Let’s start with a bang. Here are a few great names that won’t even make the reserve team of Juventus All-Star XI: Michael Laudrup, Filippo Inzaghi, Fabrizio Ravanelli, Paolo Rossi, David Trezeguet, Raimundo Orsi, Gianluca Vialli, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Throughout history, so many generations of all-conquering teams have worn the Juve-kit, that any Juventus All-Star XI is bound to result in some high-profile casualties.
And note how we’ve yet to mention ageless master Andrea Pirlo, who in his 30’s has been the agent behind Juventus’ revival. Or how about Gianluca Vialli, that leader of Juve’s mid 90’s renaissance?
Surely, we can’t ignore the great trio of the 60’s: Boniperti, Sivori and Charles. Or, going even further back, the Danish trio of the 50’s: Praest, Hansen and Hansen. Or 30’s star Raimundo Orsi. Juvetus has at least 30 players who deserve a spot on the field.
But this is not about who “deserves” a spot. This is about one thing only: which 11 players form the best Juventus All-Star team. So let’s see who makes it into final eleven.
Goalkeeper:
Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)
Juventus (2001-present)
To choose a goalkeeper for an all time Juventus XI is surely a headche. A club who produced two mesmerizing goalkeepers who are amongs the best goalkeepers of all time, Dino Zoff and Gianluigi Buffon.
Two legendary goalies. Both world champions. Both capped over a 100 times. Both recognised, at their peak, as the greatest goalkeepers in the world. Both runners-up of the Ballon d’Or. Zoff was voted the 3rd best goalie of the entire 20th century. Buffon has collected various goalkeeper of the year awards in the 21st century. So what seperates the two? Buffon has the more impressive physique – no surprise given that his father was a weightlifter and his mother a discus-thrower. At the same time, Buffon’s body has strangle him in several injury-plagued years. What we can say is that Buffon was the better of the two when comparing them in their 20’s, while Zoff showed more consistency in his 30’s. Even so, as Zoff himself admits about Buffon: “When he is doing well physically, Gigi has no rivals”. In addition, Zoff thrived in an age when he could pick up, with his hands, any pass from his defenders, making his life a whole lot easier. Buffon, more talented, more spectacular, taller, stronger, is also better with his feet.
Buffon is the only goalkeeper to have won the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year Award, which he won in 2003; he also won the award for best Goalkeeper that year and was voted into the UEFA Team of the Year in 2003, 2004 and 2006. In 2006, Buffon was runner-up for the Ballon d’Or and was elected to be part of the FIFPro World XI in 2006 and 2007.
He has been named the IFFHS (International Federation of Football History & Statistics) goalkeeper of the year four times (second only behind Iker Casillas with five awards) and was also named the best goalkeeper of the 21st century, of the past twenty five years, and of the decade, by the same organisation. So well, Buffon gets the job.
Defenders:
Right Back – Lillian Thuram (France)
Juventus (2001-2006)
And once again there is a tough competition, this time for the right back spot because there have been few world class right backs in Juve’s history. At one side there is Gianluca Zambrotta and on the other, Lillian Thuram.
Claudio Gentile often played there, but he had limited offensive abilities. Zambrotta however, had limited defensive abilities compared to the great rock Lilian Thuram. The Frenchman possessed speed, power and intelligence, and really, if we didn’t need him on the right flank for this team, he would have made it in central defense. He was that strong as a defender. He has a great reputation as a right back as well, thanks to playing that position in France’s 1998 and 2000 teams. Truth to be told, he did lack finesse with the ball on his foot, but overall, he’s to be preferred to Zambrotta.
Thuram was an extremely dominant, consistent, attentive, and versatile player throughout his career. He was known for his strength, pace, stamina and his outstanding physical and technical attributes, as well as his eye for goal, his ability to read the game, and his marking and tackling. Primarily a defender, he was equally competent offensively as he was defensively, and could play on either flank, often alternating between playing as a right back or as a centreback, and even being deployed in midfield on occasion. Despite his powerful, aggressive style of play, he was also known to be a classy, studious figure off the pitch.
He played ten seasons in the Serie A with both Parma and Juventus. Winning Scudetto twice in 2001-02 and 2002-03 with The Bianconeri.
