Gianluca Vialli died at the age of 58. Gigi Riva: «A piece of us is leaving». Cagliari: «An example». Zola: «Travel companion»
He had been battling cancer for some time and was hospitalized in a London clinic. Ranieri: «A true champion of sport and life leaves us». The memory of Tommaso GiuliniThird serious mourning in just over 20 days in the world of football. After the deaths of Sinisa Mihajlovic and that of Pelè, today it was Gianluca Vialli's turn .
One of the greatest center forwards in Italian history passed away during the night in London, where he was hospitalized due to pancreatic cancer. The former Sampdoria and Juve striker was 58 years old: he had been ill for some time and recently, on December 14, he had left the national team to concentrate on the battle against the disease.
“I'm sorry, he was a boy who let out his youth. He was nice, friendly, funny. A piece of us is gone," commented Gigi Riva .
Claudio Ranieri is also grieved: « Gianluca's passing saddens me deeply, he leaves us a true champion of sport and life. My condolences to the family and all their loved ones ».
« Cagliari Calcio expresses deep condolences for the passing of Gianluca Vialli, a formidable striker and exceptional sportsman. An example forever, bye Gianluca », reads the profiles of the rossoblù club. « Always with a smile - added the president Tommaso Giulini - the socks pulled down, the cuffs, the habit of the team photos always kneeling instead of squatting , the bicycle kicks and much more. Great Gianluca!».
The pain of Gianfranco Zola, who shared the experience at Chelsea with Vialli, was also on social media: «Together we won many games and shared some of the best moments of our lives. For the love of our football we have sometimes clashed. Without discounts but always with the utmost respect. Because, deep down, we've always been ourselves: two Italian boys and a ball. Hello Luca, travel companion ».
In 2018, the champion had announced that he was ill in an interview with Corriere.
THE CARREER
In his 19-year career, Vialli scored 259 goals in 673 matches between Serie A, the Premier League and European Cups, 16 goals in 59 matches for the national team. Technical, dynamic centre-forward, gifted with great physical strength, extraordinary acrobatic skills (his bicycle kicks are memorable) and a lightning right foot. He is in the small circle of footballers who have won every European club competition .
He began his professional career at Cremonese, in 1984 he moved to Sampdoria where he formed an extraordinary couple with Roberto Mancini: the goalscoring twins would also become great friends . Under the Lanterna he won a historic championship and a historic Cup Winners' Cup, in 1992 the biggest disappointment of his career, the defeat in the European Cup final against Barcelona, decided by a Koeman bomb from a free kick in extra time.
In 1992 he moved to Juventus, where he won another championship, an Italian Cup, a Uefa Cup and a Champions League . Then he went to Chelsea, where as player-manager he won another Cup Winners' Cup, a Super Cup and two national cups.
He retired from playing football in 1999 and coached for a couple of years in the Premier League, at Chelsea and Watford: a brief experience, then for fifteen years he dedicated himself to a television career as a commentator, before joining the national team in 2019 as a manager next to his friend Roberto Mancini. The FIGC appoints him as head of the national team delegation: that trophy never won with the blue shirt arrives in a jacket and tie in 2021, with the friend of a lifetime .
The embrace between Vialli and Mancini at the end of the victorious final of the European Championships at Wembley is the symbolic image of the last blue triumph . Even as manager Vialli stood out as a leading figure in the locker room and as a real "living example" for all the Azzurri.
THE FAMILY
Gianluca Vialli leaves his wife Cathryn, married in 2003, and two daughters: Olivia and Sofia.
«With immeasurable sadness we announce the passing of Gianluca Vialli – let the family know -. Surrounded by his family, he passed away last night after five years of illness faced with courage and dignity . We thank the many who have supported him over the years with their affection. His memory and example will live forever in our hearts."
(Unioneonline/DL)
