Giorgio Armani, the fashion designer who died this Thursday at the age of 91, also had a close relationship with sport throughout his career.

The designer was the owner of the Olimpia Milano basketball team and also dressed the Italian national team at several Olympic Games, as well as Italian teams such as Naples or Juventus Turin.

Armani and a long life dedicated to sport

In addition to fashion, Armani showed great interest in sport, especially basketball, a world he entered in 2008 when he acquired the legendary Italian team Olimpia Milano, known since its purchase as Emporio Armani Olimpia Milano, which dressed in garments made by EA7, the fashion house's line.

He also ventured into football. Since 2019, he has dressed the Italian national team, winner of the Euro Cup in 2021; However, he had already designed the shirts for the 'Azzurra' at the 1994 World Cup, which lost the World Cup final in the United States to Brazil.

He also dressed Italian athletes and the Italian expedition that participated in the London 2012 Olympic Games, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. At the next Winter Olympic Games in Milano-Cortina 2026, the country's delegation will also wear the prestigious brand.

Recently, the Armani group signed a collaboration with Juventus Turin to dress the players of the men's first team off the field at all official events during the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 seasons.

Death of Giorgio Armani

Known as the 'king' of Italian fashion, "he passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones", his business group announced.

A few weeks ago, shortly before his 91st birthday, a lung infection forced him to be hospitalized and convalesce at his home in Milan (north), which forced him to miss the men's haute couture show in June, something very unusual for this tireless worker who never left the workshops.