Former Chelsea striker and manager Gianluca Vialli has died at the age of 58. The Italian was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017. In April 2020, he said he was completely cleared, but was re-diagnosed in 2021. He took a temporary leave of absence from his role with the Italian national team in December to take care of his health.
The FIGC has confirmed that a minute’s silence will be held in memory of Vialli before all Italian matches this weekend. Vialli made 59 appearances for Italy and made his debut in 1985. In 1984, he joined Sampdoria, winning the Serie A title and the European Cup Winners’ Cup during his eight seasons at the club.
Vialli helped Sampdoria reach the European Cup final in 1992, but after losing to Barcelona he joined Juventus for a then-world-record transfer fee of £12 million. Vialli spent four seasons at Juventus, winning the Champions League, the UEFA Cup and Serie A.
Vialli joined Chelsea on a free transfer in 1996 and became a player-manager in 1998. He was the first Italian to lead a team from the Premier League, taking over from Ruud Gullit. He won the League Cup, UEFA Cup, Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
You’ll be missed by so many. A legend to us and to all of football.
Rest in peace, Gianluca Vialli. 💙 pic.twitter.com/mNJPDkCSYO
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 6, 2023
He also led Chelsea to victory in the 2000 FA Cup Final and Charity Shield, but was sacked early the following season after a poor start. Vialli then took charge of Watford in the 2001/02 season, then in the Second Division, but was sacked after the Hornets finished 14th.
In October 2019, he was appointed to be a part of Italy’s backroom staff by manager and former Sampdoria teammate Roberto Mancini. He helped the Azzurri win Euro 2020 by beating England at Wembley in July 2021.