CHELSEA paid an emotional tribute to club legend Gianluca Vialli before Sunday’s Premier League clash against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.
Vialli died aged 58 last week following a long battle with pancreatic cancer and players from the past and present joined the fans in saying farewell.
The legendary striker spent three years with the Blues and was appointed as player manager just a year before his retirement in 1998 and remained in charge until 2000.
Fans unfurled huge banners of the Italian great around the stands while a number of supporters chanted his name.
Graham Potter’s men wore a special “Vialli 9” training kit during warm up and wore black armbands in the game, which they won 1-0 thanks to Kai Havertz’s winner.
The two teams and some of the Chelsea hero’s former team-mates, such as John Terry, Mark Hughes, Graeme Le Saux and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, lined up on the pitch to pay tribute.
Read More on Chelsea
A video tribute to Vialli was shown on the big screens, in which fellow legends shared some touching words.
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.
Most read in Football
“Now our hearts are broken, but how lucky we were to have known you. Luca, we love you and we miss you.”
Fans also laid flowers outside the stadium ahead of kick-off and were joined by club legend Terry, who broke down in tears while paying his respects.
Vialli handed the legendary defender his debut before he went on to make 717 appearances for Chelsea.
Terry posted on Instagram: “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, Carlo Cudicini 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 was such a great man, full of life and energy and will be missed so much. Love JT. “LEGEND.”
Chelsea won the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup under Vialli.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
