Italian football has been plunged into mourning after the untimely passing of former Aberdeen and Dundee midfielder Patrizio Billio.
The 48-year-old's death was revealed by Milan – the club Billio worked for as a youth coach in Kuwait and where he came through the youth ranks in the 1990s. Billio played for a host of clubs in both his homeland and a three-year stint in the Scottish Premiership with Dundee before he headed to the Granite City for a short stay.
Billio also played for Ancona and Livorno during a much-travelled career which led him back to his boyhood club where he embarked on eyeing stars of the future. And his passing has been with an outpouring of grief as his impact as both a player and coach has been remembered.
A Milan statement read: "Yesterday Patrizio Billio left us prematurely, who grew up in our youth sector and has been the coach of our football school in Kuwait since 2011. The entire Rossoneri family clings to the pain of their loved ones. Rest in peace, Patrizio."
Billio was a fans’ favourite with the Dark Blues after signing in 1999, before heading to Aberdeen in 2002 after departing Dundee.
