Departures of note

Gabriele Sabatini was an Italian footballer and coach closely identified with amateur football in La Spezia. He began his playing career in the youth ranks of AC Milan and wore the shirt of Italy's Under-15 and Under-16 national teams before a serious injury cut short his hopes of a top-level career. As a midfielder and captain he became a symbol of Sarzanese, spending six seasons there and taking part in a historic victory over Spezia Calcio. He later built a long coaching career across the amateur leagues, earning several promotions; his final role was at Santerenzina, which he led into the Promozione Liguria in May. He died in October 2026 at the age of 50, leaving his wife Francesca Rollini, two children concerns and his parents. Clubs across La Spezia, including Spezia Calcio and Santerenzina, paid tribute to him as a deeply respected coach and a generous figure who left a lasting mark on everyone who shared the pitch and the club life with him.