Born: Pisa, 17/3/60
Position: Defender
Clubs: Pisa, Pietrasanta, Prato, Livorno, Ternana, Cavese, Parma, Roma, Genoa, Pisa
Serie A Apps: 179
Serie A Gls: 5

Today Gianluca Signorini is staring death in the face. After thousands of battles on the pitch, the former Genoa captain is fighting against an illness that is eating away at his muscles.

Signorini currently lies in bed, unable to speak due to a disease that is associated with former athletes. The condition is called Lou Gehrig Syndrome, named after a New York Yankees baseball player, who died of a mysterious illness that attacked his body.

Doctors still don’t know what causes the state - some have pointed to the painkillers to which athletes are subjected, but there is no conclusive evidence. There have been 16 such cases in ex-footballers, with an alarming 14 of them proving fatal.

Signorini can only communicate via a computer after first signs of the illness became evident around a year ago. Speaking on behalf of her husband, Antonella Signorini said: “I’m learning to live with my illness and I won’t give in to it. My only enemy is destiny.”

Signorini was born in Pisa in 1960 and made his professional debut with his hometown club. At Parma, he linked up with Arrigo Sacchi. The player soon became the cornerstone for their defence. When Sacchi arrived at Milan he gave Franco Baresi a videotape of Parma games.

Sacchi told Baresi to study the tape, especially the way Signorini moved. After a year with Roma, he joined Genoa becoming a hero. He was leader of the side that in the early 1990s made a real impression in Serie A and stayed at the club until 1995.

Unbeatable in the air, the now 40-year-old was a model footballer. Tactically aware and a team player, there are many that could do no worse than learn from this great.