Great Italian footballer Gianluca Vialli dies at 58

Former Italian football forward Gianluca Vialli, who became a player and manager at Chelsea after Sampdoria and Juventus won the Serie A and European trophies, has died.

The Italian football federation confirmed Vialli’s death on Friday.

Vialli announced in 2018 that he had overcome a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer, but said the disease returned in December 2021.

Due to his declining health, Vialli announced in mid-December that he was temporarily stepping down from his role as head of the Italian national team delegation.

Federation president Gabriele Gravina said he was “deeply saddened” and said Vialli’s sporting successes were consistent with his “extraordinary human qualities”.

Vialli was appointed chief of the delegation, his longtime friend and former teammate, under Azzurri head coach Roberto Mancini.

The pair, known as the ‘gemelli del gol’ or ‘goal twins’ when they played together at Sampdoria, led the Genoese club to their only Serie A title in 1991 and the 1990 Cup Winners’ Cup. won its only European title. — Plus 4 Italian Cup trophies.

Vialli and Mancini also helped Sampdoria reach the 1992 European Cup final, where they lost to Barcelona at Wembley Stadium.

As delegation chief, Vialli reunited with Mancini to help Italy win the European Championship in 2021 by beating England on penalties at Wembley.

“We have a relationship that goes far beyond friendship,” Mancini said at Euro. “He’s like a real brother to me.”

Vialli’s death comes three weeks after the untimely death of another Serie A great, Sinisha Mihajlovic, who died after a long battle with leukemia. After that, I played with Mancini at Sampdoria.

Vialli won the Serie A title with Juventus and the Champions League and UEFA Cup trophies with the Bianconeri.

“We have always been with you, Gianluca. Since you arrived in 1992, it was love at first sight… I loved everything about you, absolutely everything.The adorable swashbuck way you showed me until the last day in black and white stripes, your culture, your class.

Vialli played for Italy from 1985 to 1992, scoring 16 goals in 59 appearances.

He finished his playing career managing Chelsea, leading the London club to FA Cup, League Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup titles. He continued to live in London after moving from Chelsea to television commentary and other ventures.

“We are with Luca’s wife Kathryn, daughters Sophia and Olivia, and his family and friends at this terribly sad time,” Chelsea said in a statement.

“The legend of Gianluca lives on at Stamford Bridge,” added Chelsea chairman Todd Boley and partner Behdad Egbari.

“His influence as a player, as a coach and above all as a person will forever be etched in the history of our club.”