Libero – Gaetano Scirea (Italy)
Juventus (1974-1988)
The Italian magazine Guerin Sportivo ranked Scirea higher than Baresi in their top 50 players of the 20th century. While that is a debatable judgment, there is no doubt that Scirea is one of the greatest defenders of all-time. A key player for the great Italian generation of the late 70’s and early 80’s, a defender who relied not on his physique but on his intelligent positioning, his leadership by example and his ball-playing skills.Scirea was a defender of skill and tactical ability, with an innate capacity to read the game. In contrast to the ruthless tactics often employed by other defenders, including his paired partner, Claudio Gentile, Scirea was renowned for his class, fair play and sportsmanship. And always that self-control: he was never sent off in his entire career. As a genuine libero, he contributed to the attack quite often, but fits perfectly well in this team as a central defender, uncontested by anyone. His 14 masterful years at Juventus mean no other player even comes into consideration for this spot. He played the sweeper, or libero, role for most of his career, and contributed to the development of the position. Thus, Scirea would detach himself from the defensive line and contribute to the attacking potential of his team, frequently being involved in the build-up of goals, and sometimes even scoring himself. In the latter part of his career, Scirea played a more defensive central-defender role
Scirea is one of only five players in European football history to have won all international trophies for football clubs recognized by UEFA and FIFA. Scirea is also one of only nine players in the history of the European football that won all three major UEFA football competitions.
Centre Back – Claudio Gentile (Italy)
Juventus (1973-1984)
Next to the gentleman Scirea we want a physically strong, ruthless, striker-killing defender. An old-fashioned stopper who is happy to man mark an opponent for 90 minutes. Cannavaro may have been the only defender in history who won the Ballon d’Or, but that was really because Italy, without any stand-out offensive players, won the World Cup in 2006. As a Juve-star, he ranks far lower, playing only two seasons in Turin before leaving for Madrid – where he flopped. Italy all-star? Maybe. Juventus all-star? Absolutely not.
Claudio Gentile is a more interesting option. The ruthless, man marking defender most famous for fouling Maradona 23 times in their 1982 World Cup classic encounter, played 11 years for Juventus, winning good amount of trophies, and earned a reputation for making life a nightmare for opposing forwards. Alongside Juventus and Italy team-mates Dino Zoff, Cabrini, and Scirea, he formed one of the most formidable defensive lines in football history. His motto? “Football is not for ballerinas.” This is exactly the man we need.
A tough, strong, tenacious, aggressive, ruthless, and uncompromising defender, Gentile was regarded as one of the best Italian defenders of his generation. He was particularly known for his tight, heavy marking as well as his hard challenges.
Gentile played 414 senior matches for Juventus, including 283 in Serie A. In over a decade in Turin, Gentile won two major European club competitions (1976–77 UEFA Cup and 1983–84 European Cup Winners’ Cup), six Scudetto’s, and two Coppa Italias. He also reached the final of the 1982-83 European Cup with the Turin club.
Left Back – Antonio Cabrini (Italy)
Juventus (1976-1989)
Cabrini was an elegant, iconic and effective left back for 13 successive seasons at Juventus, during which he won six Scudetti, as well as each of the three different European Cups. Cabrini had excellent attacking skills, a great shot, ánd was a superb marker of opposite wingers. Cabrini was nicknamed Bell’Antonio (beautiful Antonio), because of his popularity as a fascinating and good-looking football player. On the field, his technical, defensive, athletic, and physical qualities made of him one of the best defenders in the history of Italian football, and he is regarded as one of greatest fullbacks of all time. Cabrini is remembered in particular for forming one of the most formidable defensive units of all time with Italy and Juventus, alongside goalkeeper Dino Zoff, as well as defenders Claudio Gentile and Gaetano Scirea.
Midfielders:
Defensive Midfielder – Marco Tardelli (Italy)
Juventus (1975-1985)
Sometimes we have to ignore the attraction of myth shrouded in the fog of the past and choose a more recent, concrete and testifiable example of excellence. Marco Tardelli, in this case. During the early 80’s, Tardelli was recognized as one of Europe’s best defensive midfielders. Why? Because in an age where a premium was placed in Italy on defensive abilities, Tardelli was able to hold his own as a defensive midfielder while also displaying excellent technical skills. As a young player he was naturally fast, but also naturally bound to be right footed. Through dedicated training, he developed the ability to play with his left foot as well, which throughout his career enabled him to superbly distribute the ball forward from his defensive midfield position.
