11 February
• Anniversaries
Ciro Ferrara
Date of birth: 11 February 1967
National team: Italy
Clubs: SSC Napoli, Juventus FC
An inspiration to everyone at Juventus, Ferrara remains one of Italy's most experienced defenders, despite often being deployed as a substitute as he reaches the end of an illustrious career, which has seen the Naples-born defender win every honour in club football. Born in 1967, he won 49 caps for Italy in an international career spanning 13 years - from a debut against Argentina in 1987 to UEFA EURO 2000™, where he claimed a silver medal. After making his Napoli debut against, ironically, Juventus in May 1985, Ferrara spent nine seasons at the San Paolo stadium. In a side spearheaded by the Argentinian Diego Maradona, he was part of Napoli's league title-winning sides of 1987 and 1990, but the highlight of his career there was a goal in the 1989 UEFA Cup final victory against VfB Stuttgart, ahead of a switch to the Bianconeri in 1994.
It was in Turin that the silverware flowed with Juventus claiming the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, European/South American Cup, and five Scudettos to date in his time at the club. Ferrara's crowning glory came when Juventus defeated defending champions AFC Ajax on penalties in the 1995/96 Champions League final. After playing 30 Serie A matches in 2001/02, Ferrara followed it up with another 25 as Juve claimed back-to-back titles. He scored once in 12 Champions League appearances but was powerless to prevent AC Milan winning the competition on penalties at Old Trafford following a 0-0 draw.
