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Former Italy and Chelsea striker Gianluca Vialli has died at the age of 58 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Vialli was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017 and a second time in 2021 shortly after Italy won Euro 2020.
He resigned from the role in Italy in December, citing the need to receive treatment for his illness.
Vialli played for Cremona, Sampdoria and Juventus in the 1980s and 1990s before joining Chelsea in 1996.
In 1998, after the departure of Ruud Gullit, he became the Blues player and manager, leading the club to glory in the League Cup, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Super Cup that year.
Vialli ended his playing career at the end of the 1998-99 season and turned his attention to coaching, while Chelsea won the FA Cup and Charity Shield in 2000 under the Italians before being sacked at the start of the 2000-01 season. Earned.
Vialli has scored 16 goals in 59 appearances for Italy, most recently representing the national team. As part of his Italian backroom staff, Azzurri won Euro 2020 with his victory over England at Wembley in July 2021.
The Italian Football Federation said a minute’s silence to honor Vialli’s life will be held before all matches under its jurisdiction this weekend.
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Chelsea: football legends
Vialli joined Chelsea in the summer of 1996 after captaining Juventus and winning Champions League glory.
The club called him a “Chelsea legend…loved by fans, players and staff at Stamford Bridge”.
Chelsea chairman Todd Boley and partner Behdad Egbari said in a statement: It will forever be etched in the history of our club. ”
Sampdoria: Chao, Luca
Former club Sampdoria, where Vialli played for eight years from 1984 to 1992 and made more than 200 appearances, delivered a simple farewell message on the club’s Twitter account, calling him ‘one of us’. I got
Juventus: intense sense of loss
The official Juventus website reads: “Gianluca, we have always been with you. It was love at first sight since you arrived in 1992.
“We loved everything about you, absolutely everything. Your smile, the star and the leader, on the pitch and in the dressing room at the same time.”
Watford mourn loss of former manager
Current Watford manager Slaven Bilic said: “It’s a sad day. He was part of our club and the club should be proud to have one of football’s legends at Watford.”
Martin Tyler: Vialli is a revered icon
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sky sports Football commentator Martin Tyler says Vialli was an icon, especially among the players he played with, and that respect was reflected in his years as coach and manager.
He said: “He had a character to deal with difficulties. He was such an icon for players. [at Chelsea]most people were playing with him.
“They respected him and cared a lot about him. He was the kind of guy you really fought for – the trophies he won proved it.”
Souness: “Gorgeous Soul”
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sky sports Pundit Graeme Souness paid tribute to his friend and former Sampdoria teammate.
“I went to Italy when I was 31. He was 20. He was just wonderful to be around. was a great player.”
Ancelotti: Farewell my friend
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