Gianluca Vialli, the former Italy football forward who helped both Sampdoria and Juventus win Serie A and European trophies before becoming a player-manager at Chelsea, has died. He was 58 and had been battling cancer for the past few years.
“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 in our hearts forever,” Vialli’s family was quoted as saying in a statement by the Italian news agency ANSA. Vialli leaves a wife and two daughters.
Sampdoria, Juventus and Chelsea posted messages of mourning for Vialli on Twitter and on their websites.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni tweeted: “To God Gianluca Vialli, Lion King on the field and in life.” Italy’s football federation (FIGC) said that a minute’s silence would be observed at all matches this weekend. Vialli announced in 2018 that he had overcome a yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer but then said in December 2021 that the disease had returned.
“I know that I probably will not die of old age, I hope to live as long as possible, but I feel much more fragile than before,” Vialli said in a Netflix documentary aired in March 2022. With his condition worsening, Vialli announced last month that he was temporarily stepping down from his role as the delegation chief for Italy’s national team. Vialli had been appointed delegation chief under Azzurri head coach Roberto Mancini, his long-time friend and former teammate.
Vialli and Mancini were known as the “gemelli del gol,” or “goal twins,” when they played together at Sampdoria, leading the club based in Genoa to its only Serie A title in 1991 and its only European title in 1990 with the Cup Winners’ Cup — plus four Italian Cup trophies.
Vialli and Mancini also led Sampdoria to the 1992 European Cup final. As delegation chief, Vialli reunited with Mancini to help Italy win the European Championship by beating England in a penalty shootout at Wembley in July 2021. Vialli played for Italy’s national team from 1985-1992, making 59 appearances and scoring 16 goals.
