DEATH OF A PALACE STAR Patrizio Billio, a former Crystal Palace, Dundee, and Aberdeen player, has died at the age of 48.
FORMER Patrizio Billio, a former Crystal Palace and AC Milan player, died at the age of 48.
The midfielder joined Selhurst Park in the late 1990s after a long career that saw him play for numerous clubs around Europe.
During his playing career, the star was a midfielder who moved from Italy to several clubs in the United Kingdom.Photographer: Scottish News and Sport
In the early 2000s, Billio also played for Scottish clubs Dundee and Aberdeen.
In 2010, he retired and returned to AC Milan to coach their development team in Kuwait.
Milan reported Billio’s untimely death via Twitter.
“Patrizio Billio, who grew up in our youth sector and has been the coach of our football school in Kuwait since 2011,” they claimed.
“The entire Rossoneri family clings to their loved ones’ pain.” Patrick, may you rest in peace.”
“It is with great sorrow and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our head coach Patrizio Billio on Monday 23rd of January, 2023,” AC Milan’s Kuwait school stated on Instagram.
“Mr. Billio has done an outstanding job in raising the training standards at the AC Milan Academy in Kuwait over the last ten years.”
“You will be remembered forever.” Mr. Billio’s family has our heartfelt sympathy.”
Billio was born in Milan in 1974 and attended the Rossoneri’s youth academy.
He was loaned out to lower division Italian clubs such as Monza and Verona before leaving the San Siro without making a senior debut.
In the 1997-98 season, Billio joined Crystal Palace alongside his more experienced and well-known countryman Attilio Lombardo.
However, Palace finished the season bottom of the standings, having lost 11 of 12 games between January and April.
Billio would spend four years in Scotland, first in Dundee and then in Aberdeen.
After being attacked by a fan during a training session, he departed Dundee in 2002.
Billio went on to play for six more clubs in Italy before retiring.
