Roberto Mancini’s Italy embarked on a relentless run in the Euro 2020, eventually lifting the title.
The players never looked out of sorts throughout the tournament, and the credit goes to Mancini for building a competitive unit following the failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
However, there is an unsung hero among the coaching staff of Mancini who worked off the books to maintain the winning mentality of the players.
It is none other than the delegation chief of the Azzurri and a long-time friend of Mancini, Gianluca Vialli.
Vialli’s playing career might be a prolific one due to his successful spells at Chelsea and Juventus, but his managerial career was not as successful.
The former Watford gaffer’s journey is an inspiring tale as he fought off pancreatic cancer before making his way into the Italian national team.
One may wonder how the Italians look motivated all time and always ready to give their heart out regardless of the odds, and the man behind it is Vialli, whose work would always go unnoticed.
A man of unfailing positivity, Vialli is the man responsible for maintaining the squad harmony though it consists of players from so many different clubs.
He is not an out and out assistant coach for Mancini, but he is always there for his friend and the former Manchester City gaffer, and the entire squad members respect him.
It would be easy not to take notice of the players who always remain on the fringes, but Vialli ensured that they never lacked motivation.
One such instance happened in the Euros when Atalanta midfielder Matteo Pessina was left disappointed when he failed to make it into Mancini’s final squad. As it turned out later, Pessina got the nod due to Lorenzo Pellegrini’s injury, and he went on to score two goals in the competition. The most significant strike came against Austria in extra time in the round of 16.
Pessina later revealed that he had the backing of Vialli and added that the former Blues gaffer didn’t let his head down.
“When they explained to me that I would not start at the European Championship, Vialli then looked at me and said I would go there and I would do well anyway. In the end, it went like this, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Italian full-back Alessandro Florenzi also gave special credits to Vialli after winning the European Championship.
Florenzi said: “He will hate me for saying this, but I don’t care. Everybody needs to know this. We have among us an example that teaches us how to live, in any moment, in any situation. And I’m talking about Gianluca Vialli. For us, he’s special. Without him and without Mancini and the other coaches, this victory would mean nothing. He is a living example. I know he’ll get angry, but I just had to say it.”
