Antonio Cabrini is a champion, a legend of football. His brilliant career has led him, several times, to achieve the most coveted results in the football world. A real flag of Juventus and the national team, full-back with a propensity for attacking and scoring, with a great expression of defensive solidity, he remains one of the greatest Italian footballers of all time.
The "Bell'Antonio"
Antonio Cabrini conquered the fans with his great football talent. As if that weren't enough, even the female audience has always been on his side, not only because they are fascinated by his football skills. The undeniable good looks of the football player, in fact, has contributed, since his beginnings, to increase his popularity. His being beautiful and loved by women earned him the nickname of "Bell'Antonio". It was the reporter Gianni Brera to attribute it to him, comparing him to the protagonist of the homonymous film played by Marcello Mastroianni. A nickname that, however, Cabrini has always suffered badly, preferring another one: the “Cabro”.
The football beginnings
Antonio Cabrini, now 64, was born in Cremona in 1957. From an early age he had a passion for football and at 16 he made his debut in Cremonese, his hometown team. Here he stays for two leagues and scores 2 goals in 29 games. Initially plays in the role of wing, then the coach Nolli changes the role. With this team wins the Albertoni Trophy of '71, the first of his long and rich career.
The successes with Juventus and the national team
Antonio Cabrini has an innate talent, so much so that he was noticed by Juventus who bought him in 1975. Initially the club sent him to play for Atalanta, in Serie B. On 13 February 1977 he made his debut with the black and white shirt. Here the young player immediately asserted himself: he collected 7 appearances and a goal and, more importantly, won his first championship. The road to success is clear: he wins the championship also in the following season. In the same year, 1978, he made his debut in the Italian national team. It is June 2 when, at the world championships in Argentina, he enters the field replacing Aldo Maldera. Two other league titles followed with Juventus in the 1980-81 and 1981-82 seasons.
World Champion
Antonio Cabrini wins, in 1982, the World Cup with Enzo Bearzot's national team. He is the protagonist of the world championship: he scores the 2-1 goal against Argentina by Maradona. Both in Juventus and in the national team, he plays the captain's armband, succeeding his teammate Gaetano Scirea. In 1989 he moved to Bologna where he remained until 1991, when he ended his career as a footballer.
Coach
Continue to follow the world of football dear to him in a different guise. First as a TV commentator, then as a coach. Train Arezzo, Crotone, Pisa and Novara. In 2008 he became technical commissioner of the Syrian national football team. In 2012 she was the Technical Commissioner of women's Italy, which she left in 2017. In 2021 she published the book “I tell you about the Juventus champions”, written with Paolo Castaldi.
The trophies
Antonio Cabrini has played more than 350 games in Serie A, scoring 35 goals in 15 seasons. With the national team he scored 9 goals and played 73 games (the last in October 1987), 10 times with the captain's armband. In his competitive career he has won everything. In addition to the 1982 World Cup, he has six league titles to his credit, two Italian Cups (1978-79, 1982-83), a Champions Cup (1984-85), a Cup Winners' Cup (1983-84), a Uefa Cup (1976- 77), an Intercontinental Cup (1985), a European Super Cup (1985), a World Cup for Clubs (1983). Last award, the Golden Collar for sporting merit (Rome 19 December 2017). With his innate talent and numerous achievements, Antonio Cabrini has written some of the most memorable pages in the history of football. For the Italians he remains one of the most loved and unforgettable players.
(Photo: Antonio Cabrini Facebook page)
