More About The Italian Footballer
Gianluca Vialli OMRI was a famous football player who hailed from Italy. He played as a striker forward. After beginning his career in the year 1980, Luca has managed to make almost 105 appearances in leagues. Apart from this, he has also shot over 23 goals at his local team Cremonese.
Luca was considered a very versatile player, who was always full of energy and strength. His goal-scoring ability was appreciated by many.
Career
Gianluca’s performances impressed the entire world and his fan base increased significantly. One such person was Sampdoria. Luca was signed by Sampdoria in the year 1984. Sampdoria was happy about signing Luca as he scored 85 league goals, won three Italian cups, Serie A and the European Cup Winners Cup.
Vialli joined Juventus in 1992 for a then-record $12.5 million transfer fee. He won the Italian Cup, Serie A, Italian Supercup, UEFA Champions League, and the UEFA Cup while he was a player for the Turin club. It was in the year 1996 that Vialli joined the famous football club Chelsea. In the next year, he became the team’s player manager. Luca was the winner of many famous tournaments such as the League Cup and the FA Cup.
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He is one of the only nine footballers to have won the three of the main European club competitions, and the only forward to have done so. Not just this, Luca is the only player to win or finish second in each of the major European football club championships. This included him winning the UEFA cup twice.
Afetr his retirement, Luca started working as a commentator for Sky Italia after working in managerial roles and he was also seen undergoing punditry. When the Italian team won the Euro 2022, he was part of the team. He was serving as the team’s Delegation Chief at that time.
Personal Life
He married Cathryn White-Cooper on 26 August 2003 and fathered two daughters, Olivia and Sofia. The pair met during Vialli’s time at Chelsea and a budding romance blossomed.
Luca’s wife had always been very supportive of him as well as his career. She often opted for a life away from the glitz and glam, but inspite of that, she always made sure that she was on Luca’s side whenever he needed her. White-Cooper was there to witness her husband’s grand victory at the Euro 2022. It was a moment of pride for her.
The Legendary Striker Dies At 58
The former Italy and Juventus forward received his initial pancreatic cancer diagnosis in the year 2017. Soon he announced that, following treatment at London’s Royal Marsden Hospital, he had been given the all-clear in the year 2020. He received a second diagnosis of the illness in 2021, and he made the decision to resign as head of the delegation for Italy’s national team public this month.
He was chosen to lead Italy’s delegation under his close friend and head coach Roberto Mancini despite his ongoing battle with cancer. He was crucial to the victory at Euro 2020 for his nation.
He was only 58 years old when he passed away on January 6, 2023, following a long-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. His demise was mourned by many and the entire football community was in deep shock. His contributions to football have been acknowledged worldwide.
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Former England striker Peter Crouch tweeted: “I’m genuinely gutted about this. I had Sampdoria home and away shirts because of him. I tried to replicate his volleys in the park and such a lovely man when I met him. RIP.”
Many other famous names have given their tributes to luca. He was One of his generation’s most famous and recognisable athletes. His demise has left the entire soccer community in Italy and the world in deep mourning.