MERANO, Italy – Former Italian national team player Franco Gallo passed away on Friday at the age of 72. His funeral will be held today in Merano.

Gallo was born in Italy, in Sesto San Giovanni, but his family moved to Canada where he fell in love with the sport. When he was 22 he returned to Italy where he first played for Diavoli Milan and later for Bolzano where we won an Italian title contributing 21 goals in 22 games. Later he also played for several other teams in the Italian league including Merano where he was living.

Between 1969 and 1973 he represented Italy in five World Championship tournaments. Three in the B-Pool and two in the C-Pool.