Italy resignation of Chiellini
The defensive centurion’s last tackle
By Tobias Nordman
4/26/2022, 7:03 p.m
Giorgio Chiellini is a legend in Italy. After the embarrassing miss of the World Cup, the man who loves to defend is now saying farewell to the Squadra Azzurra. The 37-year-old leaves it open whether this also means the end of his remarkable career.
Sergio Ramos is the bad end type. Duels with the Spanish defensive legend are not for people who are more critical of physical pain. Many stars of the scene can tell their own anecdote about an encounter with the roughneck. There is also no shortage of stories about duels with Giorgio Chiellini. The Italian is also a master of his trade. But a completely different type. Less warriors, more artists. Chiellini made the hard sliding tackle a compliment. To the stylistic device. His country has benefited from it. The path to the surprising and exciting European title was built on the Chiellini foundation.
It was Chiellini’s last major service for the Squadra Azzurra, for which he had served 116 times to date. A final layer is to be added. The 37-year-old captain resigns in June at the site of his greatest triumph: in the so-called “Finalissima” against Argentina in Wembley, where he became European champion last year. He would like to leave with a nice memory, as he announced on Monday evening after Juventus’ victory at Sassuolo Calcio (2-1) on his announced farewell. Saying goodbye should always be nicer than the recent memory of the bitter end in the World Cup playoffs. The embarrassing 0-1 draw against North Macedonia left the defensive boss deep in the battered bones.
The body has suffered greatly
Chiellini, which in turn unites him with Ramos, has never spared himself or his body. He broke his prominent nose several times while doing his favorite activity, and at the 2014 World Cup his shoulder fell victim to a bite attack by Uruguay’s Luis Suárez. But the defensive centurion’s body is not allowed to relax just yet. Because the resignation from the national team does not necessarily mean the end of his successful career. Whether he will still fulfill his contract with Juventus Turin, which expires in 2023, will only be decided after the season. With the “old lady” he has achieved almost everything there is to achieve. From 2012 to 2020 nine championship titles and five cup wins, despite various injuries he has played 557 competitive games since 2004. Only Europe’s (club) crown he was never allowed to put on. That sets him apart from Ramos, who has four Champions League victories.
Chiellini was (and still is) a player who could distinguish between on and off the field. Who adapted his personality to the circumstances. He was always considered the intellectual in the defensive network of the Squadra Azzura (and thus also in the club). He is a graduate of the University of Turin, the title of his thesis as a business economist is: “The balance sheets of football clubs using the example of Juventus Turin.” Always at his (football) side: Leonardo Bonucci. The two became great heroes. To men who have elevated the hard work of defense to an art form. And who always led the way in the crucial phases.
Bonucci and Chiellini, for years that was synonymous with perfect defensive harmony. Learned in the Italian national team and at Juventus Turin. Bonucci is the elegant defensive leader: robust in a duel, well built, with strong technique. Chiellini is not. He’s not a point guard, he’s a driver. He doesn’t have a strong technique, it’s solid at best. He’s not the type to flatter the ball with his sole. He doesn’t dribble an opponent, he duels them away. He is tough and uncompromising like no other. Bonucci is the organizer, Chiellini the leader. The man for the mentality. The captain, who is also very good at the little mind games.
Perfectionist in the “mind games”
When Jordi Alba, the Spaniards’ leader, tried to win the penalty shoot-out in favor of his own fans in last year’s EURO semi-finals, the Italian centurion intervened. The matter had been arranged differently. The moments of side selection became legends in the evening. The laughing, smirking and slapping Chiellini against the embarrassed Alba. Victory in the “mind games”, victory in the penalty shootout. It wasn’t just because of this moment that the Italian captain became the fighting, suffering, triumphant and charming face of the European Championship tournament. Shortly before the tournament, he had revealed what he enjoys about football. “Winning tackles makes me happy. If I can block a dangerous shot or prevent a goal, it gives me an adrenaline rush.”
But how long? “My love for Juventus doesn’t end, it never will,” he enthused. He now has to “weigh everything up until the end of the season” and talk to his family about what’s best. After the Coppa Italia final on May 11 against Inter Milan, he then wants to make a decision. The game is a major highlight – it could be Chiellini’s last.