italian football player

Giorgio Chiellini ( italian pronunciation : [ ˈdʒordʒo kjelˈliːni, ˈdʒɔr- ] ; born 14 August 1984 ) is an italian professional football player who plays as a defender and captains both Serie A club Juventus and the Italy home team. Chiellini is a physically strong and aggressive defender who is besides capable of playing as a left-back, both in a three or four-man refutation. He is regarded as one of the best defenders of his genesis. At club level, Chiellini began his career with Livorno in 2000, besides late playing for Roma and Fiorentina, before moving to Juventus in 2005. With Juventus, he has won a record-nine consecutive Serie A titles from 2012 to 2020, american samoa well as five Coppa Italia titles and five Supercoppa Italiana titles, having besides played two UEFA Champions League finals in 2015 and 2017. Chiellini has been named in the Serie A Team of the Year five times : in 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18 and 2018–19 and has been awarded the Serie A Defender of the Year besides three times : in 2008, 2009 and 2010. [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ]

He made his international debut for Italy in 2004, and presently has a total of 114 caps, making him Italy ‘s sixth-highest appearance holder. He was selected in the nation ‘s squads for the 2004 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze decoration, equally well as for four UEFA european Championships, two FIFA World Cups and two FIFA Confederations Cups, helping the Azzurri to win UEFA Euro 2020, reach the concluding of UEFA Euro 2012, and achieve a third-place finish up at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup .

Club career [edit ]

Livorno [edit ]

Chiellini joined the young teams at Livorno at long time six and started out as a central midfielder. As he matured, he switched to playing as a winger and ultimately he found his position as a left field back. He played in the club ‘s young person academy between 1990 and 2000. In 2000, he took contribution in Torneo di Arco as a team actor for AC Milan ‘s U-17 team as a separate of his trial ; despite rated satisfactory by the youth coach Davide Ballardini, he did not receive an offer to join the team permanently. [ 7 ] In the 2000–01 Serie C1 season, Chiellini started to receive his first call-ups to the senior team and finally made three appearances and followed that up with five more appearances the follow temper. In June 2002, Chiellini was signed by Roma in a co-ownership conduct, for €3.1 million, ( who besides saw Marco Amelia, move in the reverse direction, for €2.8 million ) [ 8 ] however, he was loaned back to Livorno for the 2002–03 Serie B season, after they had earned promotion. In his beginning Serie B season, Chiellini made six seasonal appearances, besides making his Coppa Italia debut. In his second Serie B temper, Chiellini broke into the starting line-up for the club, and would go on to make 42 official appearances, besides scoring four goals from his left back stead. In June 2004, Livorno formally bought back Chiellini for €3 million. [ 9 ] During his four-season spell with the clubs ‘ first team, Chiellini made a sum of 57 appearances, scoring four goals, before his transfer to Juventus .

Fiorentina [edit ]

Chiellini was signed by Juventus in the summer 2004 for €6.5 million from Livorno, [ 10 ] but was immediately sold in a co-ownership batch to Fiorentina for €3.5 million, and played on the Florentine team during the 2004–05 Serie A season. The complex deal actually meant Juventus bought Roma ‘s half for €3 million and Fiorentina bought Livorno ‘s half for €3.5 million. In his lend temper with the cabaret, Chiellini was a regular in the club ‘s starting eleven, making 42 official appearances, besides scoring three goals .

Juventus [edit ]

2005–2011 : early years, Calciopoli and struggles [edit ]

