Italy: The former Italy and Chelsea striker Mr. Gianluca Vialli has died aged 58 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Mr. Vialli began his career at Cremonese, his hometown club, before going on to star in Serie A for Sampdoria as well as at Juventus and joining Chelsea in 1996. The footballer scored 16 goals in 59 appearances for Italy and featured in the Azzurri’s 1986 and 1990 World Cup squads.

In 1998, Mr. Vialli became player-manager of the Blues following the departure of Mr. Ruud Gullit, and that year he led the club to glory in the League Cup, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, and UEFA Super Cup.

The veteran footballer retired from playing at the end of the 1998–99 season to concentrate on management, and Chelsea won the FA Cup and Charity Shield under him before he was sacked early in the 2000–01 season.

Recently, it was announced that Mr. Vialli would be stepping away from his role as delegation chief with the Italy team to focus on his treatment for pancreatic cancer.

“You gave us so much, we gave you so much. Yes, it was love, reciprocal, infinite. A love that will not die with you today. We will continue to love and adore you because, as you well know, you are better than Pele. And because, despite everything, our beautiful season is destined to never end,” the Sampdoria football club shared in a statement.

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