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Gaetano Scirea: Career Stats, Clubs and Honours
Gaetano Scirea career statistics, clubs, senior international record, major honours, playing style and all-time defender ranking case.
Summary
Scirea offered the composure and distribution of a midfielder from the deepest role without losing defensive authority.
Quick facts
- Primary role
- Sweeper and centre back
- Senior career
- 1972–1988
- Major clubs
- Atalanta, Juventus
- Senior national record
- 78 caps / 2 goals for Italy
- Defenders ranking
- #11 in The Top Football's all-time list
Verified record
Career statistics
Senior club league appearances and goals, plus official senior international caps and goals.
| Club | Years | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atalanta | 1972–1974 | 58 | 1 |
| Juventus | 1974–1988 | 377 | 24 |
| Club total | — | 435 | 25 |
| National team | Years | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 1975–1986 | 78 | 2 |
Major team honours
- Italy FIFA World Cup ×1
- Juventus Serie A ×7
- Juventus European Cup ×1
- Juventus UEFA Cup ×1
- Juventus Cup Winners' Cup ×1
- Juventus Coppa Italia ×2
Stats sources: WorldFootball — Gaetano Scirea record .
Career path
Two seasons at Atalanta led Scirea to Juventus, where he spent fourteen years and won every major UEFA club competition available in his era. He retired as a one-club symbol in Turin despite not beginning there.
Playing style
He swept behind the line, intercepted rather than collided and carried possession forward with unusual calm. His disciplinary record reinforced the sense that control, not intimidation, was the centre of his defending.
International record
Scirea earned 78 Italy caps and started throughout the 1982 World Cup win. His ability to organise and progress the ball gave Italy a route out after deep defensive phases.
All-time ranking case
Scirea is the clean alternative in the libero tradition: less theatrical than some peers, but almost never hurried. That is the basis for placing him at number 11 in our best football defenders of all time ranking.
Sources