Giusy Achilli, football pioneer and former Pavia president, dies at 72

Giusy Achilli, a pioneer in Italian professional football, has passed away in Milan at the age of 72 following a long illness. Achilli made history as the first woman in Italy to serve as the president of a professional football club, leading Pavia Calcio from 1989 to 1994 after succeeding her husband, Claudio.

During her tenure at Pavia, she was noted for her ability to identify talent, including a young midfielder named Massimiliano Allegri and Frederic Massara, both of whom went on to achieve significant success in Serie A. Following her time in Pavia, the Achilli family also held ownership of Livorno from 1992 to 1999, guiding the club through a period of resurgence.

Her death has drawn condolences from the Italian football community, including the management of Livorno and current Napoli coach Massimiliano Allegri, who was impacted by her leadership during his early playing career.