From Boston Celtics and NBA basketball legend Bill Russell to ‘King Pelé’, considered the greatest player in football history, here is the list of the most important figures in the sporting world who died in 2022.
Paco GENTO88, Spanish player for Real Madrid between 1953 and 1971, the only player in history to have won 6 European Cups.
Freddie Rincon55, soccer star in Colombia, member of the golden generation, qualified for 3 consecutive World Cups, died in a traffic accident.
Mike BOSY65, NHL champion for 4 straight years with the New York Islanders from 1980 to 1983, one of the league’s top scorers.
Guy LAFLEUR70-year-old Canadian NHL legend, Montreal Canadiens legend, winner of 5 Stanley Cups, nickname “blonde demon”.
Mino RAIOLA54, famous players’ agent especially for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Erling Haaland.
Bill Russel88, American basketball legend, 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, including 2 titles as player-coach, 1956 Olympic gold medalist.
Phil READ83 years old, motorcyclist, 7-times world champion, including 2 times in the premier class in 1973 and 1974.
Mike Birch90 years old, Canadian sailor, 1st winner of the Route du Rhum 1978.
Davide REBELLIN51, three-time winner of the Flèche Wallonne and Olympic runner-up in 2008, hit by a truck.
NICK BOLLETTIERI91, former tennis coach who notably coached Andre Agassi and Maria Sharapova.
Sinisa MIHAJLOVIC53, former Serbian footballer (AS Roma, Lazio, Sampdoria, Inter Milan) then coach, died of leukemia.
PELE82, the first global soccer star and the only player in history to win 3 editions of the World Cup.
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