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Men’s Football A ‘gorgeous soul’ who leaves an ‘unfillable void’ – Vialli dies aged 58

TRIBUTES have been paid to former Italy, Juventus and Chelsea striker Gianluca Vialli, who died yesterday at the age of 58 following a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer.

The Italian Football Federation said Vialli’s death left an “unfillable void,” while Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali described an “awful day,” and vowed Vialli’s legacy would be “forever written” at the club.

Vialli, who went on to enjoy huge success as manager at Stamford Bridge following his glittering playing career, was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017 and announced he had been given the all-clear in 2020 after treatment at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.

He was rediagnosed with the disease in 2021 and announced last month that he had stepped down from his role as Italy’s national team delegation chief.

Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported before Christmas that his 87-year-old mother Maria Teresa and brother Nino had travelled to be with Vialli in a London hospital.

During a 16-year playing career in Italy, Vialli won every major trophy on offer, including Serie A titles with Sampdoria (1991) and Juventus (1995), the Champions League with the latter in 1996, the Uefa Cup and the Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup. He was also a four-time Coppa Italia winner.

He scored 16 goals in 59 appearances for Italy, featured in the 1986 and 1990 World Cups and helped the Azzurri to a third-place finish at the latter.

Vialli joined Chelsea in 1996 and helped them win the FA Cup at the end of his first season before guiding the London club to glory in both the League Cup and Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup as player-manager the following season.

The Italian Football Federation said all matches under its jurisdiction this weekend would be preceded by a minute’s silence in honour of Vialli.

The federation’s president Gabriele Gravina said in a statement: “I am deeply saddened — I hoped until the last that he could perform another miracle, yet I am comforted by the certainty that what he did for Italian football and the blue shirt will never be forgotten.

“Gianluca was a wonderful person and leaves an unfillable void, in the national team and in all those who appreciated his extraordinary human qualities.”

In a short statement posted on Twitter, Boehly and Eghbali wrote: “This is truly an awful day for Chelsea Football Club. Gianluca’s legend will live on at Stamford Bridge.

“His impact as a player, a coach and most importantly as a person, will be forever written across our club’s history. We send our heartfelt and deepest condolences to his family and friends.”

In a statement posted on their official website, Juventus described an “intense loss,” adding: “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.”

Graeme Souness, who played alongside Vialli at Sampdoria, was visibly emotional as he recalled his relationship with his former team-mate on Sky Sports.

“I can’t tell you how good a guy he was,” said Souness. “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.”

Tottenham boss Antonio Conte was set to face the media yesterday afternoon but his assistant Cristian Stellini took on press conference duties to allow the manager time to mourn.

Stellini hailed the impact of Vialli in opening the door for Italian managers to work in the Premier League.

“Antonio [Conte] in this moment is upset and sad,” Stellini said.

“Every one of us we are close to Vialli’s family and all the people that loved Vialli. He is an important person in Italy and also in England so we are close together to stay with his family and remember him in the right way.

“For us he was a great player but first of all he was a great man. He teach us a lot of things, also not only when he played but when he speak with everyone.

“He opened the door for Italian managers because was the first and in that moment maybe the Premier League for us was a different country for Italian managers. In that moment the Premier League grow a lot and overcome Serie A in Italy.

“Now we have to say thanks to Vialli for opening the door and letting us understand how important football is in Europe to open doors and create because also Italian managers came into the Premier League and improved the Premier League so we did it together. It is a great thing.”

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