Emotional farewell for footballer Morosini

Distraught mourners follow the coffin of Piermario Morosini at the funeral service at the Church of San Gregorio in Bergamo on Thursday.

Priest Luciano Manenti watches the hearse carrying the coffin leaving after the funeral service.

Livorno fans display a banner at Armando Picchi Stadium on Wednesday as part of a ceremony commemorating the 25-year-old player.

Armando Picchi Stadium has become a site of mourning, with fans leaving hundreds of personal tributes to Morosini since his tragic death on April 14.

Livorno's president Aldo Spinelli struggles to hold back tears as he salutes the hearse carrying Morosini's coffin at a memorial ceremony.

Morosini's Livorno teammates wipe away tears as they leave the ceremony at Armando Picchi Stadium.

Mourners salute Morosini as a hearse carrying his coffin does a lap of the stadium.

Thousands of fans packed into the ground to pay their respects to Morosini, who died after collapsing on the pitch during his side's Serie B game at Pescara.

Morosini was playing for Livorno on loan from Serie A club Udinese.

He had represented Italy at Under-21 level but was unable to establish himself as a top-flight player.

The Bishop of Livorno, Simone Giusti, pays his respects to Morosini.

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Heavy hearts

Paying tribute

A sign of respect

Remembering Morosini

Club president's tears

Devastated teammates

We salute you

A standing ovation

United in grief

Morosini's final journey

A solemn day

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(CNN) -- Thousands of mourners descended on a suburban church in northern Italy on Thursday for the funeral of footballer Piermario Morosini, who died after collapsing on the pitch last week.

Mourners lined the streets of Bergamo to see the 25-year-old Livorno player finally laid to rest in his hometown at the Church of San Gregorio.

The midfielder's coffin was draped in his Livorno shirt as well as an Atalanta top bearing his name and the No. 8. Priest Luciano Manenti looked on as the coffin, adorned with wreaths and flowers, was carried from the church into a hearse.

Morosini, who was on loan from Udinese, started out in Atalanta's youth team.

Among the mourners were his longtime girlfriend Anna Vavassori, Italian soccer federation president Giancarlo Abete and national team coach Cesare Prandelli.

Morosini: 'A nation in shock'

"Soccer must pose itself questions following this tragedy," Prandelli said after the funeral, according to Italian news agency Ansa.

"Sporting medicine and prevention are state of the art in Italy, but it's possible to improve."

Morosini's life had been blighted by tragedy with the loss of both his parents before his 18th birthday.

His disabled brother later committed suicide, leaving him alone with his handicapped elder sister Maria Carla.

The funeral followed a packed memorial ceremony at Livorno's Armando Picchi Stadium the previous day. Thousands of mourners filled the stands to pay tribute as a hearse carrying Morosini's coffin did a lap of the ground.

Livorno's president Aldo Spinelli struggled to hold back tears as he saluted the player.

Morosini died last Saturday after collapsing on the pitch during his side's Serie B game at Pescara.

Initially it was thought Morosini had suffered a cardiac arrest but a post mortem on Monday proved inconclusive.

The entire Italian football program that weekend was canceled and a minute's silence was observed at major league games around the world in his honor.

Morosini's death has raised questions about the procedures in place at Italian stadiums to deal with an emergency of the type that cost him his life.

Prosecutors are investigating whether a badly parked police car delayed the arrival of paramedics on the scene.

Udinese has set up a fund for Maria Carla, who relied on her brother for financial support.