Juventus remembers the legendary Gaetano Scirea: “Always in our hearts”

Today marks the 35th anniversary of the death of legendary Juventus captain Gaetano Scirea, who died in a tragic car accident on September 3, 1989.

The legendary defender was one of the best players of his generation, rising through the ranks at Atalanta before moving to Turin as a young centre-back in 1974.

Scirea eventually developed into a mainstay in one of the most impressive teams Juventus have ever assembled, a generation that included players such as Marco Tardelli, Claudio Gentile, Michel Platini and Paulo Rossi, to name a few.

The late Italian was known for his outstanding defensive skills, inspiring leadership qualities and great sportsmanship.

After his retirement in 1988, Scirea continued to serve the Old Lady and eventually died in service.

At the age of 36, the former Juventus captain died in a horrific car crash while in Poland to scout Juve's next UEFA Cup opponents, Górnik Zabrze.

The Bianconeri remembered Scirea with a touching tribute on Official website of the club:

“35 years have passed since that fateful day in September 1989. The news came that surprised everyone and left an unbridgeable gap in the Juventus family and the entire sporting world: Gaetano Scirea had died. His tragic death remains a painful, lasting memory in the hearts of many Juventus fans.

“He was a gentleman, a true sportsman, on and off the pitch. Even today, Scirea is a symbol of an era and a way of life that made him a pillar of both Juventus and the Italian national team.

“His ability to balance sport, work and life made him a renowned personality and a man appreciated by millions of fans throughout his football career.

“For a champion like Scirea, his statistics only partially illustrate his greatness. In 14 seasons at Juventus, he played more than 500 games and scored 32 goals. He won seven Scudetti and a number of European Cups, making him one of the most decorated players in the history of our club.

“That is why we still emphasise the greatness of the human being, even before that of the footballer.

“To you, Capitano! We miss you.”