Genoa and Sidio Corradi: a matter of the heart

Let me start by saying: I have never seen Sidio play. But it doesn’t matter, because there are players who, to enter the hearts of a fan base and a team, you don’t necessarily have to see them play: they enter there, they remain there and they are part of the club, indelibly.

Sidio Corradi is not just a name in the history of football, but a living legend of Genoa, where he left his mark both as a player and as a person. Born in Porto Ercole on the same day as Gigi Riva, his career took a decisive turn when, despite family opposition, he chose to follow his passion for football. This choice led him to become not only one of Genoa’s most prolific attackers, but also an emblematic figure for the team and its fans.

Arriving at Genoa in 1970, Corradi found the team in Serie C, but with an ambitious project and a promise: to return to Serie A. Thanks to the guidance of Arturo Sandokan Silvestri and the determination of the group, Genoa not only reached Serie A, but he consolidated his presence in the football that matters, marking one of the most iconic eras of the club. Not everyone has experienced it but certain names remain engraved in the memory of grandparents, fathers up to us. Sidio, with his skill and charisma, quickly became a fan favourite, and over the course of his seven years in the rossoblù shirt, he established himself as the club’s fifth highest goalscorer of all time, a record which is testament to his devastating impact in attack, and first, and equaled only by Marco Rossi, to have scored in C. B and A.

But Sidio’s story does not stop at the green rectangle, it is full of challenges and triumphs, from his childhood in a small seaside town to his consecration in the world of professional football. The advice he received from his father on his deathbed to abandon sea life for football marked a turning point in his life, leading him to win a championship with Bologna before becoming a legend at Genoa.

The players who are struck by the North Stands are not few, but those who manage to enter inside are a very small elite. Sidio is unquestionably among these. So his request to be able to take one last photo with his bleachers behind him became an unstoppable wave, a tom tam among the fans, a delicate request for the club.

It’s not a question of photos, it’s – as mentioned – a question of the heart. It will be the time to cheer him again or shout his name for the first time. It will be an opportunity to dive into the 70s with him, to think back to a Griffin who entered the hearts of many.

Sidio is tired, tired, weak. He doesn’t hide behind a finger, he says it clearly. Because only those who are strong recognize their difficulties. Today he needs a strong, energetic, overflowing hug from his steps.

Remember dear Sidio that the legends say goodbye to us mortals, we are the ones who leave, while they remain, forever!