Former Chelsea striker and manager Gianluca Vialli, who played 59 times for Italy, has died aged 58.
He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017, but declared in April 2020 that he had been given the go-ahead.
Vialli was rediagnosed in 2021 and left a post with the Italy national team in December 2022 to focus on his health.
“Gianluca was a wonderful person and leaves a void that cannot be filled,” said the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) Gabriele Gravina.
“I hoped until the end that he could perform another miracle. Yet I take comfort in the certainty that what he did for Italian football and for the Azzurri will never be forgotten. »
The FIGC has confirmed that before all the Italian matches this weekend there will be a minute’s silence in memory of Vialli.
Vialli made his Italy debut in 1985, a year after joining Sampdoria, where he would go on to win the Serie A title and the Cup Winners’ Cup during eight seasons with the club.
Sampdoria said in a statement: “We will not forget your 141 goals, your bicycle kicks, your cashmere shirts, your earrings, your platinum blonde hair, your Ultras bomber jacket. You gave us so much, we gave you so much: yes, it was love, reciprocal, infinite. A love that will not die today with you. »
Vialli helped Sampdoria reach the 1992 European Cup final, but joined Juventus for a then-record €12m after the defeat by Barcelona. Vialli spent four seasons at Juve, winning the Champions League, UEFA Cup and Serie A.
“We loved everything about you, absolutely everything: your smile, your status as a star and a leader at the same time, on the pitch and in the locker room, your beautiful swaggering ways, your culture, your class, which you showed the black and white stripes until the last day. »
Vialli joined Chelsea on a free transfer in 1996 and became player-manager in 1998 – the first Italian to manage a Premier League side, succeeding Ruud Gullit’s sacking at the end of the season – and then led the Blues to victory in League Cup, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
He also guided Chelsea to victory in the 2000 FA Cup Final and Charity Shield but was sacked early the following season after a poor start.
A statement from the Blues said: “A brilliant striker, a trophy-winning manager and a wonderful man, Luca’s place in the pantheon of Chelsea greats is secure. He will be deeply missed.”
Vialli then had a short spell as manager of then second division Watford during the 2001-02 season but was sacked after the Hornets finished just 14th.
In October 2019, he was named in Italy’s backstage squad by manager and former Sampdoria teammate Roberto Mancini. He helped the Azzurri win Euro 2020 with a win over England at Wembley in July 2021.
A FIGC statement reads: “This photo on the Wembley lawn, this hug with coach Roberto Mancini after Federico Chiesa’s goal against Austria in the round of 16 of the 2021 European Championship, will be an image of Gianluca Vialli that we will bring in the heart. forever. »
