Former Footballer Christian Jidayi Found Dead in Italian Forest
Christian Jidayi, a former professional footballer and coach, has been found dead under mysterious circumstances in a pine forest near Ravenna, Italy. The 38-year-old, who was serving with the Provincial Police of Ravenna, was discovered around midnight on Tuesday, February 17, in Lido Adriano after he failed to report for work earlier that day.
Police Investigation and Search
Jidayi had been expected at his police duty at 1pm on Tuesday but did not appear. His colleagues alerted his family, who subsequently filed a missing persons report. Authorities located his body through mobile phone tracking, sparking an ongoing police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. Jidayi, who would have turned 39 on March 3, lived in Lido Adriano with his family and held both Italian and Nigerian citizenship.
Football Career and Achievements
Jidayi spent 11 years in Italian football, beginning his career at Cesena U19 in 2005. Primarily a right-back, he scored 10 goals during his playing days. His career highlights include:
- Five appearances for Cesena in the 2007-08 Serie B season.
- One appearance for Novara in the 2009-10 Coppa Italia.
- Being part of Novara's squad during their 2011-12 Serie A campaign, though he did not feature in matches.
- Playing his final season with Pro Patria in the 2015-16 Serie C (Group A).
He re-signed with Novara in 2016 but was released without making any appearances, retiring in 2017 after a year as a free agent. Jidayi won two trophies: the 2009-10 Serie C (Group A) title and the 2009-10 Supercoppa di Serie C with Novara. He made the most appearances of his career at Forlì during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.
Post-Football Life and Family
After retiring, Jidayi briefly served as assistant manager of San Marino Calcio from 2017 to 2019, including one match as manager in 2019. He then joined the local police, transferring to the Provincial Police of Ravenna last July after passing an exam. Born in Avellino, Jidayi was a father and is survived by his family. His older brother, William, is also a former professional footballer turned policeman, having played for clubs including Pro Vercelli, Sassuolo, and Padova.
Tributes from Former Club
Novara, where Jidayi spent significant parts of his career, paid tribute to him, offering "heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones at this time of great grief." The football community and local authorities continue to mourn his sudden and unexplained passing as investigations proceed.
