Born: 8/10/57
Position: Defender
Clubs: Cremonese, Atalanta, Juventus, Bologna
Serie A apps: 329
Serie A gls: 33

Even before Paolo Maldini there was once a great Italian left back. One who graced the field and later became world champion for both club and country.

Antonio Cabrini was a silky defender who was brought up in the Cremonese youth team before going on to play in Bergamo with Atalanta. One year later, in 1976, he was signed by Juventus in a love affair that lasted until 1989.

It was while playing for the Bianconeri that Cabrini established himself as one of the world’s best. His personal honours list reads like a what’s what of football competitions. An Intercontinental crown, a Champions’ Cup, a European Super Cup, six Italian championships and two Italian Cups.

He played 297 games, scoring 33 times for the Turin side before joining Bologna. For the national side he appeared 73 times, hitting nine goals including a strike in the triumphant 1982 World Cup finals.

Now aged 43, Cabrini still finds himself in the game that has given him so much. He is currently Coach of Serie C side Arezzo, appointed in the summer after Serse Cosmi’s exit to Perugia.

He didn’t get off to the best possible start, being sent off twice in the first 10 games. His side started just as poorly, losing four out of their first six. But since then there have been notable signs of improvement.

Cabrini plays with a 4-4-2 system with a midfield consisting of one holding player and three offensive-minded outlets.

Cabrini now joins an accomplished list of former Juventus greats who currently Coach in Italian football including Giovanni Trapattoni, Marco Tardelli, Claudio Prandelli, Claudio Gentile and Giuseppe Galderisi.