Goodbye Gianluca

Being born on the 9th of May meant that I always had an affinity with the number 9 and in turn it became my self-proclaimed ‘lucky’ number. Knowing this, my dad felt at the age of 6 that I was ready for my first proper Chelsea shirt with the number 9 on the back of it. Unbeknownst to me it came with the name Vialli on the back. This meant this unknown player quickly became my new favourite and what an amazing and exciting player to choose.

Gianluca Vialli was considered one of the best Italian strikers of his generation while also capable of playing on the wing or as a supporting striker. During his playing days, he was seen as a new breed of striker in Italian football, who combined technique and goalscoring ability with speed, athleticism, and physical power. When looking at his catalogue of goals there is a mix of outside and inside the box, bicycle kicks and headers. All in all, a complete player with an eye for both creativity and goalscoring.

Vialli started his career at local club Cremonese in Serie C1 in 1980, winning promotion to Serie B in his first season with Vialli playing a key role in the team. The following year would be his final season for Cremonese, and as a parting gift he contributed 12 goals in 42 games in all competitions. He then joined Sampdoria where he and Roberto Mancini formed the club's most famous strike partnership. Vialli would later partner with Mancini again as they worked closely during Euro 2020 which saw Italy crowned champions. Sampdoria won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1989-1990, where Vialli scored both goals in the final. The following season, Sampdoria won the Serie A with Vialli being the leagues top scorer. He showed how integral he was to the team with the fans enjoying Sampdoria’s most successful period in history during his time there. Hailed as a God amongst their fans and they were only accepting of his transfer to Juventus as it was for a world record fee of £12.5 million in 1992. His period in Juventus was equally successful as he recorded 38 goals in 102 games, won the Scudetto, the Italian Cup and captained the club to the Champions League title in 1996, which would be his last game before his journey to England.

In the summer of 1996, Vialli joined Chelseaon a free transfer. This was seen as a real coup, as not since Hoddle or Gullit had Chelsea had a player of this caliber. Vialli was the first signing of the Ruud Gullit era, who as manager, aimed to change the perception of Chelsea. Future Chelsea legends Frank Leboeuf, Roberto Di Matteo and Gianfranco Zola were also signed, signaling that Chelsea was moving in a different direction. Vialli’s first season for Chelsea saw them win the FA cup, their first trophy in 26 years. Despite this, the following season Ruud Gullit was sacked which saw Vialli given the role of player/manager. This would end up being an extremely successful appointment as Vialli is still the second most successful manager in Chelsea history, only after Jose Mourinho.

To show how different times were back then, in his first game he famously gave all his players a glass of champagne to create team spirit which propelled Chelsea to beat Arsenal and book a place in the League Cup final. Vialli managed to steer the club to two major victories in the following weeks, winning the League Cup final at Wembley and the Cup Winners Cup in Stockholm against Stuttgart. Chelsea had waited 26 years for a trophy and had now won three in the last two seasons. Success begot success as Vialli and Chelsea continued their winning ways the following season defeating the mighty Real Madrid in the European Super Cup, a trophy that subsequently alluded them till recently in 2022. Vialli then steered Chelsea to the FA Cup in 2000, winning the last final ever to be played at the Old Wembley. A Charity Shield victory over Manchester United the following season, saw another trophy added to the cabinet but unfortunately Vialli’s time with Chelsea FC came to an end. In 2000-2001, following a mediocre start to the season Vialli was sacked though he remained a hero amongst many Chelsea supporters. He will be forever remembered in West London as he helped lift Chelsea’s status from a mid-table club to playing in the Champions league and regular contenders for trophies.

Chelsea fans often look at the Abramovic years as incredible and exciting, Champions of Europe twice and multiple league and domestic titles. However, Vialli and this era of Chelsea is looked at with such fondness and great memories. Sadly in December 2021 it was revealed that Gianluca Vialli had been diagnosed with the pancreatic cancer disease for a second time. He passed away on the 6th January 2023. His loss is felt amongst the supporters of Chelsea, Sampdoria, Juventus, Italy and the whole footballing world. I would like to thank him for the amazing childhood memories he created and for creating what Chelsea was and still is, a winning team with passion, heart and a connection with the fans. Rest in peace Gianluca Vialli.