TRIBUTES have been paid to a Premier League legend who had joked he did not have good memories of Bradford City during his career.

Former Italy, Juventus and Chelsea striker Gianluca Vialli has died aged 58 following a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer, the Italian Football Federation has announced.

Vialli, who went on to enjoy huge success as Chelsea manager following his glittering playing career, was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017 and announced he had been given the all-clear in 2020 after treatment at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Gianluca Vialli during a visit to Valley Parade in February 2016 Gianluca Vialli during a visit to Valley Parade in February 2016 (Image: Newsquest)

He was re-diagnosed with the disease in 2021 and announced last month that he had stepped down from his role as Italy’s national team delegation chief.

The Italian star had a few links to Bradford City before during, and after, his managerial career in England.

Vialli was at Valley Parade in February 2016 in his role as co-founder of Tifosy, the crowd-funding business behind City’s plans to revamp the place.

The “Upgrade the Parade” campaign spanned 10 weeks in 2016 as fans were encouraged to donate towards a new state-of-the-art electronic scoreboard and dressing room improvements. In exchange, they had the chance to win prizes and rewards laid on by the club.

 

Vialli looked back on his experiences of managing English teams against the Bantams when he was interviewed at Valley Parade by Telegraph & Argus chief sports writer Simon Parker.

Vialli’s Chelsea was humbled 2-0 under Chris Hutchings during the 2000-01 Premier League season.

He said: “We had two derbies at home to Arsenal and West Ham at the start of that season. We also went to Villa and Newcastle.

 

“So out of the first five games, Bradford seemed to be the easiest one.

“It was actually the only one we ended up losing. It was possibly the day that cost me my job.

“That was the last game I lost as Chelsea manager. We played another three games after and then they sacked me.

“I also lost with Watford 4-3 the next season in a match more exciting but probably not so memorable.”

During a 16-year playing career in Italy, Vialli won every major trophy on offer, including Serie A titles with Sampdoria (1991) and Juventus (1995), the Champions League with the latter in 1996, the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.

He scored 16 goals in 59 appearances for Italy, featured in the 1986 and 1990 World Cups.