Juventus
F.C. Juventus (Latin for Youth) Torino is one of Italy's oldest football clubs, based in Turin. As of 2004, Juventus competes in the Serie A.
The team typically plays in black-and-white striped shirts and black shorts (but for decades in white shorts), and is nicknamed la Vecchia Signora (the Old Lady).
Juventus F.C. was founded in November 1897 by students from Massimo D'Azeglio Lyceum, and won a previous version of the national league title as early as 1905, but did not win their second until 1926.
In 1923 the Agnelli family (owners of Fiat) gained control of the club, and built a private stadium in Villar Perosa (near Turin) and a complete series of facilities and services.
From 1931 the club won five consecutive italian league championships (italian scudetto). In 1933 they began playing at the Stadio Comunale. Post war the club was very successful domestically, winning its tenth championship in 1961, but did not win any European titles until the 1970s with the UEFA Cup. The height of European success was not reached until 1985. European Champions Cup success was repeated in 1996.
The club stadium is the 69,041-seat Stadio Delle Alpi (shared with A.C. Torino).
Many famous players have graced Juventus, including Giampiero Combi, Giampiero Boniperti (later became a famous club president), Omar Sivori, John Charles, Roberto Boninsegna, Gaetano Scirea, Michel Platini, Zbigniew Boniek, Paolo Rossi, Marco Tardelli, Antonio Cabrini, Claudio Gentile, Franco Causio, Roberto Bettega (current President), Dino Zoff, Andrea Fortunato, Gianluca Vialli, Didier Deschamps, Zinedine Zidane, Filippo Inzaghi, Alessandro Del Piero, Roberto Baggio, Edgar Davids, Alen Boksic, Pavel Nedved, Christian Vieri, and Gianluigi Buffon.
The sale of Zinedine Zidane to Real Madrid of Spain was the most expensive in football to date, costing the Spanish club over $64 million (US).
With Giovanni Trapattoni (coach), Juventus provided 9 players on 11 for the Italian national team (like in Argentina, 1978).
Until recently, Juventus' players had to wear short (and regular) hair; the club also provided the team with official formal wear (made by famous tailors) and forced them to complete their educational studies. Most of its players remained with Juventus until the end of their careers; many still work for it or for Fiat (or related companies).
Juventus is now a corporation, listed on Milan's stock exchange.
Team honors
In terms of league championships (called Albo d'Oro [palmarés]) the club is perhaps the most successful in Italian football.
- Italian Championships: 27
- 1905, 1925-26, 1930-31, 1931-32, 1932-33, 1933-34, 1934-35, 1949-50, 1951-52, 1957-58, 1959-60, 1960-61, 1966-67, 1971-72, 1972-73, 1974-75, 1976-77, 1977-78, 1980-81, 1981-82, 1983-84, 1985-86, 1994-95, 1996-97, 1997-98, 2001-02, 2002-03.
- Italian Cups: 9
- 1937-38, 1941-42, 1958-59, 1959-60, 1964-65, 1978-79, 1982-83, 1989-90, 1994-95.
- UEFA Cups: 3
- 1976-77, 1989-90, 1992-93.
