Giorgio Chiellini, addio capitano

Paolo Maldini, Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta, Franco Baresi,… In Italy, we know how to deal with uncompromising defenders.

If some will say that it is lost and that the catenaccio is gone in modern football, Giorgio Chiellini is one of those who have crossed the ages, without flinching.

After his debut in Livorno, the young Chiellini arrived in 2004 at Juventus in Turin, barely in his twenties. A year later and a loan to Fiorentina with 42 games played, Chiello is ready to seduce the Old lady and all his supporters. He will never disappoint her.

From Calciopoli to 9 Scudetti

For his first season in the jersey juventinithe defender played around twenty games and took the lead alongside great defenders such as Cannavaro, Thuram, Zambrotta Where Balzaretti. Juventus won the championship at the end of the 2005-2006 season.

Then broke out the scandal of Calciopolis. The Italian press ignites and reveals discussions between the general manager of Juventus Luciano Moggi and Pierluigi Pairetto, former referee and responsible for the selection of officials between 1999 and 2005. The appointment of referees has been distorted. Several clubs are involved. Juventus are demoted to the second division and stripped of their titles acquired in the last two seasons.

Wheras’Ibrahimovic, Vieira, Thuram, Zambrotta, Cannavaro decide not to accompany the Old Lady in Serie B, buffon and Chiellini, they affirm their desire to bring the club back to the top flight as quickly as possible. The love story will only be more beautiful afterwards.

Repositioned during the 2007-2008 season as a central defender, Chiello established himself as one of the best defenders in Serie A and Europe, he impressed and was voted best defender in the Italian championship in 2008. Wearing a protective mask – notably following a broken nose after a shock with the ex-Red Devil Gaby Mudingayi for the record – then very often, by force of circumstances with a bloody bandage on the head, the defender is a real impassable rock, hard on the man. A real nightmare for attackers.

If the 2000s are not very glorious for Juve, the decade after will be crowned with success and glory. We had to wait for the arrival ofAntonio Conte to see Il Re Giorgio glean his first Scudetto.

Between 2012 and 2020, there will only be for Bianconeri on the national scene. And that, always with Chiellini faithful soldier and guide of the rear guard. In total, the defender will have won 9 Italian league titles, 5 Italian Cups and 5 Super Cups. A record to which must be added three titles of best defender of Calcio (2008, 2009 and 2010). In the end, the only major competition he misses – we will never forget that he won the Euro with Italy – is the Champions League, failing twice in the final, against Barça (2015) then against Real (2017). He was elected 13th in the last Ballon d’Or, for his first nomination.

Proud representative of the older generation, at the service of youth

With 559 appearances in the jersey bianconero, Chiellini is the third most capped player in the history of Juve. While Cannavaro or even his lifelong sidekick Leonardo Bonucci left and then returned to the club, Chiellini never saw a future other than in Turin.

A role of boss, also concerned with the youth and the future of the rearguard of the Juventinias he said to media set after the Coppa final loss to Inter.

« After these 10 magnificent years, it is now up to the young people to carry on. I think I did everything I could do, I hope I left something behind. On Monday I will say goodbye to the Stadium against Lazio. I give the scepter to a lot of young people, I think I left something behind. I’m happy to leave at such a high level, it’s my choice 100%. I’ve been saying for many years that I don’t want to end up struggling. Today as long as I did I proved that I’m still here. With joy and sincerity, I’m leaving. I’ll be the biggest fan. This team stays at inside of you and you can’t get it out.« 

The years go by, but the class is still there. Arrivederci, Chiello !