Former AC Milan and Italy great Pierino Prati passes away

Prati netted a hat-trick in the 1969 European Cup final victory over Johan Cruyff's Ajax as Milan won the game 4-1.

Milan: Former Milan and Italy forward Pierino Prati has passed away, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) said on Monday.

"Italian football mourns another great champion," FIGC president Gabriele Gravina said. "Prati was an extraordinary footballer, a class striker, a star who shone in all the teams he played."

Prati was 73. He came through AC Milan's youth team, playing for his hometown club from 1967 to 1973, and netted a hat-trick in the 1969 European Cup final victory over Johan Cruyff's Ajax as Milan won the game 4-1.

Pierino Prati (file image)

Milan took to social media to mourn the demise of Prati and wrote on Monday: "Goodbye to a true Rossenoro legend. You were a shining light for us all and shall be dearly missed. Rest in peace Piero."

• Ha chiuso gli occhi un gigante della nostra Storia. Dal Bernabeu alla Bombonera: Piero Prati ha dato lustro in tutto il mondo ai colori rossoneri. Ciao Piero.
  
  Goodbye to a true Rossonero legend. You were a shining light for us all and shall be dearly missed: rest in peace Piero. pic.twitter.com/g6e7yH7SXY

  — AC Milan (@acmilan) June 22, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Ha chiuso gli occhi un gigante della nostra Storia. Dal Bernabeu alla Bombonera: Piero Prati ha dato lustro in tutto il mondo ai colori rossoneri. Ciao Piero.
  
  Goodbye to a true Rossonero legend. You were a shining light for us all and shall be dearly missed: rest in peace Piero. pic.twitter.com/g6e7yH7SXY

  — AC Milan (@acmilan) June 22, 2020

  ">

  Ha chiuso gli occhi un gigante della nostra Storia. Dal Bernabeu alla Bombonera: Piero Prati ha dato lustro in tutto il mondo ai colori rossoneri. Ciao Piero.
  
  Goodbye to a true Rossonero legend. You were a shining light for us all and shall be dearly missed: rest in peace Piero. pic.twitter.com/g6e7yH7SXY

  — AC Milan (@acmilan) June 22, 2020

Prati won the Serie A with Milan in 1967-68 season and won two Coppa Italia trophies in 1971-72 and 1972-73 seasons apart from the European Cup in 1969.

With Italy too he was as successful as he won the European Championship in 1968 and became a FIFA World Cup runner-up in 1970.

According to UEFA.com, Prati scored 72 goals in 141 Serie A games for Milan while he also found the back of the net on seven occassions for Italy in 14 outings.

Pierino Prati with Champions League cup

Apart from Milan, Prati also featured for top Italian sides like Roma and Fiorentina and he also played for Rochester Lancers in the United States before retiring in 1981.

Prati subsequently embarked on his coaching career with Lecco, Solbiatese, Sporting Bellinzago and Pro Patria.