Former soccer star and Chelsea striker Gianluca Vialli, has died at the age of 58.
Vialli, who enjoyed a stellar career with Sampdoria, Juventus and Chelsea earned 59 caps for Italy, was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017.
He was given the all-clear a year later, he was re-diagnosed in 2021.
The soccer star announced a temporary leave from his role with Italy’s national team in December to focus on his health.
After playing 59 times for Italy and won the Champions League with Juventus, he joined Chelsea in 1996 and became the player-manager in 1998.
He had joined Juventus in 1992 for a world record £12m after winning the Serie A title and the European Cup Winners’ Cup during eight seasons with Sampdoria.
Vialli, had been battling pancreatic cancer since 2018 and leaves his wife Cathryn, whom he married in 2003, and daughters Olivia and Sofia.
As a footballer, Vialli was an exceptional striker, scoring 259 goals in 673 club appearances and also 16 goals in 59 appearances as an Azzurro.
He won four Italian Cups, two Scudetti (one of them, legendary, with Sampdoria), two Italian Super Cups, an FA Cup, an English League Cup, two European Cup Winners’ Cups, a UEFA Cup, a Champions League and a European Super Cup.
