Italian legends are retiring one by one. While Gianluigi Buffon withdrew last August, it is now the turn of Giorgio Chiellini to bow out this Tuesday, December 12. Starting his career at Livorno, the 39-year-old central defender became a Juventus Turin legend after a stint at Fiorentina in 2004-2005. With his 562 meetings with the Old Lady, he is one of the most capped players of the Piedmontese team and has won a slew of trophies with the residents of the Allianz Stadium. Nine times Italian champion, Chiellini was a disappointed double finalist in the Champions League (2015, 2017) and won five Italian Cups. For the last two seasons, he has been exiled in the United States to play under the sun of Los Angeles and the colors of LAFC.
Pioneer of the Squadra Azzurra with whom he won Euro 2020, the left-hander has 117 caps with Italy. Appreciated by fans for his class and defensive qualities, Chiellini shared a moving message to announce his retirement: “you have been the most beautiful and intense journey of my life. You have been my everything. With you, I have traveled a unique and unforgettable path. But now is the time to start new chapters, take on new challenges and write other important and exciting pages of life.” A retirement to surely come back better. With a degree in management, the native of Pisa could then reorient himself towards a career in the organization chart of Juventus Turin as he had suggested a few days ago. With Gianluigi Buffon now working for the GIFC and Zlatan Ibrahimovic recently making his third return to Milan, this time in the form of an advisor, this could well give the former Juve number 3 some ideas.