Chiellini with Juventus in 2009 After an excellent first base season in Serie A, Chiellini was recalled for the 2005–06 season and Juventus paid €4.3 million for the rest of his compress. He became a regular under Fabio Capello and made 23 appearances in his first season with the club, besides helping the Old Lady to their 29th scudetto ( which was later assigned to Inter following the 2006 “ Calciopoli ” scandal ). While in the Serie B, he started playing at center back, partnering Nicola Legrottaglie, Jean-Alain Boumsong and Robert Kovač at versatile stages of the season. Juventus won the 2006–07 Serie B entitle, gaining Serie A promotion with the best goal difference, conceding entirely 30 goals and scoring over 80 in 42 matches. He scored a double in a 5–1 thrash at Arezzo in May, a leave that mathematically sealed forwarding for Juventus. With Juventus back in Serie A for the 2007–08 season, Chiellini again was a appetizer for the baseball club at left back, but following injuries to Jorge Andrade and Domenico Criscito, he was shifted to centre back again. Chiellini had a enormous season and finally made the position his own. Alongside boyfriend centre-half Nicola Legrottaglie, the duet were instrumental as Juventus finished the temper with the joint second-best defensive phonograph record. The surprising view of this is that neither were considered remotely close to pinning down a centre back position in the summer before the season, with Domenico Criscito and Jorge Andrade preferred as the starting duet. He has been a regular regular in the Juventus backline since their return to Serie A and was notably named Man of the Match in a game against Juventus rivals, Internazionale when he won a forcible and heated duel with early teammate Zlatan Ibrahimović, keeping the swedish hitter at bay. Chiellini extended his original contract from until 2009 to 2011 on 12 October 2006. [ 11 ] On 27 April 2008, Chiellini scored twice for Juventus in 5–2 acquire over Lazio that confirmed Juventus ‘s put in the Serie A top four. [ 12 ] on 26 June 2008, Chiellini extended his contract with Juventus until 2013. [ 13 ] During the 2008–09 temper, Chiellini remained as first gear choice in central defensive structure alongside Nicola Legrottaglie. Chiellini scored his first goal in Europe on 13 August 2008 as Juve beat Artmedia Petržalka 4–0 in the first gear leg of the UEFA Champions League third gear qualifying rung draw. [ 14 ] Four days by and by, he injured his left knee again during the Trofeo Luigi Berlusconi against AC Milan and missed the begin of the Serie A season, [ 15 ] returning to duty in September starting in each of Juve ‘s first three Champions League group games. At the end of the year, he was named Serie A Defender of the class for 2008 at the annual Oscar del Calcio awards ceremony. On 10 March 2009, Chiellini was sent off for a second gear bookable offense during the Champions League first gear knockout cycle second leg tie at family in a tightly contested match against Chelsea, but Juventus were eliminated 3–2 on aggregate after holding the former English champions to a 2–2 draw. An injury sustained in the winnings over Fiorentina on 6 March 2010 sidelined him for respective crucial games and, in his absence, Juventus embarked on a hapless run of form, conceding nine goals in the four games he missed. [ 16 ] He marked his retort by scoring the open goal away at Napoli but was unable to prevent Juventus from succumbing to a 3–1 kill. [ 17 ] On 23 November 2010, Chiellini extended his narrow with Juventus again until 30 June 2015 and was given a pay up arouse. [ 18 ] During the beginning of the 2010–11 temper, Chiellini was largely partnered with newly signed child Leonardo Bonucci. With the arrival of boyfriend Italy international Andrea Barzagli in the winter transplant window, Chiellini occasionally played at left back to accommodate the Bonucci-Barzagli partnership and sometimes partner Barzagli .

2011–2014 : First scudetto and domestic dominance [edit ]

Bianconeri in 2012 Chiellini play for thein 2012 Under director Antonio Conte, Chiellini returned to his original position at left back due to Barzagli and Bonucci ‘s good ply of kind. After struggling to re-adapt back to his former position, he grew into his role and managed to keep Paolo De Ceglie, the lone early lifelike left back in the squad, on the bench for much of the first half of the 2011–12 temper. In the second gear half of the 2011–12 season, Conte switched to a three-man defense, where Chiellini partnered Bonucci and Barzagli in a identical successful defensive organization for Juve, who ended the temper as Serie A champions, with the best defensive record, a well as being unbeaten in the league. [ 19 ] Due to their performances together, the three-man defense earned the dub BBC, a citation to the players ‘ initials, [ 20 ] and soon the trio established themselves as one of the best defences in worldly concern football during the surveil seasons. [ 21 ] [ 22 ] [ 23 ] Juventus lost the 2012 Coppa Italia Final against Napoli, but would late defeat them in the 2012 Supercoppa Italiana, although Chiellini would miss the equal. [ 24 ] Chiellini made his 250th appearance with Juventus on 22 September 2012, on his first appearance of the 2012–13 season after coming back from injury, in a 2–0 home win over Chievo. [ 25 ] On 1 March 2013, after coming back from another injury suffered in mid-december, he scored a header in a 1–1 draw over Napoli at the San Paolo stadium, which allowed Juventus to keep their 6-point spark advance over Napoli, who were in second invest. [ 26 ] Juventus retained the Serie A claim and the Supercoppa Italiana that season, once again finishing the class with the best defensive record in Italy. [ 27 ] [ 28 ] Chiellini was the only italian player to be nominated for the 2013 UEFA Team of the Year. [ 29 ] On 6 October 2013, Chiellini scored in Juventus ‘s 3–2 gain over Milan, scoring the match winning goal ; the following day he announced the renewal of his contract with Juventus, which would keep him at the club until 2017. [ 30 ] He made his three-hundredth appearance with Juventus in a 3–0 Serie A victory against Roma on 5 January 2014, [ 31 ] as he went on to win his third straight league title with Juventus that season. [ 32 ]

