WATCH: The emotional moment Gianluca Vialli embraces Roberto Mancini after Italy clinched Euro 2020 triumph, with the pair left in TEARS at Wembley… as Azzurri icon dies aged 58 following battle with cancer
An emotional video of Gianluca Vialli embracing Roberto Mancini after Italy’s Euro 2020 triumph has resurfaced after the Chelsea legend’s death aged 58.
Vialli passed away on Friday after a long battle with pancreatic cancer just 18 months after playing a key role in Italy’s Euro 2020 triumph at Wembley.
Vialli was a member of Roberto Mancini’s backroom staff as Italy beat England on penalties in the final, and the pair embraced on the pitch after the Azzurri’s victory.
Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Mancini hug each other after Italy’s triumph at Euro 2020
The two men were close friends after starring at Sampdoria together during their playing days
It was a particularly special moment for Vialli, who had returned to the touchline after first being diagnosed with cancer in 2017, and he could not hold back the tears as he embraced Mancini.
Mancini was also in floods of tears, having known what his friend had been through, with the two men having shared a special bond for the best part of four decades.
Vialli and Mancini played together at Sampdoria between 1984 and 1992, striking up a fearsome partnership as the club won Serie A in 1991, while also winning the Coppa Italia three times together.
They remained friends and Mancini brought Vialli into his coaching setup in November 2019, with the former Chelsea star going on to reveal in April 2020 that he had been given the all-clear from pancreatic cancer.
Italy were looking to recover from the humiliation of missing out on the 2018 World Cup, and together Mancini and Vialli took the side on an unbeaten run all the way through until the European Championships.
Vialli was a key member of Mancini’s staff as Italy went on a long unbeaten run to win the Euros
Italy then held their nerve in the tournament, picking up successive penalty shootout wins against Spain and England to win the competition for the second time in their history.
That glorious moment at Wembley was the culmination of 18 months of hard work for Mancini and Vialli, and video footage shows exactly how much it meant to them.
Vialli would continue in his role after the tournament, but announced that his cancer had returned in December 2021.
Italy failed to make a second consecutive World Cup when they were eliminated in the play-offs by North Macedonia in March, but Mancini stayed on as manager with Vialli by his side.
Vialli finally announced he was stepping down from his role last month as he went into a London hospital to receive further treatment for his cancer, and he passed away with his family around him on Thursday night.
