Antonio Juliano

Lore & Background

Born in Naples on 26 December 1942, Juliano spent the majority of his club career at home-town club Napoli, after coming through their youth ranks; he won two Coppa Italia (in 1962 and 1976), as well as the Coppa delle Alpi (in 1966) and the Anglo-Italian League Cup (in 1976). After leaving Napoli in 1978, he played for one more season with Bologna, before retiring in 1979. He earned 18 caps for the Italian senior national team between 1966 and 1974, and was a member of the squad that won UEFA Euro 1968.

He was also included in the Italian squad for three different FIFA World Cups (1966, 1970, 1974), playing only one World Cup match, coming on as a substitute in a 4–1 defeat to Brazil in the 1970 World Cup final. After retiring, he returned to Napoli as a sporting director, overseeing the acquisitions of several players that contributed to the club's first national title in 1987, including Ruud Krol and Diego Maradona. He died in Naples on 13 December 2023, at the age of 80.

Reader's Guide

A creative playmaker, Juliano was renowned in particular for his leadership skills, as well as his vision, ball control, stamina, and passing range.