Orazio Russo, an Italian football player and coach who represented the Sicilian club Catania across four professional divisions, died Feb. 13, 2026. He was 52.
Russo started his career as a forward with the youth team S.S. Battiati before signing with Calcio Catania at age 18. He spent nearly two decades as a professional athlete, utilizing a quick offensive style to lead his teams. His early success in the regional leagues earned him a promotion to the senior squad under coach Giuseppe Caramanno in 1992.
In 1993, Russo joined U.S. Lecce and made his Serie A debut in a match against A.C. Milan. He later participated in a summer exhibition tour with Inter Milan in the United States. Russo holds a unique distinction in Italian football as the only player to compete for Catania in every professional category from Serie C2 to Serie A.
Following his retirement from the pitch, Russo transitioned into the coaching ranks at Catania. He served as an assistant and youth coach before leading the senior team as caretaker manager in 2019. He held the position of technical director for the club’s youth academy through the 2025 season.