Defender Leonardo Bonucci has announced he will retire from professional football when his current contract with Juventus expires at the end of next season.
The 36-year-old has had a truly illustrious career. He rose through the ranks at Inter Milan and spent time on loan at Treviso and Pisa before signing with Juventus in 2010 for just over 15 million euros after a lengthy season at Bari. He left the club in 2017 to play for Milan but returned the following year.
Including both periods, Bonucci wore the black and white Juventus kit exactly 500 times, helping them win eight Scudettos, four Italian Cups and five Italian Super Cups. He also earned 120 caps for his country by winning Euro 2020 with the Azzurri.
“When I stop playing next year, it will be the end of the era of defense, the Italian style of defense,” the veteran centre-back told the club’s YouTube channel.