WORLD SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Gianluca VIALLI
1995
Streak…Gianluca Vialli is the 13th Italian-based d player to win the award in14 years
Viva Vialli
G
ianluca Vialli, born on July 9, 1964, cost Juventus £12 million (for ten days a world record) when signed from Sampdoria after their Champions’ Cup final defeat by Barcelona in 1992. After injury problems he re-emerged at his very best last season to inspire Juve’s title success, despite a row with national coach Arrigo Sacchi. Vialli was born in Cremona and played for Cremonese until Sampdoria spotted his potential in 1984 and paid £1.8 million for his fledgling talent. He was Sampdoria’s leading league marksman for four years in a row, and Italy’s top scorer with 19 goals in 1990-91. In 1986 he was an outstanding member of the Italian team who beat holders England to reach the final of the European Under-21 Championship. Italy lost to Spain in the final and the Genoa-based club’s president Paolo Mantovani wondered whether the sale of Vialli would raise money to strengthen the rest of the team. Such was local opposition to the prospect of Vialli’s move to Milan that Mantovani changed his mind. In 1985 Vialli made his senior international debut as a substitute against Poland in Chorzow. He played in the 1986 World Cup finals in Mexico
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PLAYER OF THE YEAR
On target… Vialli in the Champions League
