Leonardo Bonucci was known for his fiery temperament and his passion for soccer, which made the iconic Italian defender a beloved player in his country and around Europe.
At Juventus, Bonucci quickly became part of the imposing BBC defence alongside Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini and in front of the legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
That defense was almost impenetrable and led the Old Lady to an era of unprecedented domestic dominance in Serie A, but that failed to capture the Champions League even when they had superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo as part of that iconic team.
Italian legend Bonucci makes a brutal sliding tackle
Bonucci was part of Sunday’s Soccer Aid charity match at Old Trafford as part of team World XI, which beat England 5-4 in a very exciting game. However, what stood out for social media users was a brutal sliding tackle that Leonardo performed against a female rival.
Former England Women’s captain Steph Houghton ran for the ball as Bonucci challenged the player, and just like he did back when he played with Italy’s Men’s International and Juventus, the defender slide to get the ball, hitting the English on the way. Houghton was left writhing in agony after putting in the slide.
The Italian’s technique made him came away with the ball, but quickly spotted that Houghton was in distress and stopped play so that she could receive treatment. The female soccer player was attended to for a couple of minutes before she finally got back to her feet and was able to continue for the final minutes of the game.
A legend that couldn’t win the World Cup
Leonardo Bonucci, a stalwart in Italy’s defense, is one of the many Italians that had success at the club level but failed to raise a World Cup for his country. With nine Serie A titles, primarily with Juventus, and a Euro 2020 championship, Bonucci‘s leadership and defensive acumen were unparalleled.
His career also included stints with AC Milan,Union Berlin, and Fenerbahce, showcasing his adaptability and commitment to the game. Bonucci’s celebration after socring was his famous ‘sciacquatevi la bocca’, literally meaning “wash your mouth” – or more simply put, “shut up.”
.Above all, Bonucci view himself as the player that considers himself a ‘soldier’, who celebrated in the rival’s face and who played for Italy with pride. Confrontation and fighting back was the only way he knew how to play soccer, and that took him a long way.
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