The former Transalpin international, passed by the Sampdoria Genoa and Juventus Turin, died from pancreatic cancer, at the age of 58.
MO12345lemonde with AFP
He was one of the legends of Italian football. Gianluca Vialli is dead, said the Sampdoria Genoa club on Friday January 6, where he went to his playing career. He was 58 years old.
The former striker and International Transalpin had been fighting for several years against pancreatic cancer. In a documentary broadcast on the Italian channel Rai, in 2021, he had described his illness as “an unwanted travel companion”: “I have to go ahead, travel with my head without ever letting go, hoping that he tired. “
On December 14, Gianluca Vialli announced his departure from the staff of the Italian selection, of which he was the technical coordinator, to be treated in London.
“His death occurred last night after five years of fight against a disease faced with courage and dignity. His memory and his example will live forever in our hearts,” said his family on Friday.
Roberto Mancini and Gianluca Vialli, “goal twins”
The native of Cremona (Lombardy) had hung up the crampons in the summer of 1999. From his playing career will especially remember his passage to the Sampdoria, where he shone alongside Roberto Mancini, his “twin of aim “. He led the club for champion of Italy (1991), the victory in the European Cup winners (1990) and in the Champions League final (1992).
Gianluca Vialli also carried the colors of Juventus (1992-1996), then Chelsea (1996-1999). He had enriched his record: he won the UEFA Cup (1993) and the Champions League (1996) with the Bianconeri, and another Cup Cup (1998) with the Londoners.
With the national team (59 selections, 16 goals), Vialli had obtained third place in the World Cup in 1990, at home, and had reached the semi-finals of Euro 88.
At the end of his career, he was briefly coach of Chelsea and Watford coach before being the leader of the Italian team from 2019. He was Mancini’s assistant during the Victory of the Squadra Azzurra at Euro 2021. The Twitter account of the quadrules world champions paid tribute to him: “Ciao Gianluca, we will never forget you.”
ciao gianluca, no ti dimintemo mai 💙 https://t.co/znabs9qdue