Chelsea pay emotional tribute to Gianluca Vialli
‘Our hearts are broken’: Chelsea pay an emotional tribute to Gianluca Vialli as John Terry, Mark Hughes and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink return to Stamford Bridge to say farewell at the club’s first home game since the Italian legend’s death aged 58
- Chelsea have paid an emotional tribute to Gianluca Vialli at Stamford Bridge
- The Italian passed away last week aged 58 after a battle with pancreatic cancer
- Vialli spent three years with the Blues and became a Chelsea legend
- John Terry was among a number of former teammates to pay their respects
Chelsea have paid an emotional tribute to club legend Gianluca Vialli following the Italian’s death last week.
Vialli died aged 58 following a battle with pancreatic cancer and ahead of their Premier League game against Crystal Palace on Sunday, players past and present joined the fans in saying farewell at Stamford Bridge.
Those former teammates included John Terry, Mark Hughes and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Chelsea have paid an emotional tribute to Gianluca Vialli ahead of the Crystal Palace game
Chelsea players past and present joined Blues fans in a poignant tribute on Sunday afternoon
Banners were displayed across Stamford Bridge as fans and players came together
Former Chelsea captain John Terry was among a number of former players at the ground
Supporters unfurled huge banners of the Italian around the stadium while a number of fans chanted his name.
A video tribute to Vialli was shown on the big screens, in which ex-teammate Graeme Le Saux said: ‘From the day you stepped through the door you set the standard at this club and captured our hearts.
‘Dreams came true under your management and you achieved your dream of becoming a Chelsea legend.
‘But above all Luca, you were a wonderful man. Charming, respectful, determined. You had a heart of gold that touched so many.
‘Now our hearts are broken, but how lucky we were to have known you. Luca, we love you and we miss you.’
Ex-Chelsea striker Mark Hughes also paid his respects and was seen clapping his hands
A banner reading ‘Luca Vialli’ is displayed over a railing at Stamford Bridge on Sunday
A Chelsea supporter holds a Gianluca Vialli scarf aloft during the emotional tribute
Chelsea fans laid flowers outside Stamford Bridge one week on from the Italian’s death
Chelsea players donned special ‘Vialli 9’ training tops during their pre-match warm up and wore black armbands for the game in west London.
Supporters also laid flowers outside the stadium ahead of kick off for the club legend who spent three years as a player and a manager with the Blues.
Vialli led Chelsea to the European Cup Winners’ Cup and the League Cup in 1998, plus the FA Cup in 2000.
He represented Italy in the 1986 and 1990 World Cups, won the Champions League with Juventus in 1996 and gained popularity in England during a short spell at Stamford Bridge.
Shortly after his death was announced, Terry wrote an emotional tribute on Instagram.
A sign reading ‘Gianluca Viallia 1964 – 2023’ is displayed as supporters entered the ground
Chelsea players wore ‘Vialli 9’ training tops during the warm up for the Premier League game
Terry penned: ‘Paying my respects to Luca at Stamford Bridge. RIP Luca.
‘You will forever be remembered and I will always be so grateful for believing in me and giving me my debut.
‘In the FA Cup final in 2000, you put Jody Morris, Jon Harley and myself on the bench and told us we were the future of Chelsea.
‘When you arrived at Chelsea you had so much time for the young players, the discussions we used to have I will always treasure and remember.
‘You were such a great man, full of life and energy and will be missed so much. Love JT. LEGEND.’
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