from the stands. Although his condition initially seemed to be improving well, Fortunato came down with a flu and later caught pneumonia, from which he was unable to recover; he died in a hospital in Perugia on 25 April 1995; the eve of Italy's game against Lithuania in Vilnius; the Italian national team observed a minute of silence in his honour prior to the match, and also dedicated the 1–0 victory to him. His funeral took place on 27 April, in his hometown of Salerno. That season, Lippi's Juventus went on to win their 23rd League title, dedicated to Fortunato, known as Fortunato's Scudetto. Juventus also won the Coppa Italia, and the Supercoppa Italiana that year, and reached the UEFA Cup Final. In total, Fortunato made 27 league appearances for Juventus, all of which came during the 1993–94 season, scoring one goal for the club, which came in a 3–1 away defeat to Lazio on 12 December 1993, in Serie A. Style of play A strong, hard-working, dynamic, energetic, and gregarious team player, Fortunato was known for his pace, class, stamina, determination, and tactical intelligence as a footballer, which enabled him to cover the left flank well and win back possession effectively. He also had a good left foot and was known for his crossing accuracy from the touchline, and ability to beat opponents, make attacking runs down the wing, and deliver balls to teammates in the area. Although he played at left-back throughout his professional career, or as an attacking wing-back, he was a highly versatile player, who started out playing as a centre-forward and as a left midfielder in his youth, and was also capable of playing as a central or defensive midfielder, as a centre-back, or as a sweeper. A precocious player, he was regarded as one of the most promising young left-backs of his generation in Italy; his playing style was frequently compared with that of legendary former Juventus full-back Antonio Cabrini. In addition to his talent and footballing skills, Fortunato was also known for his calm composure, friendly personality, and strong mentality, both on the pitch and in the dressing room, in spite of his reserved, and introverted character. Honours Club Juventus Serie A: 1994–95 (Posthumous) Coppa Italia: 1994–95 (Posthumous) References External links Profile at MyJuve.it Profile at FIGC 1971 births 1995 deaths People from Salerno Italian footballers Italy international footballers Como 1907 players Pisa