The Grand Old lady of Italian football and the country’s most successful club, Juventus are world renowned and globally supported. With their winning tradition, backed by the financial might of the Agnelli family Juve have been able to attract some of the greatest players the world has ever seen, stretching back many decades, thus helping glamorise the club. With such players, Juventus have won every major (and probably minor) trophy, both domestically and abroad, a club side can win.
With so many great players gracing the black and white stripes, choosing a best eleven is a difficult choice, but as many pundits are fond of stating, it’s a nice choice to have as a club! Once again, fitting in with the attacking and creative celebration of football that footballmundial.co.uk strives to give, I’ve opted for a top-heavy approach, picking just two out-and-out defenders, one attacking fullback and at least four fantasisti! It’s a good job that Cabrini and Tardelli were rumoured to have more lungs than your average human…they’ll be doing a lot of running in this team…
But if you had to create an ultimate team to represent Juventus – choosing only the bare 11 players – who would make the cut?
Do you agree or disagree with my choices? Leave your comments below!
1. GK. Dino Zoff (1972 – 1983)
Considered one of the finest goalkeepers in history Zoff spent 11-years at Juventus winning a remarkable six Scudetti during his time. Calmness personified and never rattled, Zoff transmitted tranquillity to whichever defenders were helping guard his goal – be it at club, or international level. Zoff benefitted from playing with most of his Juve defence whilst representing the Azzurri, where his finest moment was achieved. Aged 40, in 1982 he captained Italy to World Cup final glory, making him the oldest winner ever. Upon his (final) retirement after making more than 330-appearances for the club in Serie A, many thought Juventus would never see like of Zoff again….but then along came Buffon.
2. CB/RB: Claudio Gentile (1973 – 1984)
Fearsome and solid, Gentile was somewhat of an ironic surname for this ruthless defender. Born in Tripoli, Libya, Gentile went on to represent Italy 71-times winning the 1982 World Cup with four other members of this team. For Juventus he made 414-appearances in just over ten seasons, winning ten major trophies. Although nominally a central-defender, he also covered the right-back role on many occasions. Whenever a team of ‘toughest ever’ players are discussed, Gentile inevitably makes the list – and would probably be captain!
6. CB: Gaetano Scirea (1974 – 1988)
The Ying to Gentile’s Yang, Scirea was the perfect foil to compliment his defensive partners ‘dark arts’. Graceful, skilful and tactically masterful, Scirea was primarily a libero, launching many of Juve’s attacks from his deeper position when breaking free of his defensive line. Winning an incredible 14-major club honours at Juventus, Scirea is one of only five players to win every single major club trophy recognised by UEFA and FIFA. The quietly spoken captain oozed a classy, calming aura and became renowned for his sportsmanship and fair play – indeed, he never received a red card during his illustrious career. Just one year after his retirement this Gentleman of football was tragically killed aged just 36 in a horrific car accident, whilst following his beloved Juve. His name can still be heard today, chanted by fans whenever the bianconeri play. A true Juventus legend.
3. LB: Antonio Cabrini (1976 – 1989)
Bell’Antonio, as he was nicknamed, is another fine example of an exceptionally talented, technical attacking left-back to come out of Italy. Bursting up and down the left side of the pitch, Cabrini possessed extraordinary fitness levels which ensured he performed an essential role for both club and country. Playing well over 300-times for Juventus, he also won 12-major trophies during the teams golden period.
4. M: Marco Tardelli (1975 – 1985)
The hard-tackling midfielder loved a battle and there was not many who possessed his mental toughness and intensity on the pitch. His sheer intensity was perhaps best exemplified during his infamous goal celebration during the 1982 World Cup final. For Juventus, he was a tremendously fierce competitor, known for his almost super-human stamina levels whilst also weighing in with some vital goals for the club. During his decade in Turin, he won 11-major trophies and played 376-times, scoring 51-goals in the process. Not bad for a defensive midfielder.
