Gianluca Vialli obituary

Dynamic, intelligent forward for Chelsea, Juventus, Sampdoria and Italy who became the first Italian to manage a top-flight English football club

Gianluca Vialli, who has died of pancreatic cancer aged 58, became the first Italian to manage a top-flight English football club when he took over at Chelsea in 1998, guiding them to FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup trophies. However, he will be better remembered for his playing career as a dynamic, intelligent and versatile forward at Sampdoria and Juventus, as well as for Italy, with whom he won 59 caps between 1985 and 1992.

During a lengthy sojourn at Sampdoria in the 1980s and early 90s, Vialli won various honours, including the Italian League and the European Cup Winners’ Cup, but it was during his later, shorter stay at Juventus that he hit the greatest heights, captaining the side to a Champions League title in 1996.