Italian football veteran Pierpaolo Pucci dies at 75

Pierpaolo Pucci, a prominent figure in provincial Italian football, died at the age of 75 after a brief illness. Born in Fornaci di Barga, he played as a versatile midfielder in Serie D during the 1970s and 1980s for clubs including Barga, Montecatini, Castelnuovo, Carrarese and made two appearances for Lucchese in the 1970‑71 season.

After his playing career, Pucci became a long‑time football director and youth coach, serving clubs such as Lucchese, US Castelnuovo Garfagnana and, most recently, Ghiviborgo, where he joined in 2024 as a senior team accompanist and technical collaborator. Tributes highlighted his dedication, generosity and lasting impact on the local football community, with statements from AS Barga, US Castelnuovo and Ghiviborgo expressing deep sorrow.