Diego Ruspantini: Amateur footballer, 46, died in his sleep after telling family he was unwell
A former footballer and goalkeeping coach has died in his sleep after telling his family he was feeling unwell.
Diego Ruspantini, 46, had dinner with his wife and two children on Sunday evening before going to bed, saying he did not feel well. Later that night, his wife found him unconscious in their bedroom. Paramedics were called but he had already died by the time they arrived.
Emergency responders said his death in Porto Recanati, in Italy’s Marche region, was due to natural causes following a sudden illness. Known as “Ruspa” to friends, Ruspantini was a well-respected figure in the region’s amateur football scene, and was originally from Loreto.
He began his playing career with Porto Recanati during the 1996/97 season and spent much of his time as a goalkeeper in the lower tiers of Italian football.
His career took in clubs from the fourth to seventh divisions, including a season with Monturanese in Serie D in 2003/04.
Ruspantini even scored a rare goal for Vis Civitanova while playing in the Prima Categoria during the 2001/02 campaign. His final appearance came with Camerano in the Eccellenza in 2016/17, although he remained registered with the club until the 2019/20 season in Promozione.
After retiring, he moved into coaching and worked as a goalkeeping coach at Ancona and Adriatica Portorecanati. He also ran a local goalkeeping academy, Academy United DC.
In a tribute, an academy spokesperson said: “You wanted this academy with determination. You believed in it and made it a reality, not without sacrifice. If today we are what we are, it is thanks to you.
“We will carry forward your values of humility, respect, sacrifice, tenacity and trust. You will always be in our hearts.”