1. Lillian Thuram — Juventus’ best of the best
While making this list was gruelling, choosing who should be at the top appeared more difficult to us. But here we have the best of the best full-back to have ever represented the holy crest of Juventus in Lillian Thuram. You may oppose our decision (and that’s why you will find a comment box under this post where you will be able to inform your concern). But, despite possessing a contradictory opinion, you must admire the nonchalant and adorable player Lillian Thuram was.
The French international joined Juventus in 2001, on the back of a scintillating career at Monaco and Parma. When he moved to Turin, he was already a star, a famed name in the group. With the Bianconeri, Thuram bagged two Serie A and two Supercoppa Italiana titles. And with France, he won the FIFA World Cup in1998, UEFA European Championship in 2000, and FIFA Confederations Cup in 2003.
Admired for his defensive attributes, Thuram was a man of 6ft. The attacker would think twice before taking him on a one-v-one situation, fearing what could be the magnitude of the damage from an impending tackle. Winner of one Coppa Italia, one Supercoppa Italiana, and a UEFA Cup with Parma, Thuram, yet, had to finish his Juventus career with bitter memories.
In the aftermath of Juventus getting relegated to Serie B due to the Calciopoli scandal, Thuram secured an immediate move to Barcelona, where he was later joined by his Juventus teammate Gianluca Zambrotta.
Lillian Thuram was an embodiment of pure strength and real persistence and hence played a variety of positions in the defence as well as in the midfield. His Juve career might not have ended how he would have wanted, but a warm piece in the history books about this greatest full-back of all time will always represent the anecdote of his elevated aura.