Almost 27 years ago, Gianluca Vialli captained Juventus in their Champions League final win over Ajax, guiding them to their most recent major European honour to date, remembers Apollo Heyes.
Despite their storied history as regular winners in Italy, the Old Lady often struggled to show their best on the European stage and had only picked up one Champions League title when Vialli arrived in 1992. This solitary success came in 1985, when they beat Liverpool on a tragic night at Heysel Stadium.
Juventus were in a bit of a dark period upon Vialli’s arrival in 1992. They hadn’t won a Scudetto for six years at that point and their only joy in that period was a single Coppa Italia win in 1990. That misery quickly started to dissipate, however, when one half of the famous ‘Goal Twins’ arrived in Turin.
In his first season in black and white, Vialli played an instrumental role in the club’s third ever UEFA Cup win, scoring five goals and providing three assists across 10 games to guide the team to silverware once again. It was an important moment for Juventus, who soon felt the winning spirits return to Piedmont.
His second season in Turin was more difficult and saw him limited to just 10 Serie A appearances, where he netted four goals. Frustrated, Vialli underwent a serious and intense training regime, looking to improve his fitness and strength.
Vialli’s efforts paid off and he was a star for Juventus in the 1994-95 season, scoring 22 goals and providing 16 assists across 46 matches. This was the year when he was first handed the captain’s armband, leading the squad in the Coppa Italia and UEFA Cup on occasion, and he drove the team to a domestic double, winning both the league and the cup.
It seemed as if things couldn’t get any better for Vialli as he entered his final season with the Old Lady, but then he managed to pull off what now seems impossible in Turin, Champions League glory. The undisputed captain following the departure of Roberto Baggio, Vialli had another great season and was a key leader on the pitch as well as a reliable and decisive goal scorer.
The Cremona-born striker was the decisive figure in Juventus’ European semi-final clashes with FC Nantes, scoring in both legs and providing a crucial assist in the second match. This result took the Bianconeri to the highest stage in club football, the Champions League final.
Lining up with familiar faces like Alessandro Del Piero, Antonio Conte and Angelo Peruzzi behind him, Vialli lead Juventus in their fourth ever European Cup final, tasked to bring home club football’s most coveted prize. He tirelessly fought for the entire 120 minutes and watched on as his side edged out Ajax on penalties, sending the Bianconeri supporters wild.
In a footballing career studded in highlights, Vialli’s Champions League victory with Juventus is undoubtedly one of the most special.