Paul Elliott will arrive at Wembley tonight with sadness in his heart.
‘I first met Gianluca Vialli in Italy, when I played in Serie A with Pisa,’ recalled Elliott, who became the first black British defender to play in Italy’s top-flight.
‘He was a class act then. We had some good battles on the pitch in Italy.
'I then met him again a few years later at Chelsea, he was with Roberto Mancini at the time.
‘He was such a warm individual. He dressed well, spoke great English - he was student of human relations.