2014–2018 : Continued domestic success and two Champions League finals [edit ]

In the 2014 Supercoppa Italiana on 22 December 2014, Juventus were defeated by Napoli on penalties after a 2–2 reap following extra-time ; Chiellini missed one of Juventus ‘s spot-kicks in the result shoot-out. [ 33 ] On 20 May, Chiellini captained Juventus in the club ‘s 2–1 win over Lazio in the 2015 Coppa Italia Final, besides scoring Juventus ‘s first base goal of the night. [ 34 ] On 4 June 2015, it was confirmed that Chiellini would not participate in the 2015 UEFA Champions League Final against Barcelona as a scan on his bequeath peg revealed he had a first degree calf muscle tear. [ 35 ] In the absence of Chiellini, Juventus were defeated 3–1 by Barcelona at Berlin ‘s Olympiastadion. [ 36 ]
Chiellini was ruled out of the 2015 Supercoppa Italiana after sustaining an injury in a 2–1 aside friendly victory over Lechia Gdańsk on 29 July, which kept him sidelined for three weeks. [ 37 ] On 24 November, Chiellini was nominated for the 2015 UEFA Team of the Year. [ 38 ] On 9 February 2016, it was confirmed that Chiellini would miss the Serie A catch on 13 February against Napoli, ampere well as the first round of 16 stage of the Champions League on 23 February against Bayern Munich due to an wound. [ 39 ] Chiellini returned to natural process on 28 February to take on rivals Internazionale, so far again sustaining an wound to his second joint which caused him to limp off the sales talk and substituted off in the 35th minute. [ 40 ] After already having missed the first round of 16 leg against Bayern, there was foster doubt as to if he would miss the second branch angstrom well on 16 March. however, after medical testing it was estimated he would merely be out for ten days, initially thought to merely miss the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-finals against Internazionale on 2 March and a Serie A match against Atalanta on 6 March ; [ 40 ] [ 41 ] he would n’t be fit for the second beat of 16 leg of the Champions League, and missed the match. [ 42 ] He returned from wound on 2 April, starting in a 1–0 home plate winnings over Empoli, [ 43 ] but sustained so far another injury to his adductor longus muscleman in his right second joint before being substituted off in the 54th minute of that catch ; farther tests in the following days revealed he would be out for 20 days. [ 44 ] He returned to natural process once again in a 2–1 off get the better of to Verona, on 8 May. [ 45 ] After constant injury spells throughout the season, Chiellini scored in the last match of the season on 14 May in the 77th infinitesimal of a 5–0 home win over Sampdoria, as Juventus celebrated winning the league title for a fifth consecutive meter since the 2011–12 season ; this was Chiellini ‘s four-hundredth appearance for Juventus. [ 46 ] [ 47 ] On 21 May, Chiellini captained Juventus in the 2016 Coppa Italia Final in Rome ; he played a key character in a 1–0 extra-time victory over Milan ( the club ‘s eleventh Coppa Italia deed in total ), helping his team to defend the championship and keep a blank sheet. [ 48 ] He belated lifted the trophy as Juventus became the foremost italian club ever to win consecutive domestic doubles. [ 49 ] [ 50 ]

“ It ‘s actually better to have Chiellini. ”

