Gianluca Vialli
Gianluca Vialli is the
former captain of Juventus, who lifted last season's European Cup.
In his career, both for Club and International sides, he has scored some
outstanding goals. One of Italy's greatest players over the last decade,
Gianluca Vialli now graces Stamford Bridge and the Premier League with
his good humour, superb touch and total belief. He is one of only four
players to have won all three European club trophies. A disagreement with
the Italian manager means he has not played international football for
several years, but there is little doubt that an Italy with Vialli would
be stronger than one without him. When he joined Juventus, he become the
world's most expensive footballer at the time for 12 million pounds.
Last season he had a new
experience though - he wasn't an automatic first choice. As the most high
profile casualty of the squad system Vialli had to get used to the concept
of playing irregularly. Nether-the-less he scored some vital goals for
Chelsea, against Manchester United at Old Trafford and against Liverpool
in the FA cup.
Despite the press trying
to make out the reasons for his exclusion were personal, the true reason
was much simpler, Zola and Hughes were playing so well together they made
themselves undropable. Vialli has said he wants to be a Chelsea legend
and his attitude pre-season suggested he might make it yet. Still hugely
popular, he may again find he won't play every game, but at least this
time he won't be alone. It's a squad game at Stamford Bridge and everyone
seems to be accepting it.
Born: Cremona, Italy,
9.7.64.
Height: 178cms (5'10")
Weight: 85kgs (13st5lbs)
Previous clubs: Cremonese,
Sampdoria, Juventus
Signed: May 1996 on a
free transfer
Chelsea Honours: FA Cup
Winners medal 1997
Honours with other clubs:
Italian League Championship 1991 (Serie A's top scorer with 19), 3 Italian
FA Cups 1985, 1988 and 1989. European Cup Winners Cup winner 1990 (Sampdoria).
Italian League Championship and Italian FA Cup winner 1995. UEFA Cup winner
1993. European Cup winner 1996 as captain (Juventus).
International recognition:
59 Italian caps, 16 goals, 20 Italian U21 caps, 11 goals, Italian Youth.
Played in the 1986 (Mexico), 1990 (Italy) World Cup finals and 1988 (Germany)
European Championship finals.
ALCATRAZ