Former Italy and Chelsea striker, Gianluca Vialli dies at 58 after long battle with pancreatic cancer

By -

 

Former Italy and Chelsea striker, Gianluca Vialli dies at 58 after long battle with pancreatic?cancer
Former Italy, Chelsea and Juventus striker, Gianluca Vialli, has died at the age of 58 following a five-year cancer battle. 

 

He passed away on Thursday night, January 5, surrounded by his family. 

 

'We thank the many who have supported him over the years with their affection. The memory of him and his example will live forever in our hearts,' his family wrote in a statement. 

 

He represented Italy in the 1986 and 1990 World Cups, won the Champions League with Juventus in 1996, and gained popularity in England during a short spell at Stamford Bridge.

 

Vialli would serve as Chelsea's player-manager and then manager, leading them to the European Cup Winners' Cup and the League Cup in 1998, plus the FA Cup in 2000.

 

Following the news, Chelsea tweeted in tribute: 'You'll be missed by so many. A legend to us and to all of football. Rest in peace, Gianluca Vialli.' 

 

Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly and co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali then added: '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.' 

 Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote: 'We won't forget your goals, your legendary bicycle kicks, the joy and emotion you gave the whole nation in that embrace with Mancini after the European Championship victory. 

'But we will not forget above all the man. To God Gianluca Vialli, the Lion King on the pitch and in life.' 

 

On December 14 he had to step away from the role due to the aggressive return of cancer. 

 

In his final public statement, he said he hoped his absence from the national team was 'temporary'. 

 

'At the end of a long and difficult 'negotiation' with my wonderful team of oncologists I have decided to suspend, I hope temporarily, my present and future professional commitments,' he said.

 

'The goal is to use all the psycho-physical energies to help my body overcome this phase of the disease, so that I will be able as soon as possible to face new adventures and share them with all of you.'

 

Vialli was diagnosed with the illness for a second time in 2021, having been given the all-clear in April 2020 following a 17-month struggle.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Characters In BBC’s Documentary On TB Joshua Unknown To Us – Synagogue Church

By -
Image
  The Synagogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN) has countered the BBC documentary on the late Temitope Babatunde Joshua, known as TB Joshua, founder of SCOAN. SCOAN described the documentary against TB Joshua as unfounded, and that the characters interviewed in the report were unknown to the church. The church, in a statement signed by its Public Affairs Director, Mr Dare Adejumo, said the statement was aimed at disabusing public minds from the report. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the BBC released a highly controversial and damning documentary on the late TB Joshua on Monday, accusing him of various crimes, including rape, against some members. SCOAN said, “BBC World Services investigative unit, code-named Africa Eye, came out this week with weird and strange episodes of atrocities against the late founder of SCOAN.” It said that to investigate and publish or broadcast reports was a central kernel of journalism, but to do so outside the ethics and fundamental principles
Read more

NBA Suspends Canada’s Joshua Primo For 4 Games For Exposing Himself To Women

By -
Image
  The NBA has suspended former San Antonio Spurs guard  Joshua Primo   for four games   ... after it says it found he exposed his private parts to multiple women. The league announced the ban on Friday morning ... saying an investigation into the free agent revealed he had "engaged in inappropriate and offensive behavior." NBA officials called his actions "conduct detrimental to the league." They did, however, note that they "did not find evidence that he engaged in any sexual or other misconduct apart from these brief exposures." "Primo maintains that his conduct was not intentional," the league said. Dr. Hillary Cauthen , Primo's former therapist, was the first to  bring the allegations  against Primo to light after she claimed last fall that he exposed himself to her on nine separate occasions. Dr. Cauthen's attorney,  Tony Buzbee , alleged the Spurs were aware of Primo's actions, but didn't take action. Cauthen went on to file
Read more

Sky Sports' On-Air Mix-Up: Chelsea Players Mistakenly Introduced as Axel Disasi Instead of Noni Madueke in Carabao Cup Semifinal

By -
Image
 Sky Sports were left red-faced after an on-screen graphic mistakenly introduced Chelsea defender Axel Disasi as Noni Madueke on Tuesday night. The pair were both the scoresheet as the Blues thrashed Middlesbrough 6-1 at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final to boo their place at Wembley. But when Disasi spoke to Sky Sports after the game, an on-screen graphic introduced him as Madueke instead. Madueke is four years younger than his Chelsea teammate, plays in a different role and is English, while Disasi is French. Viewers immediately spotted the mistake and took to social media to flag up the glaring error.  Sky Sports with a huge mistake as that is Axel Disasi, not Noni Madueke,' another added, while a third described the gaffe as a 'howler'. A fourth commented: 'Sky sports calling Disasi Madueke. They’ve done it again.' Disasi scored Chelsea's third goal in the 6-1 rout, converting Raheem Sterling's cross at the far post after th
Read more