—In an interview with Tuttosport, Federico Bernardeschi underlined that despite the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo, everyone wanted Chiellini on their team in training games. [ 51 ]
On 26 October 2016, Chiellini scored two goals in a 4–1 base win over Sampdoria after three weeks out due to injury. [ 52 ] On 23 December, Chiellini scored the orifice finish in the Supercoppa Italiana against Milan, but it ended in frustration as Milan won 4–3 in penalty shoot-out following a 1–1 draw after supernumerary time. [ 53 ] On 28 April, he made his three-hundredth appearance in Serie A with Juventus in a 2–2 off draw against Atalanta. [ 54 ] On 3 June, after Chiellini missed out on the 2015 Champions League Final, he started in the 2017 concluding, Juventus ‘ second final appearance in three years, but were defeated 4–1 by defending champions actual Madrid. [ 55 ] On 12 September 2017, Chiellini missed the opening 2017–18 Champions League group degree match of the temper against Barcelona, due to a calf injury. [ 56 ] On 11 January 2018, Chiellini was named to the 2017 UEFA Team of the Year. [ 57 ] He made his 350th appearance in Serie A in a 0–0 away draw against S.P.A.L., on 17 March. [ 58 ]

2018–present : Juventus captain and one-ninth consecutive Serie A title [edit ]

Chiellini with Juventus in 2021 On 29 June 2018, Chiellini was given a biennial contract extension until 2020 and besides named the club ‘s new captain after the departure of Buffon. [ 59 ] [ 60 ] On 16 January 2019, Chiellini lifted his first championship as Juventus ‘s new official captain – the Supercoppa Italiana – following a 1–0 victory over Milan. [ 61 ] On 12 March, Chiellini marked his five-hundredth appearance in a Juventus jersey with a 3–0 win home plate to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League rung of 16 second gear leg to overturn a 2–0 deficit to reach the quarter-finals. [ 62 ] Juventus ended the season as league champions, with Chiellini capturing his record eighth Serie A claim with the cabaret. [ 63 ] On 24 August, in Juventus ‘s opening match of the 2019–20 temper against Parma, Chiellini scored the merely goal of the match in a 1–0 off win in Serie A. [ 64 ] On 30 August, Chiellini tore his anterior cruciate ligament during train. [ 65 ] He returned on 16 February 2020, in a match against Brescia, replacing Leonardo Bonucci in the 78th hour. [ 66 ] On 29 June, Chiellini signed a new contract with Juventus, extending until June 2021. [ 67 ] On 20 October 2020, Chiellini made his 71st Champions League appearance with Juventus in the team ‘s opening european game of the season, a 2–0 aside win over Dynamo Kyiv, overtaking Alessio Tacchinardi as the club ‘s third–most capped actor of all time in the competition ; however, he suffered an injury during the inaugural half and was replaced by Merih Demiral. [ 68 ]

On 2 August 2021, Chiellini renewed his condense with Juventus, signing a biennial contract extension until June 2023. [ 69 ]

International career [edit ]

2000–2008 : Youth career, early senior career and Euro 2008 [edit ]

Chiellini represented Italy at all youth levels, and he won the european Under-19 Championship with Italy in 2003, [ 70 ] and was besides a member of the Italy team that won the tan decoration at the football tournament of the 2004 Summer Olympics. He participated in the 2006 and 2007 U-21 Championships as Italy ‘s master, scoring 2 goals over both tournaments, although Italy were eliminated in the group stagecoach on both occasions. He was named in the ‘UEFA Team of the tournament ‘ of the 2007 U-21 Championships agree in the Netherlands, [ 71 ] where Italy besides obtained qualification for the 2008 Summer Olympics. In sum, he made 26 appearances for the Under-21 english, scoring 6 goals. He made his introduction for the italian national team on 17 November 2004 against Finland under Marcello Lippi, at the age of 20. [ 72 ] He became a regular squad penis since 2007 and he scored his first goal for Italy on 21 November 2007, against the Faroe Islands, in Modena, in a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying meet. [ 73 ] Chiellini was called up to Italy ‘s police squad for UEFA Euro 2008 under director Roberto Donadoni, and injured captain Fabio Cannavaro in a collision during a prepare seance, that resulted in Cannavaro missing out on the tournament. [ 74 ] [ 75 ] He was sidelined in the opening game against the Netherlands, which Italy went on to lose 3–0. [ 76 ] He subsequently received the nod to partner christian Panucci at centre-back from the second gear game onwards, cementing his plaza in the Azzurri defense mechanism ; [ 77 ] in the second group match of the tournament, he assisted Panucci ‘s counterweight in a 1–1 draw against Romania. [ 78 ] While he besides featured in the final group game, keeping a clean-sheet in a 2–0 gain against France, [ 79 ] his most impressive expose was arguably against Spain in the quarter-finals, where he famously neutralised the menace of the spanish attack duet of David Villa and Fernando Torres. The game ended 0–0, with Italy finally losing 4–2 on penalties. [ 80 ]

