The club was managed by its former reserve team manager Ray Lewington, following the dismissal of Gianluca Vialli at the end of 2001–02.
In 2007 he was linked with a move to the managers position at Queens Park Rangers, following the club takeover by Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone and the dismissal of John Gregory as manager, but ultimately declined any interest in the job.
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In 2006, Vialli released The Italian Job: A Journey to the Heart of Two Great Footballing Cultures, co-written with his close friend and reputable football journalist, Gabriele Marcotti.
In April 1983 he played for the League of Ireland XI U21s against their Italian League counterparts who included Roberto Mancini and Gianluca Vialli in their team.
Gianluca Festa | Gianluca Vialli | Gianluca Sansone | Gianluca Grignani | Gianluca Francesconi | Gianluca Faliva | Gianluca Bortolami |
With Britons Graeme Souness and Trevor Francis leaving the squad, Boškov built his team around young Italian players, with Roberto Mancini, Gianluca Vialli, Pietro Vierchowod and Moreno Mannini among the bulwark of the squad as Sampdoria finished 6th in a tight battle involving several teams for 3rd in the championship.