8. RW: Giampiero Boniperti (1946 – 1961)
Before Alessandro Del Piero, and even before Gaetano Scirea there was Giampiero Boniperti, who bled black and white. He was Mr. Juventus. Spending his entire career at the Old Lady, Boniperti played 444-times in Serie A and scored 182-goals in all competitions, which remained a club record for 40-years (until Del Piero came along and broke both records). Although he began life as a centre-forward, he was a flexible player and moved deeper, moving towards the right-wing. However regardless of which position he started, his goalscoring ability remained. Juve through and through, Boniperti became club president for a period – a role he still holds in honorary fashion.
7. M: Michel Platini (1982 – 1987)
A legend in world football, Platini is also one of the finest players to ever wear the black and white stripes of Juventus. During his time at the club, he was voted European Player of the Year three times (1983-1985), won 7-major trophies and finished Serie A capocannonieri three times in a row – as a midfielder! In Serie A alone, he scored 68-goals in just 147-appearances. It’s easy to forget, in all of the success he enjoyed at the club, that Platini endured a difficult start to life in Turin and almost left during his first season. Once those initial difficulties were overcome he never looked back, becoming instrumental to the style of play and the teams winning mentality. His finest hour with the club was soured as Juventus won their first European Cup during the 1985 Hysel Stadium disaster in which 39 fans lost their lives.
10. F: Roberto Baggio (1990 – 1995)
Juventus made Baggio the most expensive player in the world when they signed him for a record £8 million just prior to the 1990 World Cup. Whilst his time at the club coincided with a fairly barren period, Baggio remained their shining light, dazzling the Stadio delle Alpi on a weekly basis with his genius creativity and phenomenal goalscoring. Not only a great goalscorer, but a scorer of great goals, Baggio became the best player on the planet whilst at Juve, winning both World and European Player of the Year in 1993 as he inspired the club to UEFA Cup victory, lifting the trophy as captain. One of the finest number 10’s to play the game, the fantasista may not have won as many trophies as other players who’ve represented the club, but during his time there, he was Juventus.
5. CM/LM: Zinedine Zidane (1996 – 2001)
All eyes were on Zidane when the Frenchman joined the club as many believed it would be the second-coming of Platini. Indeed, similar to his countryman, Zizou suffered a difficult start to life in Turin but once he became accustomed to his new surroundings very little could stop his genius. His Juve career was kick-started after scoring winning goals against title rivals Inter, then during the Intercontinental Cup versus River Plate. Zidane won almost every major honour whilst in Juve colours – the only trophy that fell out of his grasp was the European Cup, which he was a losing finalist of twice whilst in Turin.
11. F: Alessandro Del Piero (1993 – )
Il Grande Capitano as he is now known, Del Piero has broke every major record there was at Juventus during his 18-years at the club, becoming their greatest ever goalscorer (281) and playing the most games for the club (653). Il Pinturicchio (to give him his original nickname), inherited the number 10 shirt from Roberto Baggio and never looked back. Perhaps playing further forward than a conventional number 10, Del Piero has won every major trophy available to win at club football level, but cemented his place in Juve fans hearts by remaining with the club as they suffered the indignity of relegation to Serie B during the Calciopoli scandal back in 2006.
9. F: Omar Sivori (1957 – 1965)
Goal machine Sivori scored a very respectable 134-goals in just 215-games whilst playing in Serie A for Juventus, but he brought more to the team than just goals. Described as ‘audacious and brilliant’, Sivori had a cheeky playing style, favouring to ‘nutmeg’ his opponents as much as possible. He also possessed great vision and passing, whilst his dribbling ability was of the highest calibre. He struck up a great partnership with Boniperti and John Charles (who just missed out on this team) during his time at the club as they swept all before them in Italy winning 5-major trophies at the club. Sivori is yet another player to be voted European Footballer of the Year whilst wearing the black and white of Juve.
Honourable mentions and unlucky to make the team are:
Gianluigi Buffon, Luis Del Sol, John Charles, Fabio Capello, Franco Causio, Giuseppe Furino, Roberto Bettega, Paolo Rossi, Antonio Conte, Gianluca Vialli, Ciro Ferrara, Pavel Nedved
