Luigi Serafini

Luigi Serafini was an Italian basketball player who was one of the stars of Virtus Bologna in the 1970s, with them winning an Italian title in 1976 and an Italian Cup in 1974. Gigi found himself champion at the head of a strong and united team. With the Bologna squad, where he played from 1968-77, he was able to give his best with coach Dan Peterson. Serafini was also able to assert himself in other teams in Milano, Venezia, Fabriano, and Firenze, nicknamed by all “Il gigante buono” (The good giant).

With the national team Serafini débuted in Siena on 21 May 1971, leading Italy to a 71-63 victory over France, and he won in total 113 caps, scoring 531 points. He won a bronze medal at the 1971 European Championships and competed twice at the Olympics. With a strong work ethic, he helped make Italian basketball great. Sick for about a year, Luigi Serafini passed away in Bologna in August 2020.