John Terry breaks down in tears as he pays respects to Chelsea legend Gianluca Vialli at Stamford Bridge
JOHN TERRY broke down in tears while paying his respects to Chelsea legend Gianluca Vialli at Stamford Bridge.
Italian Vialli passed away on Friday at the age of 58 following a battle with cancer.
He arrived at Stamford Bridge as a player in 1996 and featured until 1999.
In 1998, towards the end of his spell in the first team, he became player-manager following the sacking of Ruud Gullit.
He took charge until 2000, handing Terry his Blues debut - before the centre-back went on to make 717 appearances for the club.
Chelsea won the League Cup and FA Cup under Vialli during his two-and-a-half-year spell as boss.
READ MORE ON CHELSEA
And Terry shared some emotional pictures on social media following Vialli's death.
He laid flowers outside Stamford Bridge and posted a lengthy message about his ex-coach.
Speaking on , Terry said: "Paying my respects to Luca at Stamford Bridge 💙💔 @chelseafc.
"RIP Luca. You will forever be remembered and I will always be so grateful for believing in me and giving me my debut.
Most read in Football
"In the FA Cup final in 2000 you put @jodymorris @harley_jon @ccudicini and myself on the bench and told us we were the future of Chelsea.
"When you arrived at Chelsea you had so much time for the young players, the discussions we used to have I will always treasure and remember.
"You was such a great man, full of life and energy and will be missed so much. Love JT.
"LEGEND 💙😢."
After Vialli's death was announced, Chelsea tweeted: "You'll be missed by so many. A legend to us and to all of football. Rest in peace, Gianluca Vialli."
Owners Todd Boehly, and Behdad Eghbali then added: "This is truly an awful day for Chelsea Football Club. Gianluca's legend will live on at Stamford Bridge.
"His impact as a player, a coach and most importantly as a person, will be forever written across our club's history.
"We send our heartfelt and deepest condolences to his family and friends."
