During the 1990 FIFA World Cup quarter-final at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, Republic of Ireland player Ray Houghton was challenged by Salvatore Schillaci.

Schillaci, who was the face of the 1990 World Cup finals, finished as the tournament's top goal scorer and ended Ireland's campaign with the winning goal in the quarter-finals.

His passionate goal celebrations made him a folk hero in Italy, and his presence in Irish sporting folklore was also assured following his goal in that famous Rome quarter-final.

Schillaci played for Juventus and Inter in a glittering career spanning 384 matches, scoring 159 goals.

However, his international career spanned only two years between 1990 and 1991, during which he collected 16 caps.

Schillaci's spell as Italy's lead striker may have been brief, but it did not dilute the influence he had on the soccer-loving nation.

In an interview with the BBC, he reflected on the impact his summer of 1990 had on the nation, suggesting that he touched the hearts of Italy.

'There have been times when people have just burst into tears when they meet me,' said Schillaci.

'It is great that when I meet people I see a big smile on their faces, they are so happy to meet me.

I think success is hard-won, so it is nice when people still remember you.

The tough thing is when people no longer appreciate you.

So I don't mind the attention at all.

'He also looked back on his World Cup story, with his inclusion in the squad named by Italy boss Azeglio Vicini far from assured in the months ahead of the tournament.

'I had got the last place in the squad, so I did not even expect to be on the bench,' Schillaci recalled.

'I thought I would be watching from the stands.

So, late in the game, with the score 0-0, when the manager Azeglio Vicini called me over and told me to get warmed up because I was coming on, I could not believe it.

I asked him, 'Do you mean me?' After the tournament, I went away to somewhere quiet.

Everybody wanted a piece of me, but I just wanted to get away from it all, especially after the pain of our semi-final defeat.

'