Today, the sporting world mourns the loss of Gianluca Vialli who has sadly passed away following a battle with cancer. The Italian footballer was considered a great of the game and we look back at some of the moments that made him one of football’s most loved figures.
Champions League glory with Juventus
Part of a destructive frontline that also featured Alessandro Del Piero and Fabrizio Ravanelli, Gianluca Vialli finally captured European Cup success with Juventus in 1996. Facing Ajax, the defending champions, the Italian side, who reached three successive finals in the 1990s, held their nerve to win on penalties following a 1-1 draw giving Vialli his sole Champions League winners medal.
Sampdoria’s Serie A success
A darling of Sampdoria, Gianluca Vialli collected the league’s Golden Boot award in 1991 as he fired in 19 goals to give the Genoa side their only Serie A title. Possessing a talent laden side that also included Roberto Mancini, Vialli was the standout performer as Sampdoria's golden era finally delivered a well-deserved Scudetto.
The 1992 European Cup final
The final European Cup competition before it was rechristened the Champions League saw Vialli agonisingly miss out on club football’s biggest honour. His incredible efforts with Sampdoria almost took them to the pinnacle of football but Italian hearts were broken when Ronald Koeman scored an extra time free kick to give Barcelona their first European Cup.
Making Chelsea a major force
Vialli’s first management job saw him take control of Chelsea where he became player-manager at the age of 33 following the sacking of Ruud Gullit. In two years at the helm of Stamford Bridge, Vialli enjoyed multiple successes by winning the League Cup, FA Cup, and European Cup Winners Cup. Only Jose Mourinho has won more trophies as Chelsea boss.
Italy’s Euro 2020 win
After frightening defences for years alongside Roberto Mancini, Vialli was a key part of his former teammate’s plan when he became Italy manager. Vialli held the title of Delegation Chief within the national squad set-up and his relationship with Mancini was central to Italy’s penalty shootout win over England in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.