Words cannot adequately express what a uniquely wonderful person Davide Giri was. Above all else, he will be remembered for his infectious and ever-present smile, his light-hearted demeanour, his unmatched work ethic and the genuinely good nature of his heart.

Davide was tragically and senselessly killed in an attack on his way home last Friday.

Originally from Piedmont in Italy, Davide was a Computer Science doctoral student at Columbia University and a passionate researcher, always looking to quench his thirst for knowledge. 

His other major passion was football. A dedicated Inter Milan and Italy fan, Davide was one of the first players to join NY International upon its creation three years ago and he quickly became one of the pillars of the club.

A left-footed defender, he will be remembered on the pitch for his Alessandro Nesta-esque tackles and his incredible work rate, always giving every he could for the team. Davide was a decisive contributor to NY International’s successive promotions and his impact both on and off the pitch cannot be understated.

“He was the first man to put on a line-up. The kindest person you can have around, always supportive and ready to win for his team. Truly the best teammate you can have on and off the field. As some people have said, he was a true gentleman. He brought smiles on everybody's faces and he is everybody's best friend. We will play with him in mind at all times, it is a big void that he is leaving. This club would not be what we are without what he contributed.”

NY International on their teammate and friend, Davide.

Davide was an incredibly supportive teammate and friend. Reliable to the core, he was always punctual and never shied away from having a great time with those around him. His work ethic was such that, even after finishing training at 10:30pm, he would return home to continue working on his PhD, both passions sharing equal importance. 

Above all else, Davide brought nothing but joy and kindness to those around him, and the world is a worse place without him. His genuinely good nature, his gentle heart and his contagious smile will never be forgotten.

Davide Giri was a defender for NY International and a PhD student at Columbia University. He was a friend, a teammate, a son, authentically kind and a wonderful person. He will always be missed and remembered fondly.

NY International F.C. is a soccer team playing in Division 2 of the Cosmopolitan League, USA. Visit their Twitter page @NYIntFC to read more tributes to Davide and leave your own.

“Win for Davide, Play for Davide.”