Gianluca Vialli
Italian striker who won the Champions League with Juventus and is one of nine players to win all three major European club competitions.
Gianluca Vialli (Italian pronunciation: [dʒanˈluːka viˈalli, - ˈvjalli]; 9 July 1964 – 5 January 2023) was an Italian football player and manager who played as a striker. He started his club career at Cremonese in 1980, then played for Sampdoria from 1984 to 1992, Juventus from 1992 to 1996, and Chelsea from 1996 until his retirement from playing in 1999. He won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, among other honors.
- Role
- Striker / Forward
- Key Partnership
- Roberto Baggio
- Major Honours
- Coppa Italia, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, Serie A Title
- Status
- Club Legend / Retired
Lore & Background
Vialli transferred to Juventus in 1992 for a world record £12.5 million. During his time at Juventus, he won the Italian Cup, Serie A, Italian Supercup, UEFA Champions League, and the UEFA Cup. He captained Juventus to victory in the 1996 Champions League final. He is one of nine footballers to have won the three main European club competitions and the only forward to have done so.
In Their Own Story
The floodlights at Stadio delle Alpi hummed with anticipation as the Derby della Mole approached its climax. Gianluca Vialli, chest heaving but eyes sharp, received a heavy cross from deep in midfield. With a defender bearing down on him, the 'Gigante Buono' didn't retreat; instead, he absorbed the contact, shielded the ball with his back to the goal, and flicked it effortlessly over the keeper's reach. The roar of the Curva Sud erupted instantly, a testament to the sheer joy and power Vialli brought to every touch.
Reader's Guide
At Juventus, Vialli played alongside Roberto Baggio, Pierluigi Casiraghi, Paolo Di Canio, Andreas Möller, Alessandro Del Piero, and Fabrizio Ravanelli. He won Serie A in the 1994–95 season and the Italian Cup in 1995. He scored 38 goals in 102 appearances for Juventus.
Did You Know?
- Vialli won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup with Sampdoria in 1990 and with Chelsea in 1998, but never with Juventus.
- He is the only player in European football history to hold both winners and runners-up medals in all three mainstream UEFA club competitions.
- Vialli scored 259 goals at club level, 16 for Italy, and 11 for Italy under-21, totaling 286 goals.
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