Igor Protti: Farewell to a Prince of the Provinces
Story by
Some great goalscorers never really find favour with a big club or their country. Giancarlo Rinaldi pays tribute to one such player – Igor Protti – who has passed away aged just 58.
In amongst the superstars, there are sometimes unfashionable footballers who can do a great job without ever really getting the credit they deserve. Through misfortune, misjudgement or maybe choice, there are players who do not get the limelight despite stringing together an impressive career. For the best part of two decades, from the mid-1980s to mid-2000s, Igor Protti was one such goalscorer across all levels of the Italian game.
AdvertisementAdvertisementTribute to ex-Serie A star Protti
His peak came in a remarkable 1995/96 season where he finished joint top scorer in Serie A with Beppe Signori despite his team, Bari, ending up getting relegated. Among the players he outscored that astonishing year were Enrico Chiesa, Oliver Bierhoff and Gabriel Batistuta. At a time when Italy enjoyed a wide range of attacking options, he was scarcely considered for inclusion in their squad at the European Championships in England that summer.
That was the pinnacle of his powers that he had spent 10 years honing in some low key places. Hometown Rimini was where it all began, followed by Livorno and Virescit Bergamo before getting the chance to step up to Serie B at a club desperately seeking a goalscorer. Messina had just sold Salvatore Schillaci to Juventus and they saw, in Protti, the right man to fill his power-packed boots.
He delivered double-figure returns in two out of his three seasons in Sicily before Bari came calling. He helped to take them to Serie A and, in a team whose star foreign imports were Swedes Klas Ingesson and Kennet Andersson, delivered his record-breaking season as they tumbled back down to the second tier.
AdvertisementAdvertisementIt earned him his move to a big side at last to keep him in the top flight – with Lazio – but he never really settled or seemed at home. A move to Napoli did not work out much better and he decided that, perhaps, he was better off moving down the divisions once again.
That would mean Reggiana and, then, a very special mission to Livorno. He would help them move up from Serie C to Serie B and – after the arrival of club legend Cristiano Lucarelli – into Italy’s top division. He would have one last campaign in Serie A with the Tuscan club before saying goodbye to his playing days.
Protti, in his prime, was a joy to watch. He mixed agility, hard work and opportunism to great effect and was a threat to some of the best defences in the world when at his peak. His trademark long, curly locks made him one of the most easily identifiable footballers in an era when Italy could still attract some huge names.
BARI, ITALY – MAY 26: Igor Protti attends during the Italian Football Federation against racism event ‘Razzisti? Una brutta razza’ on May 26, 2015 in Bari, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)
The news of his passing came as no huge shock – he had been ill for some time – but was still tragically premature. It sent many minds scampering back to the days when he lit up the Italian game – most notably with Bari and Livorno – and club after club paid tribute to the man.
He had one standout season, for sure, but delivered a whole lot more than that during his playing career. Trophies were in short supply – an Italian Super Cup with Lazio is all the history books will show – but the thousands who turned out to say their goodbyes in Livorno underlined that the game can be about more than silverware. Igor Protti gave fans of clubs which do not always have that much to cheer about a source of celebration. His contribution to their cause will surely not be forgotten for some time to come.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
