for the 1966 World Cup in England, a tournament that ended with Italy's elimination in the first round following a 1–0 defeat to North Korea. Due to disagreements with Fabbri, Meroni made only one appearance in the tournament, playing in the second group-stage match against the Soviet Union.

Nicknamed La Farfalla Granata ("The Maroon Butterfly", as maroon is the color associated with Torino), Meroni was a right winger who wore the number 7 shirt. Known for his slender build, he was highly regarded for his dribbling ability, acceleration, and technical skills, which frequently allowed him to beat defenders in one-on-one situations. Because of his playing position, style, physical appearance, and off-pitch lifestyle, Meroni was frequently compared to George Best by the Italian media. He was considered to be a promising player in the media, and is retroactively thought to have had the potential to develop into one of Italy's greatest wingers ever, alongside the likes of Bruno Conti, Franco Causio, Claudio Sala, and Roberto Donadoni, which whom he has often been compared.

Genoa

Coppa delle Alpi: 1964 Individual

Torino FC Hall of Fame: 2015