The GENTLEMAN of football! Gaetano Scirea was the elegant sweeper at the heart of the great Juventus side, and he did it all without ever losing his cool. He read the game so well that he rarely needed to tackle, and he stepped out of defence with the ball like a midfielder. Class, calm and trophies — lots of trophies!
Career Highlights
- Anchored the Juventus defence from 1974 to 1988 and won 7 Serie A titles
- Won the 1982 FIFA World Cup with Italy, one of the meanest defences the tournament has ever seen
- One of the first players to win all three major UEFA club competitions: the UEFA Cup (1977), the Cup Winners' Cup (1984) and the European Cup (1985)
- Famous for his fair play: he is widely reported never to have been sent off in his professional career
- Died in a car accident in 1989 aged just 36; the Juventus fans' end, the Curva Scirea, carries his name
The Verdict
Gaetano Scirea proved that you can be the best defender in the world AND a perfect sportsman. World Cup winner, European champion, seven-time champion of Italy — and never a dirty tackle. A true legend of the game!
Tomorrow: #1 — The Greatest Defender of All Time is revealed!
