Luigi "Gigi" Meroni was an Italian professional footballer who played as a winger. He played 145 matches in Serie A, scoring 29 goals. At international level, he represented Italy on six occasions between 1966 and 1967, scoring two goals, and took part at the 1966 FIFA World Cup.
Meroni was born in the Northern lakeside town of Como in 1943, and it was with his hometown club that he burst onto the scene, earning himself a move to Genoa in 1962. A quick player with the typically bandy legs and dribbling of the great wingers, he quickly became a fan favourite, but the Rossoblu had been in terminal decline since the second world war, and Meroni moved on to Torino in 1964.
Under the stewardship of Nereo Rocco, Torino were finally starting to emerge from the post-Superga shadows, and Meroni fitted in well. His speed, infield dribbling from the right wing and penchant for scoring the occasional incredible goal, including a spectacular chip to end Inter’s lengthy unbeaten run that is considered among the best ever scored in Italy,
He dressed oddly too – arriving back from international duty in loud suits and sunglasses resting on the tip of his nose, and eventually he began designing his own clothes.
