Gianluca Vialli: A Tribute to a Legend
By The Score
After the awful news of the passing of Chelsea legend Gianluca Vialli, one of our Twitter admins, @The Score01, kindly offered to pen a fitting tribute to the man that many of us grew up idolising. So here it is.
“With Chelsea fans I had a fantastic relationship. We fell in love with each other. They never stopped encouraging me. When I became a manager, the love and the passion went on.
- Gianluca Vialli
On 6th Jan 2023, Chelsea Football Club, lost a legendary player and manager, football lost an icon, and the world lost a great man.
The legacy he left was reflected by the sheer number of tributes which poured in from all over the football world. And all of them were united in one thing - Gianluca Vialli was not just a great footballer and manager, but a unique, courageous, kind and fun human being, and loyal friend to so many.
“Luca” as we all called him, was a key figure in the re-emergence of Chelsea as a strong, competitive, trophy winning club in the late 90’s. He built on the foundations laid by Glenn Hoddle and Ruud Gullit, and brought home the trophies.
Vialli was already a world football icon the summer of 1996. A powerful striker with good movement and clinical finishing, Vialli had success with Sampdoria which led him to break the world transfer record when he joined Juventus for £12.5 million in the summer of 1992. In his last game at Juventus in 1996, he captained them to win their second Champions League title.
His next destination was already decided. Chelsea.
He was the first signing made by Ruud Gullit, joining Chelsea on a free transfer. He immediately declared his ambition to become a Chelsea legend.
Luca was a hit with the fans straightaway. His passion, his enthusiasm, work ethic and cheeky smile connected immediately with the Chelsea fans. And even during his long period on the subs bench in his first season at Chelsea, the fans cheered him on and encouraged him, something Luca later said he appreciated greatly.
Every Chelsea fan was ecstatic to see him come off the substitutes bench in the FA Cup final, to pick up his winners medal and be part of Chelsea history. But little did anyone know then, his greatest moments for Chelsea were yet to come.
On 13 February 1998, Vialli became Chelsea player manager, replacing the sacked Gullit. Chelsea were in the quarter finals of the European Cup Winners Cup and losing 2-1 to Arsenal in the first leg of the semi finals of the league cup.
Before his first game he gave the whole team a glass of champagne, saying:
“I want us to toast the success we have enjoyed to this point, but from here we look forward.”
Chelsea beat Arsenal 3-1 and after one game in charge, Vialli had reached his first final as a manager. Luca left himself out of the match day squad in the final to focus on coaching the team. Chelsea won the final against Middlesbrough winning 2-0 and the players showed what Vialli meant to them by demanding he lead the team up the Wembley steps and lift the trophy.
Chelsea went on to win the Cup Winners Cup the same season. Luca was collecting trophies at a rapid rate.
The next season, 1998/1999 is one of my all time favourites. Chelsea won the European SuperCup against Real Madrid, and mounted their first real title challenge for decades. We lost only 3 league games and finished a tantalising 4 points off the eventual champions Manchester United, injuries to Pierluigi Casiraghi and Gus Poyet proving ultimately crucial. For the first time for years, Chelsea were serious contenders.
The next season Luca retired from playing and focussed fully on his coaching. That year Chelsea threatened but again were unable to sustain a title challenge, the lack of a proven goalscorer proved costly again. The attempted solution, Chris Sutton, was a flop.
However there were some great moments, like the 5-0 thrashing of Man Utd at the Bridge, and our incredible run in the Champions League, with highlights being the 1-1 draw at the San Siro, 5-0 win away to Galatasaray and 3-1 demolition of Barcelona at the Bridge. The season culminated with another trophy, the FA Cup, making him, at the time, our most successful ever manager.
Vialli’s Chelsea team were a reflection of the man. Talented, courageous, continental winners, but also entertainers. It was a fun team to watch. It was such an enjoyable period to be a Chelsea fan. Despite the number of foreign players, the players felt like Chelsea boys. It was proper Chels, continental style, and we loved it.
‘I really enjoyed coaching Chelsea. It was a different atmosphere with less money and a more familiar environment.”
- Gianluca Vialli
In September 2000, Vialli’s contract was terminated. It was the end of an era. But Luca left a legacy at Chelsea, a new history for us to celebrate, and helped lift Chelsea’s status in domestic and European football. He had established himself as a Chelsea legend both on and off the pitch, with 40 goals in 83 appearances, and four major trophies as manager.
We all fell in love with Luca. Because of his passion, his mentality, his deep love of Chelsea and most of all, because of who he was. A great man. A kind, fun, gentle soul with character and courage. Luca was one of us, he was part of our Chelsea family. He embodied what Chelsea was and still is. Winning, with top class football, commitment, passion, dignity and a smile.
We all feel his loss deeply. For many of us its like a friend or close family member has died. We loved him, and we felt like we knew him, because we saw him as one of us. He is a true legend, not just at Chelsea, not just as a footballer, but as a man. His brave and dignified battle against cancer was an inspiration to us all.
The world has lost a great one, and we will all miss him.
“I hope that my story can help inspire others who are at a decisive crossroads in their lives.”
- Gianluca Vialli
I think Luca and his story will continue to inspire us all for years to come.
Thank you Luca, and rest in peace.
The Score01
RIP Luca 🕊️💙
Fitting tribute, rest in peace Luca 💙