Greatest Serie A captains of all time

As you already know, Italy is one of the most successful countries in the world of football. With clubs such as Juventus, Inter Milan, and AC Milan, Serie A is one of the most outstanding leagues in the world which gets a lot of views every year.

Having a look at the football history, you can understand that lots of brilliant footballers have been trained by the Italian clubs and many legends have made their way to this country to kick the ball. As you might know, the captain of a team is a player who gains a lot of respect from the other players and the fans. He has a charismatic personality and leads the team on the pitch.

In this article today, we are going to have a look at the

greatest Serie A captains ever

. Here we will go over their football career and the time that they spent in Italy. Stay with us and keep reading.

Best Serie A captains ever  

Without any more words, let’s go through the

best Serie A captains in football history

.

Francesco Totti

The next name on our list for the best Serie A captains of all time is Roma’s legend,

. This retired footballer used to play as a midfielder and forward. He was born in Rome on 26 September 1976 and began playing football at Fortitudo Luditor in 1983.

After 1 season, Totti moved to Smith Trastevere, where he kicked the ball for 2 seasons. This brilliant footballer then joined AS Lodigiani and in 1989, he moved to Roma.

In 1993, Totti’s senior career began. This outstanding footballer spent all of his senior career at this club and kicked the ball for the Wolves until he retired in 2017. It is interesting to know that this former player has made the most appearances for

with 783 games and he has also scored the most goals for this club with 307 goals.

Francesco Totti, who is one of the

most legendary Serie A captains in football history

, won 1 Serie A title, 2 Coppa Italia, and 2 Supercoppa Italia with Roma and the World Cup 2006 title with the national team of Italy.

Paolo Maldini

The next footballer among the best Serie A captains of all time is the former defender,

. This brilliant footballer is regarded as one of the most outstanding defenders ever. He was born in Milan on 26 June 1968 and started playing football at

in 1978.

In 1984, Maldini’s senior career started and he kicked the ball for the Black and Reds until the end of his career in 2009. Therefor he is one of the one-club men in the world of football. This brilliant defender made 647 appearances in Serie A, which was a record until 2020 when Gianluigi Buffon broke it.

Paolo Maldini, who is among the best Serie A captains in football history, won 7 Serie A titles, 1 Coppa Italia, 5 Supercoppa Italiana, 5 Champions League, 4 UEFA Super Cup, 2 Intercontinental Cup, and 1 FIFA Club World Cup title with AC Milan.

 Javier Zanetti

The next name among the best Serie A captains of all time is the Argentinian former footballer,

. He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 10 August 1973 and took his first steps in football at CA Independiente in 1982. This former midfielder played for this team for 7 years.

In 1991, Zanetti moved to Talleres de Escalada and the following year, his senior career started. This brilliant footballer kicked the ball for this club until 1993 and then signed with CA Banfield, where he played for 2 seasons.

In 1995, Zanetti moved to Italy to join

. This brilliant player kicked the ball for the Black and Blues until the end of his career in 2014, which means 19 years. During this time, Zanetti went on the pitch in 615 Serie A matches. It is interesting to know that with this number, he is the 4th most capped footballer in this league.  

Javier Zanetti, who is one of the best Serie A captains ever, won 5 Serie A titles, 4 Coppa Italia, 4 Supercoppa Italiana, 1 Europa League, 1 Champions League, and 1 FIFA Club World Cup title with Inter Milan.

Gianluigi Buffon

The next footballer on our list for the best Serie A captains of all time is the Italian legend,

. This outstanding footballer is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers ever. He was born in Carrara, Italy on 28 January 1978 and started playing football at Canaletto in 1984.

2 years later, Buffon moved to Perticata, where he played until 1990. After that, this brilliant goalie joined Bonascola and after spending the 1990/91 season, he moved to Parma. In 1995, the senior career of this outstanding footballer began and he played for

until 2001.

In 2001, Buffon signed with Juventus. He played for the Old Lady for 17 years, creating lots of memories for the Juve fans. In 2018, this brilliant goalkeeper moved to Paris Saint-Germain but after only 1 season, he moved back to

.

Buffon played for Juve until 2021 and then moved to Parma, where he had started his senior career. Since then, he has been playing for Parma. This outstanding goalkeeper has spent all of his career in Serie A, except 1 season that he spent in Ligue 1 with

.

Gianluigi Buffon, who is without a doubt among the most legendary Serie A captains in football history, has won 1 Europa League, 1 Coppa Italia, and 1 Supercoppa Italiana title with Parma, 10 Serie A, 5 Coppa Italia, 6 Supercoppa Italiana, and 1 Serie B title with Juventus, and Ligue 1 and 1 Trophee des Champions with Paris Saint-Germain.

Franco Baresi

is also among the

best Serie A captains of all time

. This former footballer is considered one of the most outstanding defenders ever. He was born in Travagliato, Italy on 8 May 1960 and started playing football at AC Milan in 1972.

In 1977, Baresi’s senior career began. This brilliant footballer spent all of his career at AC Milan until he retired in 1997 and is one of Milan’s one-club players. He kicked the ball in 532 Serie A matches during his career.

Franco Baresi, who is one of the greatest Serie A captains ever, won 6 Serie A titles, 2 Serie B, 4 Supercoppa Italiana, 3 Champions League, 2 UEFA Super Cup, and 2 Intercontinental Cup titles, all of them with the Black and Reds. He also won the FIFA World Cup 1982 title with the national team of Italy.

Gianni Rivera

The next footballer among the best Serie A captains of all time is

, who is regarded as one of the greatest passers in football history. This retired player is also considered one of the best players of his generation. He was born in Alessandria, Italy on 18 August 1943 and started kicking the ball professionally at US Alessandria in 1959.

