Former Chelsea And Juventus Star Gianluca Vialli Dies From Cancer At 58!
Gianluca Vialli, a former star for Chelsea and Juventus, passed away at age 58 after a five-year battle with Cancer.
Gianluca Vialli had a pancreatic cancer diagnosis for the first time in 2017 and a second time in 2021.
He passed away yesterday night, surrounded by his family, following a courageous and dignified five-year battle with sickness, according to a statement released by his family on Friday.
“We are grateful to the people who have shown him love and support throughout the years. He will always have a special place in our hearts, along with his example.
Gianluca Vialli was a coaching staff member that guided Italy to victory at Euro 2020. However, he resigned from his position with the team in December to receive additional medical care.
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In a Netflix documentary broadcast in March 2022, Gianluca Vialli stated, “I know that I probably will not die of old age, I hope to live as long as possible, but I feel much frailer than before.”
He said Cancer was “a journey companion” that he hoped would finally leave him alone after putting him to the test.
He remarked that suffering from a disease “may educate you a lot about who you are and can drive you to go beyond the superficial way in which we live.”
Gianluca was a fantastic person who left an unfillable vacuum in the national team and in all those who valued his outstanding human traits, according to Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina, who made the statement following the news on Friday.
With his hometown team Cremonese in Italy’s third and second tiers, Gianluca Vialli first gained notoriety as a young player.
In 1984, he transferred to Sampdoria, where he helped the team win the Italian Cup three times during its most prosperous period. To win the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1990, Sampdoria defeated Anderlecht 2-0 behind two goals from Gianluca Vialli.
In 1991, Sampdoria won the Serie A league for the first and only time, largely thanks to the 19 goals he scored that season.
Gianluca Vialli moved to Juventus in the summer of 1992 from the Genoa-based team. After a slow start, he found his scoring touch again and helped the Turin giants win the Italian championship in 1995 and the Champions League the following year.
When the Dutchman Ruud Gullit was fired, he took over as player-manager for Chelsea, which he had joined on a free transfer in 1996.
Chelsea won the League Cup, Cup Winners’ Cup, and FA Cup under Gianluca Vialli in 1998 and 1999, respectively, before he was fired.
In 2001 and 2002, he oversaw Watford, a team in the English second division.
Gianluca Vialli and head coach Roberto Mancini, who were “the goal twins” when they both played for Sampdoria, were reunited when Vialli was named the new leader of the Italian delegation in October 2019.
Italy was guided to the 2020 Euros, and the trophy was won at Wembley Stadium by Mancini and Gianluca Vialli. At the exact location, 29 years prior, Barcelona defeated their Sampdoria team in the European Cup final.
In a November TV interview with Italy’s RAI, Gianluca Vialli remarked that the pair’s tearful embrace was “more lovely than the hugs we used to give each other after I handed him the ball and he scored goals.”
Two daughters and a wife survive Gianluca Vialli.