Antonio Cabrini facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Antonio Cabrini

Cabrini in 2008
Personal information
Date of birth	(1957-10-08) 8 October 1957 (age 67)
Place of birth	Cremona, Italy
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Left-back
Youth career
	Cremonese
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1973–1975	Cremonese	29	(2)
1975–1976	Atalanta	35	(1)
1976–1989	Juventus	297	(33)
1989–1991	Bologna	55	(2)
Total		416	(38)
International career
1978–1987	Italy	73	(9)
Managerial career
2000–2001	Arezzo
2001	Crotone
2004–2005	Pisa
2005–2006	Novara
2012–2017	Italy women
Medal record Men's football Representing  Italy FIFA World Cup Winner 1982 Spain
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Antonio Cabrini (born October 8, 1957) is a famous Italian football player and manager. He was a left-back, which is a defensive position on the field. Most of his career was spent playing for Juventus.

Cabrini is best known for winning the 1982 FIFA World Cup with the Italian national team. People called him Bell'Antonio ("beautiful Antonio") because he was popular and good-looking. He was one of Italy's greatest defenders. He was part of a very strong defense for Italy and Juventus, playing alongside Dino Zoff, Claudio Gentile, and Gaetano Scirea.

At the 1978 FIFA World Cup, Cabrini won the Best Young Player Award. Italy finished fourth in that tournament. He also played for Italy in UEFA Euro 1980, where they also finished fourth. Antonio Cabrini is one of the few players who have won all the major UEFA Club competitions with Juventus. In 2021, he was honored by being added to the Italian Football Hall of Fame.

Playing for Clubs

A young Antonio Cabrini playing for Cremonese in the early 1970s

Antonio Cabrini was born in Cremona, Italy. He started his professional football career with his local team, U.S. Cremonese, in the 1973–74 season. He quickly became a regular player.

In the 1975–76 season, he played for Atalanta. Then, in 1976, Juventus bought him. He spent most of his career, 13 successful seasons, with Juventus.

Winning Trophies with Juventus

With Juventus, Cabrini won many important trophies:

• The Serie A league title six times.
• The Coppa Italia (Italian Cup) two times.
• The UEFA Cup once.
• The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup once.
• The UEFA Super Cup once.
• The European Cup once.
• The Intercontinental Cup once.

In his last season with Juventus, he was the team's captain. After leaving Juventus in 1989, he played for Bologna for two years before he stopped playing football professionally. He played a total of 352 games in Serie A, scoring 35 goals.

Playing for Italy

Cabrini was chosen to play for Italy in the 1978 FIFA World Cup even though he had not played for the senior national team before. He played his first game for Italy on June 2, 1978, against France. Italy won that game 2–1. Italy finished fourth in the tournament, and Cabrini was named the Best Young Player.

He became a regular player for Italy for the next nine years. He played in all of Italy's games in three World Cups: 1978, 1982, and 1986. He played 18 World Cup games in total.

1982 FIFA World Cup Victory

Cabrini was a key part of the team that won the 1982 FIFA World Cup. This team included famous players like goalkeeper Dino Zoff, defenders Gaetano Scirea, Giuseppe Bergomi, and Claudio Gentile, and striker Paolo Rossi.

Cabrini played very well throughout the tournament. He helped Italy keep two "clean sheets" (meaning the other team didn't score). He also scored a very important goal in Italy's 2–1 win against Argentina in the second round. In the final against West Germany, he missed a penalty kick, but Italy still won the World Cup!

In total, Antonio Cabrini played 73 games for Italy and scored nine goals. This is a record for a defender playing for Italy. He played his last game for Italy in October 1987. He was also the captain of the national team ten times.

How Antonio Cabrini Played

Antonio Cabrini was a very fast and strong left-back who loved to attack. Many people think he is one of the best full-backs of all time and one of the best defenders in Italian football history. He used to play as a winger (an attacking player on the side of the field). His youth coach later moved him to left-back.

Cabrini was great at attacking, scoring goals, and making smart crosses (passing the ball across the field). He was also very good with the ball and had excellent technique. He changed how the full-back position was played in Italy by adding a new attacking style. He scored many goals for a defender because he could shoot well from far away and make strong runs up the field. He was also good at heading the ball. He could even take free kicks and penalty kicks.

All these skills, along with his strong defense and athletic abilities, made him one of the best full-backs in the world. Even though he was popular, he was known for being a quiet and disciplined player. He did not smoke or drink.

Coaching Career

After retiring as a player, Antonio Cabrini became a coach. He started coaching in 2000 with Arezzo. He also coached other clubs like Crotone, Pisa, and Novara.

From 2012 to 2017, Cabrini was the coach of the Italian women's national team. He coached them for five years before being replaced in August 2017.

Honors and Awards

Antonio Cabrini won many awards and trophies during his career.

Juventus

• Serie A: 1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86
• Coppa Italia: 1978–79, 1982–83
• Intercontinental Cup: 1985
• European Cup: 1984–85
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1983–84
• UEFA Cup: 1976–77
• UEFA Super Cup: 1984

Italy National Team

• FIFA World Cup: 1982

Individual Awards

• FIFA World Cup Best Young Player Award: 1978
• Italian Football Hall of Fame: 2021

Images for kids

• 

  Cabrini in 2008

See also

In Spanish: Antonio Cabrini para niños