Joseph Isokpehi Reporting
Five years after being first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Italy and Chelsea Legend, Gianluca Vialli has died at the Age of 58 years.
Vialli left his role as a coach with Italy in December, citing his need to undergo treatment for pancreatic cancer; the former Italy and Chelsea striker was diagnosed with the disease for a second time in 2021, after first being treated for the illness in 2017.
Vialli who played for top Italian clubs like Cremonese, Sampdoria, and Juventus before his big move to Chelsea in 1996, died last night according to the family.
Vialli, a fantastic striker, was appreciated by everyone in the round leather game of football, including Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni who described Gianluca Vialli as a lion King on the field and in life in a tweet.
Meanwhile, Italy’s Football Federation ( FIGC) said that a minute silence would be observed at all matches this weekend.
Vialli who is a son of a wealthy industrialist, first emerged as a young player with his local team Cremonese in the Italian third and second tier leagues.
Vialli was a successful at Sampdoria were he won the Italian cup thrice, and went on to clinch the the European cup winners cup as he scored a brace to beat Anderlecht 2-0 in the final of the tournament in 1990.
At Chelsea, Vialli won the league cup and cup winners cup in 1998 and the FA cup two years later before he left the club as coach.
The Italian legend also managed Watford in the championship between 2001 -2002.
He enjoyed his stay at the national team of Italy working with Roberto Mancini as the Italian national team ruled Europe at Euro 2020 tournament.
He was capped 59 times for Italy, scoring 16 goals, and had most recently been the national side’s head of delegation.
The deceased leaves behind his wife Cathryne White Cooper and their two daughters Olivia and Sofia.