The former Italian player Gianluca Vialli, champion with Sampdoria and Juventus, died this Friday at the age of 58 in a London hospital.
Former Italian soccer player, Gianluca Vialli, He passed away this Friday at the age of 58. in a London hospital due to pancreatic cancer that he had suffered for five years, which forced him to leave his position as head of the Italian soccer team delegation on December 14.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) confirmed his death in a statement last night, calling for a minute of silence as a sign of mourning at the start of all the games next weekend.
The president of the FIGC, Gabriel Gravinaexpressed his deep pain: “I waited until the last moment for him to achieve another miracle, I am comforted by the certainty that what he has done for Italian football and the blue shirt will never be forgotten.”
“Gianluca was a splendid person and he leaves a void that cannot be filled, both in the national team and in all those who appreciated his extraordinary human quality”, pointed out the leader.
Other political authorities added their condolences, such as the Minister of Infrastructure and Vice President of the Government, Matthew Salvinior the former prime minister, Matthew Renzi.
Vialli was one of Calcio’s most important footballers, manager and coaches in the 1990s.
Born in Cremona (north), Vialli, a center forward, began his career at Cremonese in 1980 and following four seasons he signed for Sampdoria (1984), a team where he worked with the ‘azzurro’ coach, Roberto Mancini.
With him he forged a friendship that went beyond the playing fields and they made history by winning the only ‘Scudetto’ (1991) that the Genoese club treasures in its record, three Italian Cups (1985, 88 and 89) and an Italian Super Cup ( 1991).
Later he would go through Juventus (1992-1996), where he would win a Champions League in 1996, which served as a springboard for him to later move to British Chelsea (1996-1999), where he hung up his boots.
Once retired, Vialli tried his luck as a coach in England, at Chelsea and Watford, without success.
It was not until 2019 when he returned to form part of a bench. Hand in hand with his friend Roberto Mancini, he was appointed head of the Italian National Team delegation with which two years later he raised Euro 2020 in which he played a curious role.
The Italy of football mourns Gianluca Vialli. Gravina: “What he did for the Azzurri will never be forgotten”https://t.co/N3fDIf5YL1 pic.twitter.com/ybzEviQE7X
— FIGC (@FIGC) January 6, 2023