A World Cup winner, he also enjoyed a highly successful career at club level, winning multiple league and cup titles and four major UEFA competitions (European Cup, Cup Winner’s Cup, UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup). During an era when Italy was known for its defensive prowess (catenaccio), Tardelli made his name as a hard-tackling yet technically-skillful midfielder and is regarded as one of the finest midfielders in the world during the early 1980s.
He scored the decisive goal during the first leg of the UEFA Cup final against Athletic Bilbao, allowing Juventus to gain this competition in 1977, his first and also the first European title for Juventus.
Tardelli played 376 games with Juventus and scored 51 goals.
Defensive Midfielder – Edgar Davids (Netherlands)
Juventus (1997-2004)
Davids was known for standing out on the football field for his dreadlocked hair and the protective goggles he wore due toglaucoma. A combative, energetic, and creative midfielder, Davids was nicknamed “the Pitbull” by Louis van Gaal because of his marking ability and his aggressive tackling. Throughout his career, Davids was renowned for his outstanding technique and ball skills, as well as his passing ability and vision. He was also known for his pace, strength, power, stamina, tactical intelligence, versatility and tenacity, as well as his ability to read the game, which, along with his technical ability, allowed him to be deployed in several midfield positions, including as a left midfielder, or as a central, box-to-box, or defensive midfielder.
Six successful years in Turin followed, with Davids helping the side to the Serie A title in 1998, 2002 and 2003, as well as two Italian Supercups, and the Intertoto Cup. Juventus manager Marcello Lippi once described him as “my one-man engine room.”
He was often inspirational in Europe, playing 15 times as the club made it all the way to the 2002–03 UEFA Champions League final before losing to Milan on penalties. He had also previously managed to reach the Champions League Final with Juventus in 1998, followed by a semi-final finish during the 1998-99 season, as well as reaching the 2002 Coppa Italia Final.
Right Midfielder – Pavel Nedved (Czech Republic)
Juventus (2001-2009)
During his eight years at Juve, Nedved mostly played as a left winger. So what’s he doing on the right side of a midfield diamond? Because Nedved, as a two-footed footballer, could easily play on both sides of the field. And with his incredible endurance and discipline, the faux-blonde was certainly more than capable of fulfilling his defensive tasks. In this role, he will have to act as a box-to-box midfielder, partly covering up for two certain French maestros on midfield. In that role, he surpasses any other player available, including one man engine room Edgar Davids, and club icon Antonio Conte. The Italian midfield dynamo, and later club manager, may have played 80% more games than Nedved, he also had about 80% less class.
Due to his performances, as well as his quick and energetic runs during matches, Nedved was nicknamed Furia Ceca (“Czech Fury”) by Italian fans and The Czech cannon in English-language media.
Winning the Ballon d’Or as European Footballer of the Year in 2003, Nedvěd was the second Czech player to receive the honour and the first since the breakup of Czechoslovakia. During his career Nedved received a number of other individual awards, including the second Golden Foot award in 2004, Czech Footballer of the Year (four times) and the Golden Ball (six times). He was also named by Pelé as one of the FIFA 100, and was placed in the UEFA Team of the Year in 2003, 2004, and 2005. He retired following the 2008–09 season.
Nedved was a regular on Juventus 2001–02 and 2002–03 Scudetto-winning teams. Although he was a substantial part of the club’s championship season in 2003, he was also the subject of controversy. Nedvěd quit the Italian Footballers’ Association in protest of the union’s limit on non-EU players; his native Czech Republic did not become an EU member until 2004. Although he was instrumental in leading Juventus to the 2003 UEFA Champions League Final against Milan, he had to sit out the final because of an accumulation of yellow cards after his semifinal booking for a foul on Real Madrid midfielder Steve McManaman.
In December 2003, Nedved was named World Footballer of the Year by World Soccer. Later that month he won the European Footballer of the Year award over Thierry Henry and Paolo Maldini, the second Czech to win the award (after Josef Masopust in 1962).