2008–2014 : euro 2012 runner-up [edit ]

Chiellini with the italian national team in 2011 During 2010 World Cup passing, Chiellini cemented his place as an undisputed first-choice in Marcello Lippi ‘s police squad. He played the full 90 minutes in all three group matches at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup but Italy were eliminated at the group stages on goal deviation. [ 81 ] He was besides the starting Italy center back, along with Cannavaro, in the 2010 World Cup, although Italy disappointed and exited in the first base round, finishing in last locate in their group with two points, and failing to win a match or keep a clean sheet. [ 82 ] Under Cesare Prandelli, Chiellini was once again the starting center back during Italy ‘s UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying political campaign. Along with Juventus teammates Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci, and besides Daniele De Rossi, he started in defense for Italy in the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament, after recovering from an injury he had encountered during the final examination Serie A game of the season. [ 83 ] He suffered another injury in Italy ‘s concluding group match against Ireland, which ended in a 2–0 win, ruling him out of the quarter-final repair against England ; [ 84 ] he returned to the starting line-up for Italy ‘s 2–1 semi-final victory over Germany. [ 85 ] Italy reached the concluding, but were defeated once again by Spain, suffering a 4–0 loss. Despite suffering a minor injury in the semi-final, Chiellini started as left back in the final, but was substituted after sustaining so far another wound ; Spain ‘s first goal of the match get up from his err, ascribable to his precarious physical condition. [ 85 ] [ 86 ] On 14 November 2012, in a 2–1 friendly defeat to France, Chiellini wore the captain ‘s armband with Italy for the first time in his career. [ 87 ] On 22 June 2013, Chiellini scored his third gear goal for Italy against Brazil in the 2013 Confederations Cup in a 2–4 frustration, a low scene to the web after the referee Ravshan Irmatov had initially signaled for a penalty kick back to Italy. [ 88 ] Italy managed to finish the tournament in third gear seat, following a 3–2 punishment gunfight win over Uruguay in the bronze decoration match. [ 89 ]
In the 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying fixture against the Czech Republic, at the Juventus Stadium in Turin, on 10 September 2013, Chiellini scored Italy ‘s first goal in a 2–1 home win, which allowed the nation to clinch the top topographic point in their group and qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil with two games at hand ; this was the beginning time that the italian police squad had done then. [ 90 ] During the 2014 World Cup, in Italy ‘s final group stage game against Uruguay, Chiellini, while defending Luis Suárez in the penalty area, was bitten in the leftover shoulder by Suárez from behind. It was Suárez ‘s third base career biting incident. As the italian players protested to the Mexican reviewer Marco Antonio Rodríguez for not penalizing Suárez, Uruguay won a corner and scored, winning 1–0 to qualify for the last 16 and eliminating Italy. [ 91 ] [ 92 ] [ 93 ] As a solution, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee launched an probe into the incident. On 26 June, The FIFA Disciplinary Committee announced that Suárez would be suspended for nine matches and banned from any football activity ( including entering any stadium ) for four months. Suárez was besides fined CHF 100,000 ( approx. £ 65,700/ € 82,000/ US $ 119,000 ). [ 94 ] [ 95 ] even so, Chiellini expressed his view that the four-month prohibition on Suárez for all football-related activities including was “ excessive ”. [ 96 ] “ There merely remains the anger and the disappointment about the equal. At the moment, my only idea is for Luis and his family, because they will face a very unmanageable period. ” Chiellini said after the game, noting that he hoped Suarez would be allowed to remain with his teammates during World Cup games, “ because such a banish is truly alienating for a player. ” [ 96 ] Chiellini wrote in his autobiography that he could sympathsize with Suarez ‘s competitive determination .