Rivera played for this club for 1 season and then moved to AC Milan, where he kicked the ball until the end of his career in 1979. During his 19 years with the Black and Reds, this brilliant footballer made 527 league appearances for Alessandria and Milan and scored 128 goals.

Gianni Rivera, who is among the best Serie A captains in football history, won 3 Serie A titles, 4 Coppa Italia, 2 Champions League, 2 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, and 1 Intercontinental Cup with AC Milan. He also won the Euro 1968 title with the national team of Italy.

Giuseppe Meazza   

The next name on our list for the

best Serie A captains of all time

is the former forward,

, who is one of the most outstanding players in football history. He was born in Milan on 23 August 1910 and passed away in Lissone, Italy on 21 August 1979.

Meazza began playing football at Gloria in 1922 and after 2 years, he joined Inter Milan. In 1927, the senior career of this brilliant footballer started and he kicked the ball for the Black and Blues until 1940. After that, he moved to AC Milan, where he played for 2 years.

In 1942, Meazza joined Juventus and after spending the 1942/43 season, he moved to Varese. In 1945, this Italian player joined Atalanta, however, he moved to Inter Milan the following season, where he finished his career in 1947.

Giuseppe Meazza is one of the greatest Serie A captains ever and appeared in 463 league games in total, scoring 270 goals. This outstanding footballer won 3 Serie A titles and 1 Coppa Italia, all of them with Inter Milan. He also won the World Cup twice in 1934 and 1938 with the national team of Italy.

Armando Picchi

The next footballer among the best Serie A captains of all time is the former footballer, Armando Picchi. He was born in Livorno, Italy on 20 June 1935 and died in Sanremo, Italy on 27 May 1971. Picchi began playing football at Livorno in 1949.

In 1954, the senior career of this former defender started and he kicked the ball for Livorno until 1959. Then he moved to SPAL, where he spent the 1959/60 season. After that, Picchi joined Inter Milan and played for this club until 1967. Then he moved to Varese, where he finished his career in 1969.

Armando Picchi, who is among the

best Serie A captains ever

, made 378 league appearances in total and scored 7 goals. He won 3 Serie A titles, 2 UEFA Champions League, and 2 Intercontinental Cup titles with Inter Milan.

Giampiero Boniperti   

The next name on our list for the best Serie A captains of all time is the former striker, Giampiero Boniperti. He was born in Barengo, Italy on 4 July 1928 and died in Turin, Italy on 18 June 2021. This former player began kicking the ball at Juventus in 1944.

After 2 years, the senior career of this Italian footballer started and he kicked the ball for the Old Lady until the end of his career in 1961. Therefore, he is one of Juventus’ one-club men. Boniperti appeared in 443 league games and scored 178 goals. This retired footballer won 5 Serie A and 2 Coppa Italia titles, all of them with Juventus.    

Silvio Piola

is also among the

best Serie A captains of all time

. This former striker, who is considered one of the greatest Italian players ever, is the top scorer in this league. He was born in Robbio, Italy on 29 September 1913 and passed away in Gattinara, Italy on 4 October 1996.

Piola started playing football professionally at Pro Vercelli in 1929 and played there for 5 years. This brilliant footballer then moved to

, where he kicked the ball until 1943. After that, he joined Torino and after he spent the 1943/44 season, he moved to Juventus.

Piola kicked the ball for the Old Lady until 1947 and then joined Novara, where he ended his career in 1954. This Italian striker made 619 league appearances in total, scoring 333 goals.

Silvio Piola, who is one of the most outstanding Serie A captains of all time, won 1 Serie B with Novara and also the World Cup 1938 with the national team of Italy.

Valentino Mazzola

The next name among the greatest Serie A captains ever is the former footballer,

. This brilliant player was born in Cassano d’Adda, Italy on 26 January 1919 and passed away in Turin, Italy on 4 May 1949 in an air crash.

Mazzolo started playing football at GS Tresoldi in 1933 and 3 years later, his senior career began. This brilliant footballer kicked the ball for this team until 1938 and then joined Alfa Romeo Milan, where he played for 1 season.

In 1939, Mazzola moved to AC Venice and kicked the ball there until 1942. After that, this Italian player joined Torino, where he finished his career in 1949. During his career, he won 1 Coppa Italia with AC Venice and 5 Serie A titles and 1 Coppa Italia with Torino.

Diego Maradona   

The last name on our list for the most legendary Serie A captains in football history is the Argentinian legend,

. This outstanding attacking midfielder is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers ever. He was born in Lanus, Argentina on 30 October 1960 and passed away in Tiger, Argentina on 25 November 2020.

Maradona began playing football at Argentinos in 1969. 7 years later, the senior career of this brilliant footballer started and he kicked the ball for this team until 1981. After spending the 1981/82 season at Boca Juniors, this Argentinian legend moved to

, where he played until 1984.

In 1984, Maradona joined

and kicked the ball there for 7 years. Then he moved to

, where he spent the 1992/93 season. After that, this brilliant player joined Newell’s Old Boys and played there for a short time.

After 2 years of being away from football, Maradona joined Boca Juniors in 1995, where he finished his career in 1997. This brilliant footballer made 188 league appearances for Napoli and scored 81 goals.

During his career, Diego Maradona won 1 Argentinian League with Boca juniors, 1 La Liga, 1 Copa de la Liga, and 1 Supercopa de Espana with Barcelona, and 2 Serie A titles, 1 Coppa Italia, 1 Supercoppa Italiana, and 1 Europa League with Napoli. He also won the World Cup 1986 title with the national team of Argentina.

This was our article on the best Serie A captains of all time. Thanks for reading it. Do YOU want to add any names? Share with us in the comment section.

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