Antonio Cabrini (born 8 October 1957) is an Italian former professional footballer and manager who played as a left-back. He is widely regarded as one of the premier defenders of his generation, known for his defensive capabilities as well as his offensive contributions from the flank.
Club Career Cabrini spent the most prominent period of his career with Juventus, joining the club in 1976 after stints with Cremonese and Atalanta. During his thirteen seasons in Turin, he made over 300 Serie A appearances. With Juventus, Cabrini won six Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia trophies, and achieved the rare feat of winning all major UEFA club competitions: the European Cup (1985), the UEFA Cup (1977), the European Cup Winners' Cup (1984), the UEFA Super Cup (1984), and the Intercontinental Cup (1985). He concluded his playing career at Bologna, retiring in 1991.
International Career At the international level, Cabrini represented the Italian national team 73 times between 1978 and 1987, scoring nine goals. He participated in three consecutive FIFA World Cups (1978, 1982, and 1986). He was a starter in the 1982 FIFA World Cup-winning squad. Despite missing a penalty in the final against West Germany, he became a world champion as Italy secured a 3–1 victory. In 1978, he was awarded the FIFA World Cup Best Young Player Award.
Managerial Career Following his retirement as a player, Cabrini transitioned into coaching. He managed several Italian clubs in the lower divisions, including Arezzo, Crotone, Pisa, and Novara. In 2012, he was appointed the head coach of the Italy women's national team, a position he held until 2017. During his tenure, he led the team to the quarter-finals of the 2013 UEFA Women's Championship.
Legacy Cabrini is frequently cited in lists of the greatest defenders in football history. In 2021, he was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame. His style of play influenced the modern role of the "attacking full-back," combining tactical discipline with the ability to provide crosses and goal-scoring threats.