[ Luis ] Suarez and I are similar and I like facing strikers like him. I called him a pair of days after the plot, but he had no need to apologise to me. I excessively am a son of a b*tch on the field and gallant of it. [ 97 ]

2014–2016 : euro 2016 political campaign [edit ]

On 10 October 2014 in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Azerbaijan in Palermo, Chiellini put Italy ahead with a first-half heading. He then scored a late own goal, but headed a achiever three minutes from time to give Italy a 2–1 victory. [ 98 ] Italy qualified for Euro 2016 on 10 October of the pursuit year after a 3–1 winnings over Azerbaijan. [ 99 ] On 17 November 2015, Chiellini made his 82nd appearance for Italy in a 2–2 friendly family draw against Romania, overtaking Franco Baresi, Giuseppe Bergomi, and Marco Tardelli as Italy ‘s one-tenth most capped actor of all clock. [ 100 ] [ 101 ] On 31 May 2016, Chiellini was named to Conte ‘s 23-man Italy squad for Euro 2016. [ 102 ] Playing aboard Bonucci and Barzagli, Chiellini drew praise for his defensive performances, as he helped Italy keep clean-sheets in both of their opening two victories over Belgium and Sweden, which enabled the nation to top their group and advance to the second rung. [ 21 ] Having been booked for a tactical disgusting in Italy ‘s opening match on 13 June, [ 103 ] Chiellini was rested for Italy ‘s final group peer against Ireland on 22 June, which ended in a 1–0 defeat. [ 104 ] In the round of golf of 16 at Stade de France in Paris on 27 June, he scored the open finish in a 2–0 succeed over reigning european champions Spain and helped Italy record their third base clean-sheet of the tournament. [ 105 ] Italy were eliminated from the competition in a 6–5 penalty shoot-out defeat to reigning World Cup champions Germany in the quarter-finals, on 2 July. [ 106 ]

2016–2017 : 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign [edit ]

In Italy ‘s open 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Israel on 5 September 2016, Chiellini earned his 90th external cap, but was later given his first always national team red card after a moment bookable offense in the fifty-fifth minute of an eventual 3–1 aside win ; causing him to miss the following group match against Spain on 6 October, an eventual 1–1 trace. [ 107 ] Chiellini besides missed the return couple against Spain on 2 September 2017, an eventual 3–0 away loss, angstrom well as the tax return master of architecture against Israel on 5 September, an eventual 1–0 home winnings, with a calf injury. [ 108 ] On 9 October, Chiellini made his 94th appearance for Italy in a 1–0 away victory over Albania in a World Cup qualifier, equalling Giacinto Facchetti as the state ‘s joint-eighth highest appearance holder of all meter. [ 109 ] [ 110 ] Italy finished in Group G in moment place behind Spain, and advanced to the play-off against Sweden. Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup after a 1–0 sum personnel casualty to Sweden. [ 111 ] The second gear leg, a 0–0 home draw on 13 November, was initially thought to be his final examination international appearance, as Chiellini announced his retirement from the national team immediately after the meet. [ 112 ] [ 113 ]

2018–present : captainship and Euro 2020 prevail [edit ]

On 17 March 2018, despite Chiellini ‘s initial decisiveness to retire, he was called up for the March 2018 friendlies against Argentina and England by interim director Luigi Di Biagio. [ 114 ] After sustaining an injury, however, he was dropped from the team, and Angelo Ogbonna was called up in his place. [ 115 ] He was once again called up to the national team in September 2018, by director Roberto Mancini, for Italy ‘s afford UEFA Nations League matches against Poland and Portugal late that month. [ 116 ] Chiellini was besides named the new captain of the italian home team following Gianluigi Buffon ‘s international retirement. [ 117 ] [ 118 ] He subsequently wore the master ‘s armband in Italy ‘s 1–1 home draw against Poland on 7 September, in their UEFA Nations League opener. [ 119 ] On 11 October, he made his 98th appearance for Italy in a 1–1 friendly draw against Ukraine in Genoa, equalling Gianluca Zambrotta as his state ‘s joint-seventh highest appearance holder of all time. [ 120 ] On 17 November, he made his hundredth appearance for Italy in a 0–0 draw against Portugal at the San Siro stadium in Milan, in his team ‘s final examination UEFA Nations League meet. [ 121 ] In June 2021, Chiellini was included in Italy ‘s squad for UEFA Euro 2020. [ 122 ] In the opening match on 11 June, a 3–0 acquire over Turkey, he became the oldest player to appear for Italy at the European Championships, at the long time of 36 years, 301 days. [ 123 ] In their second gear group match against Switzerland in Rome on 16 June, he had a finish disallowed for an apparent handball and was late forced off in the first gear half due to injury, being replaced by Francesco Acerbi ; Italy won the equal 3–0, allowing them to advance to the cycle of 16 of the tournament. [ 124 ] Chiellini would however recover from his injury, [ 125 ] starting in Italy ‘s 2–1 victory over Belgium in the quarter-finals on 2 July. [ 126 ] He subsequently went on to captain Italy to its second ever european Championship on 11 July, [ 127 ] following a 3–2 penalty shoot-out victory over England in the final at Wembley Stadium after a 1–1 draw in extra time. [ 128 ]

style of play [edit ]

