Founded on November 1st 1897, exactly 127 years ago today, a Turin football team first known as Sport-Club Juventus has since grown into an Italian institution, and one of the global game’s true giants.
Now simply named Juventus, or just Juve, the Serie A side were established by a group of students, but from modest beginnings they ultimately became Calcio’s most successful club.
La Vecchia Signora – ‘the Old Lady’ – has so far tallied 36 league titles, 15 Coppa Italia trophies and nine Supercoppas; leading the way in each competition.
Twice European champions – in addition to claiming one Cup Winners’ Cup and three UEFA Cups – there is no doubt that the Bianconeri (white-and-blacks) have made their mark.
While no single player can define such a club, there have been several that stood tall above others – particularly in dominant spells during the 1980s and 90s, plus a nine-Scudetti streak throughout the 2010s.
So, Sports Mole has compiled a list of the very greatest ever to have represented Juventus, based solely on their time in Turin. So, short-lived stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Roberto Boninsegna must miss out.
Pavel Nedved | 2001-2009
Defining the dynamic midfielder, Pavel Nedved’s presence in the noughties Juventus side was integral to their success during that decade.
The Czech star contributed to several Serie A titles and perhaps reached his peak in 2003, winning the Ballon D’Or after helping Juve to the Champions League final.
Renowned as much for his versatility and work-rate as much as his trademark long blonde hair, Nedved was a regular goalscorer and provider, confirming his place in the fans’ affections when staying for one season in Serie B following the Calciopoli scandal.
He even went on to become a club director, although that role ended abruptly in 2022, when he joined the rest of the board in resigning amid more financial indiscretions.
Dino Zoff | 1972-1983
Having signed for Juventus in his thirties, few would have envisaged that Dino Zoff could go on to enjoy a further decade at the club, becoming a goalkeeping legend in the process.
He played an integral role in Juve’s success during the 1970s, notably winning the UEFA Cup in 1977, before going on to claim the same trophy as the Bianconeri’s boss 13 years later.
They also twice reached the European Cup final during his extraordinary playing career, and he finished runner-up in the 1973 Ballon d’Or voting process.
At the end of his first spell in Turin, Zoff captained Italy to the 1982 World Cup at the age of 40; setting a shining example for longevity between the posts.
Gianluigi Buffon | 2001-2018 and 2019-2021
Better known as ‘Gigi’, Zoff’s spiritual descendant as Juventus number one was Gianluigi Buffon, who may have cost a then world-record fee for a goalkeeper but went on to justify that outlay by lifting a panoply of trophies.
The inspired shot-stopper won league titles in both of his first two seasons, finishing up his first spell with a record nine Scudetti, and being named Italy’s ‘Goalkeeper of the Year’ a remarkable twelve times.
Although he reached the 2015 and 2017 Champions League finals, that was one piece of silverware still missing when Buffon finally hung up his gloves, after briefly returning to first club Parma.
Retiring at the grand age of 45, having broken Paolo Maldini‘s record for most appearances in Serie A, he could also look back on winning the 2006 World Cup.
Zinedine Zidane | 1996-2001
Despite being most closely associated with Real Madrid, and spending a relatively short time in Turin, Zinedine Zidane remains a Juventus icon.
A Ballon d’Or winner while with Juve, the mercurial midfielder made a major stir upon arriving from France, winning Serie A titles and twice losing in the Champions League final.
His dazzling array of silky skills, driving runs and powerful finishing was intoxicating to watch, and that brought Madrid calling in 2001.
Having thrilled the Juve fans for five years, the man who arrived following a recommendation from fellow Frenchman Michel Platini made a much-lamented departure.
Michel Platini | 1982-1987
One of the all-time greats of global football, Platini also stayed at Juventus for five years, making an indelible impact that is still spoken about today.
The French playmaker joined in 1982 and went on to win numerous accolades, most notably two Serie A titles, the European Cup, and the Cup Winners’ Cup.
Lauded for his vision, passing, and goalscoring abilities, Platini’s presence promised magic on the pitch, and he was truly at the peak of his powers while with the Bianconeri.
He won both the Ballon d’Or and the Capocannoniere – the prize for Serie A’s top scorer – during a sparkling spell, before retiring in 1987.
Roberto Baggio | 1990-1995
Though ‘the Divine Ponytail’ toured most of Italy’s top clubs during a wonderful club career, the 1993 Ballon d’Or winner is perhaps most revered for his time at Juventus.
One of the most naturally gifted players ever to grace Calcio, he moved to Turin in a controversial world-record switch from Fiorentina and stayed for five years, scoring 115 goals.
Going on to captain the club, Baggio brought sublime skill and penalty-box prowess, complementing star strikers such as Gianluca Vialli and Fabrizio Ravanelli.
