Leonardo Bonucci is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for and captains both Serie A club Juventus and the Italy national team.
28 Facts About Leonardo Bonucci
2.
Leonardo Bonucci was named the Serie A Footballer of the Year in 2016, and was included in the UEFA Team of the Year in the same season.
3.
Leonardo Bonucci started his career in the youth ranks of his hometown club Viterbese but was loaned to Inter Milan in the summer of 2005.
4.
Leonardo Bonucci played a number of pre-season friendlies for the Inter first team.
5.
Leonardo Bonucci then became a member of the Inter U20 team.
6.
Leonardo Bonucci played his first Coppa Italia match against Messina on 9 November 2006 when he came off the bench for Fabio Grosso in the 86th minute.
7.
Leonardo Bonucci featured in two more Coppa Italia games for Inter that season when he was brought on for the substituted Walter Samuel at half-time during the quarter-final second leg match against Empoli, and as a starter in the semi-final second leg tie against Sampdoria.
8.
Leonardo Bonucci subsequently remained at Inter until 30 June 2007 while Maa Boumsong returned from Treviso where he spent the first half of the season on loan.
9.
At Treviso, Leonardo Bonucci made 20 starts in 27 Serie B appearances as one of the regular starters.
10.
In June 2008, among the other Inter youth products, Leonardo Bonucci was the only player that was bought back from Treviso.
11.
Leonardo Bonucci played 13 Serie B matches for Treviso before leaving for another Serie B struggler Pisa on loan.
12.
On 8 June 2009, Leonardo Bonucci underwent a medical examination at Genoa.
13.
Leonardo Bonucci began the season by winning the 2012 Supercoppa Italiana with Juventus.
14.
In December 2012 Leonardo Bonucci was criticized for diving in a league game against Palermo on which was described by a number of journalists as "the worst dive ever".
15.
On 24 November 2015, Leonardo Bonucci was nominated for the 2015 UEFA Team of the Year.
16.
On 19 December, Leonardo Bonucci penned a new deal with Juventus, keeping him at the club until 2021.
17.
On 5 January 2017, Leonardo Bonucci was named to the 2016 UEFA Team of the Year.
18.
Leonardo Bonucci signed a five-year contract until 30 June 2023.
19.
At youth level, Leonardo Bonucci played for the Italy national under-21 football B team.
20.
Leonardo Bonucci was called-up for a friendlies against Renate on 6 November 2007, and against the Under-20 Serie C representative team on 4 December 2007.
21.
Leonardo Bonucci was capped for the team in an internal friendly, which split the Under-21 Serie B team into two on 9 October 2007, on 21 October 2008, on 25 November, and on 24 March 2009, as team captain.
22.
Leonardo Bonucci received a call-up from the Italy U20 team on 31 May 2007.
23.
Leonardo Bonucci started in all but one match as Italy reached the finals.
24.
Leonardo Bonucci was selected by Cesare Prandelli to be part of the Italy squad that would take part at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
25.
On 31 May 2016, Leonardo Bonucci was named to Conte's 23-man Italy squad for UEFA Euro 2016.
26.
In June 2021, Leonardo Bonucci was included in Italy's squad for UEFA Euro 2020.
27.
Leonardo Bonucci scored Italy's only goal of the game in the 67th minute to tie the match, and later converted Italy's third penalty in the shoot-out; his goal during regulation time made him the oldest player ever to score in a European Championship final, at the age of 34 years and 71 days.
28.
Leonardo Bonucci's unique playing style has led Giovanni Galli to compare him to former sweeper Gaetano Scirea.