Chiellini began his professional career as a defensive-minded left-back, but later made his name as an aggressive, brave, physical, and hard-tackling centre-back, with a preference for scoring headers from set-pieces, due to his height, aeriform art, athleticism, and forte. A versatile, reproducible, commanding, and reliable left-footed defender, with well awareness, positional sense, and an ability to read the game, he is capable of playing both in a three or four-man refutation. [ 84 ] [ 129 ] [ 130 ] [ 131 ] [ 132 ] [ 133 ] [ 134 ] [ 135 ] A hard-working player, he is besides known for his ability to cover ground and put atmospheric pressure on or predict opponents in positions higher up on the pitch. [ 131 ] [ 133 ] [ 136 ] [ 137 ] [ 138 ] Regarded as a bright defender in his young, [ 139 ] he came to be considered one of the best defenders in global football, [ 140 ] [ 136 ] [ 141 ] [ 142 ] [ 143 ] one of the greatest defenders of his generation, [ 144 ] and one of Juventus ‘s greatest defenders always. [ 145 ] In 2018, his Juventus director at the meter – Massimiliano Allegri – described him as “ the best defender in the world. ” [ 146 ] Regarding Chiellini ‘s strength and man-marking ability, his former Livorno director Walter Mazzarri once labeled him as “ a force out of nature ”, besides adding “ he ‘s a universal joint actor that any passenger car would love to have on his team. [ 147 ] He is from another satellite ; he can mark three players by himself. ” [ 129 ] [ 148 ] due to his dogged, no-nonsense play style, Chiellini has been described as an “ antique ” centre-back, who chiefly serves as a ball-winner ; [ 133 ] [ 149 ] [ 150 ] his animalism and aggression as a defender, a well as his brand goal celebration, which involves him beating his chest, have earned him the nickname “ King Kong “. [ 131 ] [ 151 ] [ 152 ] [ 153 ] Although he is not particularly adept or elegant from a technical point of view, [ 130 ] [ 137 ] [ 154 ] [ 155 ] [ 156 ] [ 157 ] [ 158 ] [ 153 ] [ 159 ] he possesses dear vision [ 160 ] and dependable distribution, which allows him to play the testis out or launch attacks from the back after winning back possession. [ 133 ] [ 161 ] [ 162 ] [ 163 ] [ 164 ] [ 165 ] A popular figure with fans, he is besides known for his commitment and song leadership on the cant, and was Juventus ‘s long-time vice captain, behind Gianluigi Buffon ; following Buffon ‘s passing in 2018, Chiellini was appointed the team ‘s new captain. [ 60 ] [ 137 ] [ 154 ] [ 166 ] With Andrea Barzagli ‘s retirement, the subsequent Bonucci-Chiellini axis was considered, in terms of longevity and operation at high levels, one of the most solid and complementary in international football, vitamin a well as being compared to duets from the past such as Beckenbauer – Schwarzenbeck, Scirea – gentile or Baresi – Costacurta. [ 167 ] He has besides proved to be popular captain with the italian national team, stating that a captain ‘s function was to ease the tension for the rest of the team during important moments. [ 168 ] Although he is not known for his pace over unretentive distances, [ 156 ] [ 157 ] he is besides a mobile defender. [ 158 ] furthermore, he possesses a strong mentality, good temperament under pressure, determination, and excellent concentration, equally well as an ability to organise his back-line. [ 130 ] [ 131 ] [ 169 ] Despite his ability as a defender, he has frequently struggled with injuries in late seasons. [ 170 ]

personal life [edit ]

