32 years ago on September 3rd, we lost a great Bianconero legend- Gaetano Scirea. A player of class both on and off the pitch, “Gai” Scirea played as a defender in the black and white shirt for 14 years, with a whopping 377 caps. During his time with the club, he won 14 trophies- including seven Serie A championships and Juve’s first-ever Champions League (European Cup) title. He further solidified his status as one of the best ever in 1982, when he became a World Champion with the Italian National Team. His quiet thoughtfulness, reliability, composure, and intelligence proved vital in winning Italy the World Cup title. It is interesting and telling to note that even in his life-long position as a defender, Scirea has never received a red card booking.
Despite deciding to retire in 1988, Scirea continued to be a huge part of the Bianconeri and was appointed assistant coach to Dino Zoff. However, in September 1989, Scirea was sent to Poland on a scouting mission and never came back due to a tragic car accident.
Scirea’s Juventus legacy still lives on even 32 years after his death, and his professionalism, dedication, and integrity continue to set an example for us all.
