As people were still trying to get their heads around his passing, former Sampdoria team-mate Graeme Souness was in tears as an interview with him was cut short during Gianluca Vialli tribute. They were both at the opposite ends of their respective football careers, but, even so, the impact that the young, thoughtful, Italian had the then 31-year-old medal-laden Scottish international will, as he said himself, remain with him for ever.

 

“He will forever be one of those rare footballers, and human beings”, Souness said, “who you’d have to work very hard to find any ‘negatives’ about him”. A man of great skill, presence, and, equally, huge humility, the striker, who also played for Chelsea and Juventus, was a favourite to teammates, managers and fans, wherever he played, he was always a popular figure.

In 2019, he was Italy’s Delegation Chief, providing support to old friend, and head coach Roberto Mancini, as his tearful embrace with him (Mancini) on the Wembley pitch after Italy beat England on penalties to win European Championship in 2020 became one of the iconic images of an emotional triumph.

Vialli’s illness was never hidden from many of his colleagues and fan base, for which he was taking medical supervision for a long time. He died of Cancer, which had severely affected the pancreas that led him to die.

He was compelled to leave his position as the Italy national team’s non-playing staff as a Delegation Chief. His battle with pancreatic Cancer started before November 2018. Still, with treatment at the Royal Marsden Hospital, he mentioned being all-clear from the disease he had suffered for 17 months.

Later, he disclosed that he had been battling pancreatic Cancer again in December 2021. He could not survive his chronic illness despite ongoing treatment and medical supervision.

FIGC (Italian Football Federation) president, Gabriele Gravina, said: "Gianluca was a splendid person and he leaves a void that cannot be filled.

“I hoped until the end that he would be able to perform another miracle. Yet I am comforted by the certainty that what he did for Italian football and the blue shirt will never be forgotten."

An FIGC statement added: "That photo on the Wembley lawn, that hug with Mancini after Federico Chiesa's goal against Austria in the round of 16 of the 2021 European Championship, will be one of the images of Vialli that we will carry in our hearts forever." Chelsea made a poignant tribute by turning their badge black and white.

In a statement, his family wrote: '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.' 

During his career, at Sampdoria he won the Serie A and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, whilst at Juventus, he again won the Serie A, plus the Coppa Italia, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup. He then won the FA Cup, League Cup whilst at Chelsea.

As player/manager at Stamford Bridge, he also won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

Survived by his, Cathryn two daughters, Olivia and Sofia, he was 58.