31 December 2019
This past year with Juventus was a year of great emotions. In fact, 2019 was another great chapter in the history of the club, and before diving into the new decade, we reflect on the year that has past by.
PRIDE FOR VICTORIES
It is with great pride that we look back upon 2019 and the numerous victories that took place. We at Juventus are in a privileged position to reflect on the past successes: through the Juventus Museum. And once again, as per tradition, the Trophy Room has played host to new silverware won throughout the year. 2019 saw Massimiliano Allegri's tenure at Juventus come to end following a fifth consecutive league title - the eighth back-to-back win for the team - and it was campaign that saw the Bianconeri dominate in the first half of the season like never before. The Italian Super Cup was won in Jeddah with a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo, who would later also add a Scudetto title to his name.
Even Rita Guarino's ladies experienced an extraordinary 2019, winning the league title (on the same day as the First Team), the Italian Cup and the Super Cup: in a short space of time Juventus Women went from being a novelty to becoming a certainty and guarantee of success.
But the Juventus Museum also collected personal awards, such as the shirt for Giorgio Chiellini's 500th appearance or that of Andrea Barzagli, who ended his career as a footballer before joining Maurizio Sarri's staff.
2019 and the future
The football seasons do not coincide with the solar years. Nonetheless, 2019 already makes us think about the future. There are three great protagonists who force us to look forward to the future with great expectations and curiosities.
The first is Maurizio Sarri. Under his tutelage, Juventus started a new technical project that already has two elements outlined enough to make 2020 exciting: the Scudetto race against Inter; and finishing first in the Champions League group stage two match days in advance, a feat Juve never achieved in the decade.
The second is Matthijs De Ligt. The 20-year-old 2019 Kopa winner provides more than just a glance into next year's future but for many years ahead: the Dutch defender has already established himself as one of the best young talents in the game, all while playing alongside fellow youngsters like Rodrigo Bentancur or Merih Demiral, who have also proven themselves in recent months.
The third are the spectators at Allianz Stadium, on the occasion of Juventus Women-Fiorentina: 40,000 people attended the women's football match - something that had never previously been seen before. This only underlined the adoration the fans have for the club, but it is also a starting point for a movement that is gaining great interest, even more so after the beautiful World Cup experienced by the Italian national team in France with eight Juventus players in the team.
A COLLECTION OF MOMENTS
Beyond the meaning of winning, a year also hosts situations that can impose themselves in the memory of the players, the fans and the club for the strong emotions they contain. Every fan has a moment in his or her heart that will give them chills, a special photograph they show to all, or a moment they replay every time when reflecting upon 2019.
In strict chronological order, we propose some of them.
The 2-1 victory in Naples in the direct Scudetto showdown clash. Moise Kean's brace against Udinese, the youngest Juventus player to do so since 1982. The comeback against Atletico Madrid with three goals by Cristiano Ronaldo: 90 minutes of adrenaline at the highest level for an unprecedented turnaround in the Champions League. Maurizio Sarri's debut in Turin against Napoli, an incredible match in the dynamics of the result, which ended 4-3 in favour of the Bianconeri on the stroke of full-time. Juventus' victory at San Siro over Inter, with Gonzalo Higuain's final goal after a dense web of passages and a dominant team performance. Paulo Dybala's masterpiece which decided Juventus-Atletico Madrid in the Champions League group stage. Finally, Cristiano Ronaldo's header in Genoa, a manifesto of the Portuguese's class; a technical and athletic gesture that went viral around the world.