Chiellini was raised in Livorno [ 131 ] and is one of gemini boys. [ 171 ] He completed a laurea ( bachelor ‘s degree ) in economics and commerce at the University of Turin in July 2010, [ 131 ] [ 172 ] [ 173 ] and earned a laurea magistrale ( headmaster ‘s academic degree ) in business administration in April 2017 from the same institution, graduating cum laude ( with honours ). [ 174 ] [ 175 ] Chiellini besides speaks fluently in English. [ 176 ] [ 177 ] In July 2014, Chiellini married his long-time girlfriend Carolina Bonistalli at a individual Catholic ceremony at the Sanctuary of Montenero in Livorno. [ 178 ] The couple have two daughters : Nina born July 2015, and Olivia born June 2019. [ 179 ] [ 180 ] [ 181 ] That lapp year, he published a bible, C’è un angelo bianconero. Il mio maestro si chiama Scirea. [ 182 ] Chiellini features in EA Sports ‘ FIFA video game series ; he was on the covers of the italian editions of FIFA 10, aboard global shroud star topology Ronaldinho, [ 183 ] and FIFA 11, aboard global cover star Kaká. [ 184 ] Throughout the 2017–18 season, Chiellini appeared in the Netflix docu-series called First Team: Juventus. [ 185 ] In 2020, Chiellini released his autobiography Io, Giorgio, with the profits going to the insuperabili charity during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. however, Chiellini attracted controversy due to his firm criticism of his former club and external teammates Felipe Melo and Mario Balotelli in his book. [ 182 ] [ 186 ] [ 187 ]

career statistics [edit ]

club [edit ]

As of match played 30 October 2021[188]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club

Season

League

Coppa Italia

Continental

Other

Total

Division
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals

Livorno
2000–01
Serie C1

3
0
1
0
—
—
4
0

2001–02

Serie C1

5
0
8
0
—
2
0
15
0

Total

8
0
9
0
0
0
2
0
19
0

Livorno (loan)

2002–03
Serie B

6
0
1
0
—
—
7
0

2003–04

Serie B

41
4
1
0
—
—
42
4

Total

47
4
2
0
0
0
0
0
49
4

Fiorentina (loan)

2004–05
Serie A

37
3
5
0
—
—
42
3

Juventus
2005–06

Serie A

17
0
0
0
6[a]
0
0
0
23
0

2006–07

Serie B

32
3
3
1
—
—
35
4

2007–08

Serie A

30
3
2
0
—
—
32
3

2008–09

Serie A

27
4
1
0
8[a]
1
—
36
5

2009–10

Serie A

32
4
2
0
6[b]
1
—
40
5

2010–11

Serie A

32
2
2
0
9[c]
2
—
43
4

2011–12

Serie A

34
2
3
0
—
—
37
2

2012–13

Serie A

24
1
0
0
8[a]
0
0
0
32
1

2013–14

Serie A

31
3
1
0
11[d]
0
1[e]
1
44
4

2014–15

Serie A

28
0
4
1
12[a]
0
1[e]
0
45
1

2015–16

Serie A

24
1
4
0
6[a]
0
0
0
34
1

2016–17

Serie A

21
2
2
0
9[a]
1
1[e]
1
33
4

2017–18

Serie A

26
0
4
0
7[a]
0
1[e]
0
38
0

2018–19

Serie A

25
1
2
0
6[a]
0
1[e]
0
34
1

2019–20

Serie A

4
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
1

2020–21

Serie A

17
0
4
0
3[a]
0
1[e]
0
25
0

2021–22

Serie A

8
0
0
0
1[a]
0
0
0
9
0

Total

412
27
34
2
92
5
6
2
544
36

Career total

504
34
50
2
92
5
8
2
654
43

International [edit ]

As of match played 6 October 2021[189][190]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team
Year
Apps
Goals

Italy

2004
1
0

2005
4
0

2006
1
0

2007
3
1

2008
7
0

2009
11
1

2010
10
0

2011
12
0

2012
8
0

2013
10
2

2014
7
2

2015
8
0

2016
8
1

2017
6
1

2018
4
0

2019
3
0

2020
2
0

2021
9
0

Total
114
8

As of match played 6 October 2021. Italy score listed first, score column indicates score after each Chiellini goal.[190]

Honours [edit ]

Livorno [ 71 ]
Juventus [ 71 ] [ 188 ]
Italy U19 [ 71 ]
Italy Olympic [ 71 ]
Italy
Individual
Orders

See besides [edit ]

References [edit ]