Italian football great Gianluca Vialli dies at 58

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Italian football legend Gianluca Vialli passed away on Friday after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, his former clubs confirmed. He was 58.

Vialli enjoyed a stellar 19-year playing career with Italian clubs Sampdoria and Juventus, as well as English side Chelsea, and represented Italy in 59 matches.

"Goodbye, Luca," Sampdoria said on Twitter.

"You’ll be missed by so many. A legend to us and to all of football. Rest in peace, Gianluca Vialli," said Chelsea in a statement.

Juventus also shared an emotional message, saying: "We loved everything about you, absolutely everything - your smile, your being a star and leader at the same time, on the pitch and in the dressing room, your adorable swashbuckling ways, your culture, your class, which you showed until the last day in the black and white stripes."

Vialli won the 1996 UEFA Champions League title and the 1993 UEFA Cup with Juventus.

Serving as Chelsea's player-manager in 1998, the striker led the London club to victory in both UEFA Super Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup.

He featured in the 1986 and 1990 FIFA World Cup events for the Azzurri, helping them to a third-spot finish.