His contribution helped Juve win the UEFA Cup in 1993 and one Serie A title, but the memories created by his enthralling style still outshine any silverware.
Alessandro Del Piero | 1993-2012
Spending 19 years at Juventus after signing from boyhood club Padova, Alessandro Del Piero finally retired in 2021, having made a record 705 appearances for the club, including 478 in Serie A.
Above all the other greats to have worn the famed Bianconeri jersey, he is also Juve’s all-time leading scorer, with 290 goals.
For almost two decades, the elusive attacker played his part in numerous successes, most notably the 1996 Champions League triumph.
Eventually named captain, his partnership with David Trezeguet remains the Old Lady’s most prolific attacking pairing to date – not to be overlooked, France striker Trezeguet racked up 171 goals in 320 appearances.
Andrea Pirlo | 2011-2015
Considered one of the finest midfielders of the 21st century, Andrea Pirlo drew acclaim for his combination of vision, technique and creativity, plus his specialism from set-pieces.
A cool conductor among the madness, he is renowned as one of the greatest passers of all time, despite being prematurely thrown on the scrapheap by AC Milan.
Surplus to requirements at San Siro – where he had also briefly represented Inter Milan – the Italy international spent four years with Juventus during the autumn of his career, and that was long enough to become an all-time great.
Starring as a string-pulling playmaker, Pirlo won the league in every season while with Juve, being named Serie A’s ‘Footballer of the Year’ three times in the process.
Marco Tardelli | 1975-1985
The prototype all-round midfielder, Marco Tardelli could dictate matches from a deep-lying position but also had the capacity to contribute offensively.
An energetic and hard-tackling presence in Juve’s engine room for 10 years, he was famed for his tireless displays – both for club and country.
Alongside Platini, Tardelli lifted the 1985 European Cup, three years after claiming the World Cup for Italy, when his memorable goal celebration in the final was etched on the collective conscious.
After making 259 appearances for Juve, scoring 35 goals, he is still regarded by many as one of Calcio’s best midfielders.
Juve’s legendary frontmen
Aside from the modern greats, older Juventus fans have borne witness to a whole host of incredible attackers – almost too many to mention, but not quite.
Giampiero Boniperti (1946-1961) played his entire 15-season career with Juve, starting just after World War II and winning five Serie A titles. With a haul of 182 goals, Boniperti was the club’s leading marksman for more than 40 years, until his record was finally bested by Del Piero.
Paolo Rossi (1973-1975 and 1981-1985) came through Juve’s primavera before joining Vicenza in search of first-team football, returning for a four-year stint during the early 1980s. The razor-sharp striker excelled upon his comeback: winning the Ballon d’Or in 1982, top-scoring in the 1983 European Cup, then lifting the latter trophy two years later.
Roberto Bettega (1969-1983) remains a legend at his hometown club, where he won seven league titles and established himself as one of Italy’s all-time greats. Nicknamed ‘La Penna Bianca’ (the White Feather) he also scored en route to victory in the 1977 UEFA Cup final.
Omar Sivori (1957-1965) was an Italo-Argentine striker who hit the headlines during the late 1950s and early 1960s, winning three Scudetti as part of Juve’s ‘magical trio’. Starring alongside Boniperti and Welsh centre-forward John Charles, they revived Juventus after a rare fallow period, and Sivori claimed the Ballon d’Or in 1961.
The Bianconeri’s unbreakable back line
There are far too many rock-solid defenders to cover from Juve’s long history, particularly as keeping clean sheets has been written deep within the club’s DNA. However, a handful stand out above the rest.
Antonio Cabrini (1976-1989) was an integral cog in the famed 1985 European Cup-winning team and also won six league titles and two national cups during a 13-year stay in Turin. A stylish defender that was ahead of his time, his overlapping runs set the tone for the modern full-back, and he found the net 52 times across all competitions.
Gaetano Scirea (1974-1988) is considered one of the greatest defenders of his generation, and he spent most of his career with Juventus. An exemplary captain, he had technical skills and tactical ability in abundance and was also renowned for his pace and reading of the game.
Scirea’s elegance stood out in stark contrast to the ruthless style of his defensive partner, Claudio Gentile (1973-1984). One of football’s most famed hard men, the Libya-born centre-back was a master at nullifying the opposition. Making almost 300 appearances for the Bianconeri, he won six Serie A titles, as well as lifting the Coppa Italia twice, plus the UEFA Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup.
Giorgio Chiellini (2004-2022) is perhaps the most notable modern-day defender in Juve’s rich history, having forged a teak-tough triumvirate with Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli for several years.
The Euro 2020 winner racked up a record nine consecutive Scudetti from 2012 to 2020, as well as lifting the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa five times each. A no-compromise player who still played with a smile, Chiellini also took part in two Champions League finals, coming up just short in both 2015 and 2017.
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