GRIEF AT DEATH OF A GREAT

NEWS of Gianluca Vialli’s death yesterday morning triggered an extraordinary outpouring of grief from the football world. ‘Gianluca was a splendid person and he leaves a void that cannot be filled,’ said Italian football federation president Gabriele Gravina. ‘I hoped until the end that he would be able to perform another miracle. Yet I am comforted by the certainty that what he did for Italian football and the blue shirt will never be forgotten.’ A minute’s silence in memory of Vialli will be held before all Italian matches this weekend.

Former Netherlands captain Ruud Gullit, who was replaced by Vialli in 1998 as player-manager at Chelsea, wrote under a picture of the pair together: ‘RIP Gianluca Vialli. We will miss you.’ Chelsea tweeted: ‘You’ll be missed by so many. A legend to us and to all of football. Rest in peace, Gianluca Vialli.’ Sampdoria, the club where he made his name, winning the Serie A title and European Cup-winners’ Cup, said in a statement: ‘We won’t forget your 141 goals, your overhead kicks, your cashmere shirts, your earring, your platinum blond hair, your Ultras bomber jacket. You gave us so much, it was love. A love that will not die today with you.’ And Juventus, with whom he won the Champions League in 1996, wrote: ‘We loved everything about you, absolutely everything, your smile, your being a star and leader at the same time, your adorable, swashbuckling ways, your culture and class.’ Former Chelsea captain John Terry tweeted: ‘I’m heartbroken. RIP Luca. A proper legend and a great man.’