by Luca Ranocchiari - Futsalplanet.com editor

Pity that in a hot day of August his father's heart ceased to beat. He would have surely loved to attend tomorrow game between Futsal Isola and Kaos Futsal, as he always used to do wherever his beloved son was going to play: no matter if in Rome, Turin, Prato or everywhere else in the world. A kind of ritual, like the "smoking time" with Andrea just after the match, something maybe unusual for an athlete but forgiven to the "best one". But that's life and Andrea will surely have a great support from the heaven.

Let's check the agenda: tomorrow he will make a "new debut" in Serie A1, h. 18.30 in Rome. On December 20th he will be celebrating his 50th birthday.

Wondering who is Andrea Rubei? There's usually no answer to be provided for rhetorical questions but... let's make an exception. Andrea Rubei is simply, undisputably and undeniably... the essence of Italian futsal, the real face and soul of it.

That kind of italian futsal that was wasted by an arguable management looking for immediate results (what for?) while it was supposed to be protected like artworks and masterpieces in museums and city squares. But everybody knows how things went out in Italy and there's no need to remind it here, we would "ruin" this tribute and its aim.

Poggio Verde, year 1987: everything started here for Andrea Rubei's futsal life. And after that was a story of pure legend, wearing the shirts of all the best italian clubs and collecting team and individual titles everywhere. Teams looking to increase their standard were supposed to sign that "alien" with the olive skin who looked like a foreign player but was 100% Rome and italian native.

Rain of goals, supreme technical skills and huge fair play: Andrea Rubei became the absolute king of italian futsal gaining even the respect of his "bitter rivals" in the pitch.

Last but not least comes Italy, his country. 89 caps in about 15 years of activity ended with the last appearance in Chieti in 2006. And 97 goals (ask to Belgian players in Acireale, year 1992, they must have still nightmares on that game), which are still a good amount in order to keep his place as best ever goal scorer of the Italian National Team.

Rubei told in a recent interview (click here), when asked about the reasons why he's still playing: "It's a challenge to myself, I want to find out If I can still raise the standard against players who have half my age. Also, I guess there's a dose of madness in this".

Some might say is not good to have 50 years old players in first division. We believe that, until Andrea is running on that parquet, there's room for hope in Italian futsal. Thanks Andrea, thanks for futsal!