Italy legend Gianluca Vialli will be honoured in a pre-game ceremony ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League game against Crystal Palace on Sunday, including players past and present.
The former striker and member of Roberto Mancini’s Azzurri coaching staff died on January 6 at the age of 58 after treatment for pancreatic cancer.
The gates of Stamford Bridge have become a makeshift shrine to the man who won the hearts of Chelsea fans as a player first and then a manager.
Their first home game since his passing will be on Sunday against Crystal Palace, so that occasion will be used for Chelsea to pay proper tribute to the Italian.
There will be minute’s silence before kick-off, while 15 former Chelsea players who were in his squad will join the current group wearing Vialli 9 jerseys.
The fans are also preparing their own tributes with banners and flags in the stands.
Vialli was a player at Chelsea from 1996 to 1999, also taking on the role of manager from February 1998 to September 2000.
The rest of his playing career was in Italy with Cremonese, Sampdoria and Juventus.