Who was Gianluca Vialli? Former Italian national football team player who died of cancer

Gianluca Vialli, a former Italian striker who won Serie A and European championships with Sampdoria and Juventus before joining Chelsea as a player-manager, passed away at the age of 58. Vialli's passing was announced by the Italian soccer federation on Friday.

Vialli was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017 and in 2018 he declared that he had won his year-long struggle with the disease, but in December 2021 he revealed that the dreaded illness had come back.

Vialli who earned 59 caps for Italy was widely regarded as one of the most successful and respected figures in the sport. Born on July 9, 1964, in Cremona, Italy, Vialli began his professional career with Cremonese in 1982. He quickly made a name for himself as a talented and versatile forward and was subsequently signed by top Italian football clubs.


Before joining Juventus in 1992 for a then-record 16.5 million euro transfer fee, he established himself in Sampdoria over the course of eight seasons, winning the Serie A championship and European Cup Winners' Cup. Vialli helped Juventus win Europe's premier club football tournament the UEFA Champions League.

In 1996, Vialli made the move to England, signing with Chelsea. He played for the club for two seasons, scoring 19 goals in all competitions. He announced his retirement as a player in 1998 but remained with Chelsea as a coach.


As a coach, Vialli has had mixed success. He has managed a number of clubs, including Chelsea, Watford, and Guingamp, as well as the Italian national team. Despite some ups and downs, he is generally regarded as one of the most respected and successful figures in Italian football.

Throughout his career, Vialli has won numerous individual and team accolades. He was named the Italian Footballer of the Year twice, and was included in the UEFA Team of the Year on three occasions. The Football Federation inducted Vialli into the Italian Football Hall of Fame.

In addition to his successes on the pitch, the Italian star was also known for his charity work and business ventures. He has supported a number of charitable causes, and has also served as a television pundit and a sports commentator.

Overall, Gianluca Vialli was a true footballing legend, and his contributions to the sport will not be forgotten. He will always be remembered as one of the most talented and successful players and coaches in the history of the game.