‘Captain Forever’: Italian newspapers pay tribute to Gianluca Vialli
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‘Captain forever’: Italian newspapers call Gianluca Vialli a ‘role model for all’ as they pay tribute to the former Juventus and Chelsea striker following his untimely death from cancer aged 58
Italian newspapers reacted to the death of former Juventus and Chelsea star Gianluca Vialli on Friday aged 58 after a battle with cancer.
The stamp led tributes to the former Juventus captain, calling him ‘Forever Captain’ and referring to him as a ‘role model for all’.
In the meantime La Gazzetta dello Sport called Vialli ‘one of the most beloved [footballers] ever’ and paid tribute to him along with the rest of the latest deaths in this sport: ‘The world of football continues to mourn. After the death of Pelé’s Sinisa Mihajlovic, another great champion, Gianluca Vialli, died today in London.’
Former Juventus and Chelsea striker Gianluca Vialli dies at 58 after long battle with cancer
the Republic he referred to Vialli as a ‘champion’ and said that Vialli’s ‘greatest joy’ had been derived from his work with the national team when they secured the European Championship title which had eluded him during his playing career.
After starting his career in the Italian lower leagues with his local club Cremonese, Viali first rose to prominence after joining Sampdoria, where he would embark on a successful attacking partnership alongside future Premier League manager , Roberto Mancini.
Viali’s efforts for the Blucerchiati would earn him a call-up to the national team and also see him claim the first of two Serie A titles during his playing career, three Coppa Italia and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
Vialli (left) pictured with Italy coach Roberto Mancini (right) after their victory in the 2021 European Championship final: in that hug there was love and friendship.
Vialli and Mancini when they both played together for the Italian club Sampdoria
After moving to Juventus for a world record fee of £12.5m, Vialli would become an integral part of the Old Lady in the early 1990s, racking up a host of trophies before captaining the club to his second victory in the Champions League before finishing. his playing career with Chelsea.
During his time in charge at Stamford Bridge, Vialli would win both the FA and League Cup domestically, and would triumph in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Super Cup on the continent.
Despite being diagnosed with cancer in 2017, Vialli would continue his work within soccer serving as the head of delegation for the Italian national team to work alongside his former attacking partner Mancini.