Cagliari fans are in mourning after the death of Fabian O’Neill, the Uruguay and Juventus player who Zinedine Zidane said was one of the greatest talents he’d ever seen, but whose career was dominated by alcoholism and an erratic character.
The creative midfielder died in Uruguay on Christmas Day at the age of 49 and initial reports suggest his lifetime battle with alcohol was also the cause of his death, leading to chronic liver disease.
A Uruguayan with Irish ancestry, O’Neill spent much of his career in Italy with Cagliari from 1996 to 2000, then Juventus and Perugia before returning to Sardinia in 2002 and retiring in the summer of 2003.
He scored 11 goals and provided four assists in 115 Serie A appearances, but was known more for his tempestuous nature both on and off the field, as is made clear by his six red cards in the Italian top flight.
His teammate at Juventus was Zidane, who famously called O’Neill “one of the greatest talents I have ever seen,” but the skill simply was not matched by any sense of self-discipline.
Even at the time there were reports he’d turn up to morning training sessions still drunk from the night before.
That continued after his retirement too, as he gambled away all his money and ended up working behind a bar in Montevideo.
“Slow horses and fast women, that’s what ruined my life. I even spent money I didn’t have. But I don’t mind being poor now I have some real friends, unlike those who buzzed around me only when I was rich,” he said in one of his last interviews.
“I don’t think my career could’ve been better with sports psychologists, because it was all my fault, I didn’t want any help.”
Cagliari fans remember him with great fondness and he was even their captain for a brief period.
“Proud to have been able to admire your genius from so close: pure, clear, like the most precious diamonds,” wrote the official Cagliari website.
“You made us fall in love with your style. Cagliari never stopped caring for its Magician with the 10 on his back. Rest in peace, Fabian. Forever one of us.”
There was a minute’s silence before Cagliari’s Boxing Day match with Cosenza, while a video played of O’Neill’s highlights and a banner said he was always in their hearts.
Was an absolute beast for me in football manager games.
Lol absolute beast of a talent. RIP baller 🙏🏻