Nedved played 501 league matches at the club level (scoring 110 goals).
Attacking Midfielder – Michel Platini (France)
Juventus (1982-1987)
Another uncontested spot. Like with Scirea’s position, no rival player – not even the genius dribbler Omar Sivori or club legend Giampiero Boniperti would dare claim this position as his own in the knowledge that Platini had already set up camp there. Platini played five seasons for Juventus, and won the Ballon d’Or in three of them. Frenchmen and Juventus will fans argue forever: who was better, Platini or Zidane? But both Frenchmen and Juventus fans have the luxury of being able to claim both as their own. With his fantastic free kicks, passes and goals, Michel Platini rightfully owns the number ten spot.
A versatile offensive playmaker renowned for his technique and vision, Platini is regarded as one of the best passers in football history, as well as one of the best finishers, penalty kick and free kick specialists. Despite being a creative midfielder, Platini was also a prolific goalscorer, winning the Serie A capocannoniere award three consecutive times between 1983-1985; he was also the top scorer of Juventus’s victorious 1984-85 European Cup campaign.
Due to his leadership, technical and creative attributes, he was given the nickname “Le Roi” (“The King”, in French).
“Michel was one of those great players who saw fitness work as being a bit superficial. He used to say, ‘We’re not going to compete in the 5,000 metres at the Olympics, we have to play with our feet.” -Giovanni Trapattoni, Juventus coach.
He won the Ballon d’Or three times, in 1983, 1984 and 1985, a record jointly held with Dutch internationals Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten.
He won the Serie A title with Juventus in 1984 and 1986, the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1984, the 1984 European Super Cup, the European Cup in 1985 and the 1985 Intercontinental Cup. He finished top scorer in Serie A for three consecutive seasons (1982–83, 1983–84, and 1984–85), and won a hat-trick of European Footballer of the Year awards (1983 through 1985). He was also voted Player of the Year by World Soccermagazine in 1984 and 1985.
Forwards:
Shadow Striker – Alessandro Del Piero (Italy)
Juventus (1993-2012)
This is the single toughest choice to make. Baggio won the Ballon d’Or while playing on this spot, while Del Piero is the man who has played the most games ánd has scored the most goals for Juventus in all their history. How can you justify leaving either of them out?
Yet, we have to pick one. Because they don’t complement each other well. Both were interested in dropping to midfield to get the ball, rather than running forward or staying in the area to battle with central defenders. With Nedved and Platini, this side already features two ball-loving players who need passing options: players making forward runs off the ball, not towards the ball. So at best we can tolerate one more fantasista.
So who was better? Del Piero or Baggio? Juventus directors were once faced with the same choice. Del Piero was the up and coming prodigy, Baggio was the injury-ridden world-star who seemed to have the best days behind him. Juventus chose the future. Baggio was sold. Juventus never regretted the decision. So the shadow striker spot goes to Del Piero for his form over the years in Juventus.
Del Piero is widely regarded by players, pundits, and managers as one of the greatest Italian players of his generation, winning the Italian Footballer of the Year Award in 1998 and 2008. He is in second place in the ranking of Italian all-time top scorers in all competitions (346 goals, and behind only Silvio Piola, 390 goals). He played with Juventus for 19 years (11 years as captain), and holds the club records for most goals (290) and appearances (705).
He started playing football as a goalkeeper in order to be able to play all the time. Yes, you heard it right one of the greatest players of all time started his career as a goalkeeper.
He won everything there was to win as a player during his time at Juventus. He won the Champions League in the 1995-1996 seasons (He was also in two other champions league finals where Juve where defeated, 1998 and 2003). He won eight Serie A titles, two of which were taken away because of the Calciopoli. He even has a Serie B title during when Juve battled back to Serie A. In addition, he has won one Coppa Italia and one UEFA Super Cup. He also won a FIFA club world cup in Japan and scored the only game of the game. He was at Juve and was captain for a majority of their success.
“Money is not everything. My ambition was football itself not the money I’d make from it. If that brings me and my family a more comfortable lifestyle then that’s fine. But I don’t spend my time between games and training sessions thinking about figures.” – Del Piero.
