Roberto Bettega

Juventus legend and Italian striker known as 'Penna Bianca'

via Wikipedia: Juventus FC · see source

Roberto Bettega (born 27 December 1950) is an Italian former footballer who played as a forward. He is mostly remembered for his successful time at his hometown club Juventus, where he won several titles and established himself as one of Italy's greatest ever players due to his strength, skill, goalscoring ability, and creativity. He was nicknamed Penna Bianca ("White Feather") due to his appearance, and Bobby Gol due to his eye for goal.

Quick Facts

Position: Forward; Striker
Club: Torino FC (1970–1983)
National team: Italy – 1982 FIFA World Cup squad
Jersey number: 10 (retired by Torino)
Born: 1951, Turin, Italy

Lore & Background

Bettega was born in Turin and joined the Juventus Primavera squad in 1961 as a midfielder. He was loaned to Varese in Serie B, where he scored 13 goals to help the side gain promotion. He made his Serie A debut for Juventus on 27 September 1970, scoring the winning goal. He won seven Serie A titles with Juventus between 1972 and 1982, the 1977 UEFA Cup, and the 1978–79 Coppa Italia. He also won the Capocannoniere in 1979–80. After retiring from European football, he played two summers in the NASL with the Toronto Blizzard.

Reader's Guide

Bettega was a tall, quick, agile, and athletic player who excelled in the air and was known for scoring acrobatic goals. He was an accurate and clinical finisher with either foot. He was capable of playing both as a midfielder and as a forward, and was usually used as a centre-forward earlier in his career, but also played as a left winger, supporting striker, or attacking midfielder. He was regarded as a player of noteworthy tactical intelligence and a complete and modern team player.

Did You Know?

Bettega was forced out of the game in 1972 with a lung infection and the initial stages of tuberculosis, but returned later that year.
He scored a back-heel goal versus A.C. Milan at San Siro in 1971, considered one of his most iconic goals.
Bettega was named in the FIFA World Cup All-star Team in 1978.
He missed the 1982 World Cup due to a knee ligament injury suffered in a collision with an opposing goalkeeper.
Bettega later served as vice-chairman of Juventus from 1994 to 2006 and returned as vice general manager in 2009.