Friday 6th January 2023 saw the sad passing of one the games greats, Gianluca Vialli after his battle with pancreatic cancer since 2017.
For people like me of a certain age, Vialli was one the footballers of our youth, Italia 90, Football Italia on Channel 4, that Champions League winning Juventus team, Player Manager of Chelsea… so many wonderful memories of football for me!
A total of 673 Club Appearences, with 259 goals and 58 International Caps with 16 goals… a rare winner of all European Competitions with Champions League, UEFA Cup and Cup Winners Cup as a player and European Super Cup as a Manager. Add to that Domestic success with Serie A, Coppa Italia, FA Cup and English League Cup titles.
I wanted to create my own small tribute to a football man that gave me so much joy over the years!
Gianluca Vialli’s club career
So many classic kits are linked to Vialli over the years…. here are some of my favourites!
Cremonese – 1980 to 1984. 113 Appearences / 25 Goals
Sampdoria – 1984 to 1992. 327 Appearences / 141 Goals
The first time I heard of Vialli was his time with Sampdoria, that timeless classic look…
One of the most classic European Cup / Champions League Final Kit Match ups…
Juventus – 1992 to 1996. 145 Appearences / 53 Goals
Winning the Champions League in 1996
Chelsea – 1996 to 1999. 88 Appearences / 40 Goals
A Player Manager, it does not get more fairytale than that for me…. Another reason why I love Vialli was his stint as Player Manager, winning four cups with Chelsea.
International Years
1985 to 1992 as player, 2019 to 2022 as an Assistant Coach
59 Appearences / 16 Goals
Italia 90, a World Cup played at Home!
Captaining his country
Lifting the Euros as Assistant Coach of the Euro 2020 Team
A legend in my eyes, Rest in Peace Luca and thank you for the memories!
Football Kit Geek - @Kit_Geek 