FIFA, UEFA, clubs as well as former colleagues and opponents have expressed sadness at the death of Gianluca Vialli.
The former Italy, Sampdoria, Juventus and Chelsea striker, who also managed the English club to domestic and continental success, died today aged 58 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Gianluca Vialli at the age of 58,” world football governing body FIFA tweeted.
“Our thoughts and sympathies are with his family and friends at this difficult time. Rest in peace.”
Aleksander Ceferin, president of European football’s governing body UEFA, said: “All members of the football family will feel real pain and a sense of profound dismay.
“Gianluca was more than a champion; he was kind, measured, respectful and above all courageous, in life even more than on the pitch, as he has taught us in recent years through his dignified fight against his illness.
“We will always remember his radiance at the many trophies that he won, right up to the final image when he embraced his friend Roberto Mancini in the middle of the pitch at Wembley – a moment of joyful emotion at the most beautiful and brilliant of all triumphs. He will be greatly missed.”
Chelsea, whom Vialli joined in 1996 as a star player and began managing two years later, paid tribute to the legendary Italian in an official statement.
“Everyone associated with Chelsea Football Club is devastated to learn of the passing of Gianluca Vialli, our former player and manager, at the age of just 58,” the club stated.
“As soon as he walked through the door at Stamford Bridge when already a global football star, Luca declared his wish to become a Chelsea legend.
“It is a target he undoubtedly reached, revered for his work on the pitch and in the dugout during some of the most successful years in our history.
“Loved by fans, players and staff at Stamford Bridge, Luca will be sorely missed not just by the Chelsea community, but the entire footballing world, including in his native Italy, where he was such an iconic figure.
“Our thoughts are with Luca’s wife Cathryn, his daughters Sofia and Olivia, and the rest of his family and his friends at this terribly sad time.”
Sampdoria, Vialli’s first big club whom he won the Serie A title with in 1991, said in a statement: “We won’t forget your 141 goals, your overhead kicks, your cashmere shirts, your earring, your platinum blonde hair, your Ultras bomber jacket.
“You gave us so much, we gave you so much: yes, it was love, reciprocal, infinite. A love that will not die today with you.”
Vialli also helped Sampdoria reach the 1992 European Cup final but after losing to Barcelona, he switched to Juventus for a then world record fee of £12m.
He spent four seasons with Juventus, winning the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup and Serie A titles.
A Juve statement said: “We loved everything about you, absolutely everything – your smile, your being a star and leader at the same time, on the pitch and in the dressing room, your adorable swashbuckling ways, your culture, your class, which you showed until the last day in the black and white stripes.”
Chelsea’s English rivals Manchester United also mourned Vialli, tweeting: “A wonderful player, manager and person against whom it was a privilege to compete. Rest in peace, Gianluca Vialli.”
Liverpool wrote: “Such sad news. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Gianluca’s friends, family and all those close to him.”
Former England striker Gary Lineker, who is now one of the world’s best-known sportscasters, wrote: “Deeply, deeply saddened to hear that Gianluca Vialli has left us. One of the loveliest people You could possibly meet. A truly magnificent footballer who will be hugely missed. RIP Luca.”
Former Scotland and Liverpool great Graeme Souness, who played alongside Vialli at Sampdoria, told Sky Sports: “I can’t tell you how good a guy he was. Forget football, he was just a gorgeous soul. He was just a truly nice human being.
“He was just fabulous to be around. He was such a fun-loving guy, full of mischief, wonderful footballer and a warm human being.
“People will say things about his magnificent football ability, and correctly so, but above all that what a human being. My condolence go to his family – the kids were blessed to have a dad like that, his wife was blessed to be married to a man like that.”
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, who played alongside Vialli in the Italy national team, tweeted in Italian: “Ciao amico mio” – thank you my friend.”
Alessandro del Piero, a Champions League winner alongside Vialli with Juventus posted: “Our captain. My captain. Forever.”
Gianfranco Zola, who both played alongside Vialli and under him as manager at Chelsea said: “Together we won many matches and shared some of the best moments of our lives.
“For the love of our ball we have often clashed. With no quarter, but always with the utmost respect. Because, in the end, we were always ourselves: two Italian boys and a ball.”
Former England captain Alan Shearer tweeted: “RIP Gianluca Vialli. What a lovely lovely man and a wonderful player he was.”
And ex-England striker Peter Crouch wrote on Twitter: “I’m genuinely gutted about this. I had Sampdoria home and away shirts because of him. I tried to replicate his volleys In the park and such a lovely man when I met him. RIP.”
