# Who is the best defender in Juventus history?

> Home to some of the greatest defenders in the game, Juventus has fielded imperious sweepers, commanding centre-backs, and intelligent reading-of-the-game specialists. From legendary Italian liberos to world-class imports, the competition for greatest Bianconeri defender spans continents and decades.

*By YPB Team · Published May 28, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-defender-in-juventus-history*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Gaetano Scirea**
   Universally admired Italian libero who combined elegance and intelligence on the ball with steely defensive resolve and is widely regarded as Italy's greatest ever defender.
2. **Giorgio Chiellini**
   Ferocious and fiercely loyal Italian centre-back who spent nearly two decades at Juventus and was one of the most formidable defensive presences in European football.
3. **Claudio Gentile**
   Ruthless and uncompromising Italian marker who is legendary for his suffocating man-marking duties at the 1982 World Cup and won multiple trophies at Juventus.
4. **Leonardo Bonucci**
   Ball-playing Italian centre-back who was part of one of the most dominant defensive trios in European football alongside Chiellini and Barzagli.
5. **Andrea Barzagli**
   Late-blooming Italian international who reinvented himself at Juventus to become one of the most reliable defenders in Europe as part of the celebrated BBC trio.
6. **Ciro Ferrara**
   Steady Neapolitan defender who was a dependable presence in Juventus' defence through the 1990s, winning five Serie A titles.
7. **Lilian Thuram**
   World Cup and European Championship winner who was one of Europe's finest right-backs during his time at Juventus and brought reliability and athleticism to the position.
8. **Fabio Cannavaro**
   Diminutive but dominant Italian centre-back and FIFA World Player of the Year in 2006 who was a key figure in Juventus' defence across two periods at the club.
9. **Paulo Sousa**
   Technically gifted Portuguese midfielder who could also play as an elegant sweeper and was an important part of Juventus' Champions League campaign in 1995-96.
10. **Sergio Brio**
   Reliable Italian centre-back who was a consistent and dependable presence in Juventus' successful defence through the early and mid 1980s.

Tags: italy, football, players, legends, serie a, juventus, defenders