Chelsea and Italy legend Gianluca Vialli has passed away at the age of 58.
Vialli played for the Azzurri at the 1986 and 1990 World Cup and later became a heroic figure at Stamford Bridge thanks to European Cup Winners’ Cup and League Cup successes in 1998 before winning the FA Cup in 2000.
He had been diagnosed and beaten pancreatic cancer before the illness returned in late 2022.
Vialli played for Cremonese, Sampdoria, Juventus and Chelsea at club level, being a regular goalscorer during a glistening Serie A era between the 1980s and 1990s. He won Serie A titles with Sampdoria and Juventus and captained Juve to their most recent Champions League victory in 1996, when they beat Ajax on penalties in Rome.
Following his death, below are some moving tributes in honour of Gianluca Vialli
@ChelseaFC You’ll be missed by so many. A legend to us and to all of football. Rest in peace, Gianluca Vialli.
@GaryLineker Deeply, deeply saddened to hear that Gianluca Vialli has left us. One of the loveliest people You could possibly meet. A truly magnificent footballer who will be hugely missed. RIP Luca.
@FabrizioRomano Italian legend Gianluca Vialli has sadly passed away at the age of 58, after his brave battle with cancer. A kind guy, a fantastic striker, a real man appreciated by everyone in football and outside sports world. Thoughts go out to his family. RIP, Gianluca
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Alessandro Del Piero: “Our Captain. My Captain. Always. Goodbye Luca.”
Ciao amico mio. RIP Gianluca Vialli pic.twitter.com/TmUherAf31
— Carlo Ancelotti (@MrAncelotti) January 6, 2023
@alanshearer RIP Gianluca Vialli. What a lovely lovely man and a wonderful player he was.
@UEFA Today, European football mourns Gianluca Vialli, who has passed away aged 58. Vialli lifted the Champions League with Juventus in 1996, won 59 caps for Italy and was a hugely popular member of the backroom staff as the Azzurri triumphed at EURO 2020. Rest in peace, Gianluca.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino: Football has lost one of its most beautiful, and positively contagious smiles, the smile of Gianluca Vialli. The smile of a man who played and coached. The smile of a man who had success and thereby in his joy helped to transform and grow clubs. Vialli was a great footballer and intelligent man
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Gianluigi Buffon: “You were a giant, on the field and in life,” Buffon wrote. “You fought to the end with your head held high with unique dignity. This shirt you gave me is priceless and every time I look at it I can’t help but say thank you for everything you’ve done. The emptiness you leave is huge.”
Jose Mourinho
Mr Armani pays tribute to #GianlucaVialli. pic.twitter.com/HDHU79Gokt
— Armani (@armani) January 6, 2023
@No1shaygiven RIP Gianluca Vialli, taken way too soon from this terrible disease Cancer
@JohnTerry26 Heartbroken. RIP Luca. A proper LEGEND and a great man. I will forever be grateful for you giving me my debut
Gianfranco Zola: “Together we won many matches and shared some of the best moments of our lives. For the love of our ball we have often clashed. With no quarter, but always with the utmost respect. Because, in the end, we were always ourselves: two Italian boys and a ball. Goodbye Luca, fellow traveller.“
@MikaelForssell Devastated to hear about the passing of my ex- team mate and manager Gianluca Vialli
Shocking news to hear that Gianluca Vialli has passed away at just 58 years of age.
Thoughts are with his loved ones right now.
RIP Gianluca pic.twitter.com/lRPBAn7VI2— Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) January 6, 2023
