RIP Gianlucca Vialli

[Pies4shaw]

I was greatly saddened to read that Gianlucca Vialli died today.

What a player he was in Serie A, when Serie A was THE place to play. A magnificent set of skills - part of the famed Juventus "team of painters and decorators" with Baggio, and Fabrizio Ravanelli - it was hard not to admire his goals, even when they beat your team for the title.

Here's highlights of the game in which he helped to take Juve back to the top of Serie A in the mid 90s. The best quality video I can find online is the Italian commentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY7s0m_SPjc

Here's some of his goals for Sampdoria and Juve:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5R40g8Pd1k

Gone way too soon.

Juve's tribute:

https://www.juventus.com/en/news/articles/ciao-gianluca

And here's a fabulous re-telling of Sampdoria's only Serie A title season, published more than a decade ago: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/jun/25/sampdoria-1991-rob-smyth

That article contains a link to this video showing all of Vialli's goals in that fabled season: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwlnOwvsU0g

Really, his volleying had to be seen to be believed.

[Jezza]

Very sad news.

Fabulous player and loved by all at Chelsea, as well as at Sampdoria and Juventus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOQMkMwSt4A