During the Lippi era he formed a formidable partnership with the French man, David Trezeguet. Juventus went on to play in the final of the Champion’s League in 2003 but unfortunately they lost in the penalties to AC Milan. From 2004-2006 during which Capello was in charge of Juve, he had limited time playing for Juve. There were even rumors of him leaving his beloved Juve, but he stayed on and battled on like a warrior. In 2006, right before the World Cup of 2006, Juventus were relegated to Serie B because of the Calciopoli scandal. There were reports of him leaving to Manchester United. He denied those rumors and announced his intentions of staying with the club. Now this is where he proved that he was indeed a real captain to Juve. A real captain never leaves behind his ship even when it’s sinking to the bottom. He admitted that he was ready to battle in the Serie B, alongside him other champions such as Buffon, Chiellini, Nedved, and Trezeguet decided to stay at the club too. This was really inspiring moment for Juventus fans to see that there was such a thing as loyalty in football.
“As captain, I must always be an example to my team-mates. I’m calm and I don’t have any problem with the coach or with the club. My only goal is to be ready whenever I have the opportunity to play.” – Del Piero.
In April 2012, he scored a essential goal against Lazio in Turin to take Juventus to summit of the table. It was his 700 appearance in the Juventus Jersey, the stadium erupted in joy. Once again, the Captain proved that class is indeed ageless.
Del Piero’s specialty was his ability to play in different areas of the field. His best position is the supporting striker, which in Italy is called Trequartista. This role is giving to the most creative player in the team who has vision and great passing ability. True legends of the game that deserve to wear the #10 such as Zidane, Platini, Totti, Maradona, and Pele have been able to successfully execute the responsibilities of this role. One of his greatest attributes is taking free kicks and penalty kicks. He has converted a total of 62 goals from the penalty spot and I have only seen him miss two times in his whole career. He has a total of 50 free kicks or even more scored during his career. He even has a certain type of style of scoring that’s labeled after him “Del Piero Zone”. It’s when he takes the ball from the left side of the field and cuts to the right and curls the ball in the top right corner of the net.
Striker – John Charles (Wales)
Juventus (1957-1962)
For the final position we need a genuine striker. A real number 9. A man, who, surrounded by creative teammates looking for options, will fend off defenders and always make himself available for a pass. A man who can control a ball with his feet, his body, his head – and lay it off to a teammate, or better yet, launch a ruthless strike at goal.
The candidates? Filippo Inzaghi – No. Too much of a poacher. Paolo Rossi? Same. Besides, he only scored 20-odd goals for Juve. David Trezeguet: good, not great. The old Danish center forward John Hansen, perhaps? A legendary player, yes, but too slow, the stories tell us. Roberto Bettega then? 13 seasons spearheading Juve’s attack – a consistent player, but never among the world’s best. How about the great Boniperti, who in his younger days, played as a center forward and scored prolifically? Good pick, but Bonipertis Juventus didn’t turn successful until he was moved back to midfield and his position was taken by Il Gigante Buono, the Gentle Giant: John Charles, from Wales.
He was equally adept at centre-forward or centre-back. Due to his height, physique, and strength, he excelled in the air, although he was also a prolific goalscorer with his feet, due to his powerful and accurate shot. Despite his size, he was also a fast player, who was gifted with good technical ability and passing ability, which allowed him both to score and create goals.
He was never cautioned or sent off during his entire career, due to his philosophy of never kicking or intentionally hurting opposing players. Standing at 6 feet 2 inches, he was nicknamed Il Gigante Buono – The Gentle Giant.
In his first season in Italy, Charles was Serie A’s top scorer with 28 goals, and was voted player of the season as Juventus won the Scudetto. He played in Turin for five years, scoring 93 goals in 155 matches, winning the scudetto (Italian league championship) three times, and the Italian Cup twice. He placed third in the Ballon d’Or (Golden Ball) in 1959.
Charles was dubbed as ‘Il Gigante Buono’ (The Gentle Giant) during his five seasons with Juventus. The respect Charles earned from Juventus fans was shown when, on the occasion of the club’s centenary in 1997 they voted him to be the best-ever foreign player to play for their team.
So here we conclude the greatest XI of Juventus, here are the final eleven.
Captain: Alessandro Del Piero
Manager: Giovanni Trappatoni
