MADRID, 6 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Former Italian striker Gianluca Vialli has died this Friday at the age of 58 after a long battle against pancreatic cancer, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced in a statement.
“Vialli passed away today at the age of 58 after a long illness, he always fought head-on, with dignity and with the entire Azzurri family, giving him strength in a silent moment but one of enormous suffering. Italian football is not only in mourning for the boss of The national team delegation is in mourning for a great man, who had previously been a great striker and an appreciated coach,” reported the FIGC.
Born in Cremona on July 9, 1964, Vialli began his professional career with the Cremona shirt, before signing for Sampdoria in 1984. There he lifted a ‘Scudetto’, three ‘Coppas’, an Italian Super Cup and a Cup Winners’ Cup, in the eight seasons in which he defended the ‘Samp’ shirt.
In 1992-1993 he came to Juventus, where he won another five titles: a League, an Italian Cup, an Italian Super Cup, a UEFA Cup and the Champions League won in Rome in 1996. His last three years of his career (1996-1999) was a player for English Chelsea, winning an FA Cup, a League Cup, a Cup Winners’ Cup and a European Super Cup. In total, he completed a career with 655 games and 423 goals.
From Serie A, they lamented with “deep pain and emotion” the death of the former striker, the “unrepeatable protagonist” of Italian football. “He will be remembered forever for his skills as a footballer, but above all for the unforgettable life lesson he was able to give,” they praised in a message on social networks.
Vialli played 59 games and scored 16 goals with the Italian senior team, participating in two World Cups (1986 and 1990). Ambassador of the EURO 2020 Volunteer Program and protagonist with his shirts also at the Coverciano Football Museum, in 2015 he was included in the ‘Italian Football Hall of Fame’.
