Gianluca Vialli has stepped away from his role with the Italian national time to focus on beating cancer for the second time.
The former Chelsea striker, who represented his country 59 times, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last December having already overcome the illness in April 2020.
After consulting with doctors, the 58-year-old will take leave from his role as Italy’s head of delegation with immediate effect.
In a statement on the Italian Football Federation's (FIGC) website, Vialli said: “At the end of a long and difficult ‘negotiation’ with my wonderful team of oncologists, I have decided to suspend, hopefully temporarily, my present and future professional commitments.
“The goal is to use all my psycho-physical energies to help my body overcome this phase of the disease, in order to be able to face new adventures as soon as possible and share them with all of you.”
Vialli won the FA Cup and League Cup in a three-year spell at Chelsea to round off a storied career, which included stints with Sampdoria and Juventus.
He was appointed to Roberto Mancini's staff in 2019 and played a crucial part in helping Italy win Euro 2020 last year, beating England on penalties at the Wembley final.
FIGC president Gabriele Gravina said: “Gianluca is an absolute protagonist of the Italian national team and will be in the future.
"Thanks to his extraordinary fortitude, to the Azzurro and to the affection of the whole federal family, I am convinced he will be back soon. He can count on each of us, because we are a team, on and off the pitch."
