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Former Inter Milan coach Gigi Simoni passes away

Milan, May 23 (IANS) Former Inter Milan coach Gigi Simoni has died at the age of 81, the club has announced.

Simoni, winner of the UEFA Cup with a side which included the Brazilian Ronaldo, had joined Inter before the start of the 1997-98 season at the same time they signed Ronaldo from Barcelona and led them to second place in Serie A behind Juventus and to the UEFA Cup final, where they beat Lazio 3-0.

“His way of living, both in life and football, was never over the top. His football reflected that: it was humble, functional and capable of making the most of what he had on offer,” said Inter in a statement on Friday.

As a coach, in addition to the UEFA Cup with Inter, he lifted the Anglo-Italian Cup with Cremonese and won five Serie B titles (three with Genoa, two with Pisa).

In 1998, he received the Panchina d’Oro as the best Italian coach.

“This is how we remember him: with his white hair, in our dugout, while he enjoyed the magic of Ronaldo with a smile on his face, enveloped by the fans’ affection,” the statement further read.

During his playing career, he won a Coppa Italia with Napoli as well as Serie B with Genoa.

–IANS

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