Obituary for Gianluca Vialli: Italy’s golden striker – Sport

A bon vivant goes far too early, at 58. Gianluca Vialli, whom everyone just called Luca, once a modern centre-forward with the cuffs just above ankle height, had experienced almost everything a footballer could wish for. Also great successes with the rather small club Sampdoria from Genoa. And a European championship title almost out of nowhere as “Capo Delegazione” of the Italian national team a year and a half ago. In the end, however, when the disease suddenly came back, this tumor on the pancreas, and he flew to his beloved London for treatment, the Italians suspected that he was saying goodbye to them. “Capitano per semper” was the headline Corriere della Sera over his entire homepage, as soon as the news of his death had become known: “Captain forever”.

Luca Vialli scored his goals for Chelsea in England. He also flew to his beloved London for cancer treatment.

(Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty)

Vialli was born into a wealthy family from Cremona in northern Italy, the birthplace of violin maker Antonio Stradivari. He grew up in a castle, very wealthy. He made his debut for home club Cremonese when he was 16 and was so good that Sampdoria brought him on a few years later. And then began what should be called the “Samp d’Oro” period in Italy, the golden era of the Samp. In 1991 they became champions, a rare break in the phalanx of the usual grandees. In 1992, the Samp was even in the final of the European premier class, against FC Barcelona.

Mancini brought him to the national team in 2019, when Vialli had been ill for two years

Calcio was turned upside down for once, thanks to the “twins of the goal”. Vialli formed an unlikely but wonderfully complementary attacking duo with Roberto Mancini, now Azzurri coach. Vialli was a force of nature, quick and strong, and technically adept at the same time. “Mancio” gave the subtlety just behind, the Stradivarius, so to speak, he served balls to the top, almost every effort was right. Vialli was loud, sometimes cheeky. Mancini, on the other hand, is shy, an introvert. The two became friends and remained so as Vialli moved on: first to Juventus, then to Chelsea, where he would ultimately be player-manager. In general: He was always a coach on the pitch, even at a young age.

Mancini brought him to the national team in 2019, when Vialli had been ill for two years. He should motivate the boys, teach them how to fight. Vialli radiated hope with his example, with his laughter, with his book about suffering. Nothing about Euro 2021 touched the Italians more than his hugs with Mancini. Vialli once said of cancer: “It’s like an unwanted travel companion who got on the train with me. I just have to keep going without ever giving up and hope that it gets tired and lets me live for many more years.”

source site