Legend of Calcio: Gianluca Vialli
Hoisting aloft the Champions League with Juventus in 1996, Gianluca Vialli brought the curtain down on a trophy-laden career in Italy the only way he could, after littering it with European final success and failure.
From a curly-haired youth with rolled down socks to the bald imposing figure seen in later years his instinctive rasping strikes made him an icon for adoring fans and instantly recognisable as television coverage increased worldwide.
A 16-year-old debutant with Cremonese it was performances during promotion from Serie C1 in 1983-84 that convinced Sampdoria to shell out €2.5 million on the promising youngster and Vialli never looked back.
Striking up an instant relationship with Roberto Mancini they were dubbed ‘I Gemelli del Gol’ [The Goal Twins] spearheading the Blucerchiati’s most prosperous era, however, the goals were notable as much for their flair as for their regularity.
At Sampdoria, Vialli claimed a hat-trick of Coppa Italia medals, a first European title – his brace defeating Anderlecht in the 1990 European Cup Winners’ Cup – but most importantly their first and only Scudetto.
That title-winning campaign of 1990-91 saw the Italian finish as Capocannoniere with 19 goals, however, that success preceded a failure that would take four years to rectify.
After shooting the club to the 1992 European Cup Final, Samp met Barcelona at Wembley where a solitary Ronald Koeman strike late in extra-time settled the match.
Given their performance on the night and the inability to pinpoint a reason for defeat seemed to make the loss harder to comprehend for Sampdoria and Vialli.
Just as with Juventus, European football’s grand showpiece marked Vialli’s last appearance in a Sampdoria shirt before he became the world’s most expensive player by joining the Bianconeri for €17.7m only for AC Milan paid €18.4m for Torino’s Gianluigi Lentini just weeks later.
His first season in Turin brought another European trophy as Juve brushed aside Borussia Dortmund 6-1 on aggregate in the UEFA Cup but a broken foot severely limited his contribution the following year.
When he did return to full fitness Vialli and striking accomplices Roberto Baggio and Fabrizio Ravanelli became one of the most potent attacking forces in Italy to claim the double.
A new-found physical presence and intelligent movement reiterated the Bianconeri captain’s position as one of Italy’s top marksmen with 17 goals scored en route to glory.
“He is the Michelangelo of the Sistine Chapel, a sculptor who can transform himself into a painter,” claimed owner Gianni Agnelli.
Only Parma stopped Juventus securing an historic treble defeating them 2-1 in the UEFA Cup Final, but Vialli still left an indelible mark on the contest by firing a ferocious and technically excellent volley past Luca Bucci.
As Milan regained control of Serie A, Juventus’ run to the Champions League final in 1996 saw Vialli as talisman once more with six goals and alleviate the growing expectancy on young prodigy Alessandro Del Piero.
Fuelled by the pain of 1992 and uncertain of his future possibly affected his performance in a cagey match and was not even selected for a penalty in the shootout.
However, Ajax’s woeful attempts meant he finally got his hands on the famous trophy and became the only man to have winning and losing medals in all three UEFA club competitions.
Vialli joined Chelsea that summer as foreign talent began flooding towards the Premier League and he continued to collect trophies thanks to various cup triumphs, including another European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1998.
However, despite club accomplishments Vialli had mixed fortunes with the Azzurri firstly as they flattered to deceive in the 1988 European Championships reaching the semi-final, although claiming a personal triumph netting the only goal to beat Spain.
His Italy debut actually came shortly after joining Sampdoria in 1985 and made the 1986 World Cup squad – appearing four times from the bench- but a first strike eluded him until a Euro 1988 qualifier versus Malta.
With a World Cup on home soil he was expected to lead a maturing Azzurri to glory in 1990 only to fail to meet expectations missing a penalty against the United States and Vialli was dropped for Toto Schillaci.
Vialli was even recalled for the semi-final versus Argentina, but the move backfired and was substituted at half-time.
When Arrigo Sacchi took over he never showed Vialli the same patience and a strained relationship between the two ended his international career after 59 caps and just 16 goals.
Leading Juventus to Champions League glory Sacchi admitted several of the international side pleaded for his inclusion ahead of Euro’96.
Vialli, though, stated the decision should be the coaches alone and not influenced by his peers, thus more fittingly his career in Italian football instead got the send-off it deserved that night at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
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