Tremendous Tévez key to Juventus success
Saturday, May 2, 2015
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With Carlos Tévez central to Juventus's latest title, Paolo Menicucci looks at how he has thrived under Massimiliano Allegri and compares him to their other great No10s.
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Juventus have made it four Serie A titles in as many seasons with four games to spare – and with no small thanks to Carlos Tévez who has been in scintillating form all campaign.
Last season Tévez managed 19 goals in firing the Bianconeri to a record points tally of 102. This term he has already reached 20, more than anyone else in Serie A.
Critics – and many Juventus fans – had doubts when Juventus replaced Antonio Conte with Massimiliano Allegri last summer but the former AC Milan coach immediately left his mark, introducing some new ideas without ripping up his predecessor's successful script. Tévez was arguably the player to benefit most from the change.
If Conte was asking the Argentina forward to move around Fernando Llorente and use the space created by the powerful Basque striker, Allegri gives Tévez more freedom in attack. "What has changed with Allegri?" Tévez was asked. "Everything: tactics, management, really everything. With him I have more freedom on the pitch and I like it." Allegri added: "I feel lucky to have the chance to work with a player like 'Carlitos'."
While the 31-year-old front man has never hidden his desire to end his career with his beloved CA Boca Juniors, Juve fans hope it will happen as late as possible. For now the 'Apache' intends to add more silverware, with Juve facing Real Madrid CF in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals and SS Lazio in the Coppa Italia final. Whatever the outcome there, he already has a special place in the history of the club alongside other famous No10s ...
Famous five Juve No10s
Carlos Tévez
Goals in first two seasons at Juve ...
2013/14: 19
2014/15 20 and counting
Omar Sívori
1957/58: 22
1958/59: 15
Also Argentinian, Sívori moved to Juventus in 1957 from CA River Place, lifting three Serie A championships in eight seasons. Forming a wonderful partnership with Wales forward John Charles, 'El Cabezón' was the league's 28-goal top scorer in 1959/60 and won the Ballon d'Or in 1961. "Here you always need to fight and when everything seems lost, keep believing: Juve never give in," the mercurial South American famously used to say."
Michel Platini
1982/83: 16
1983/84: 20
The France playmaker joined Juventus in 1982 and spent five years in Turin, landing not only two Scudettos but also the European Cup Winners' Cup, the European Champion Clubs' Cup and the European/South American Cup among other trophies. Serie A's leading marksman for three consecutive campaigns and a three-time winner of the Ballon d'Or, he captained France to 1984 UEFA European Championship glory. "Platini was brought for a crust of bread; he simply added the foie gras," former Juve owner Gianni Agnelli once said. "Nobody since has reached that level at Juve and if somebody eventually does, we will admit it with reluctance."
Roberto Baggio
1990/91: 14
1991/92: 18
Baggio came to the Old Lady in 1990 from arch-rivals ACF Fiorentina and claimed one Scudetto and one UEFA Cup in five seasons. Ballon d'Or winner in 1993, the 'Divine Ponytail' is unashamedly a big fan of Tévez: "I adore him, I always have done since watching him play for Boca Juniors. Scoring so many goals in the Italian league is never easy. He is confirming himself as a truly great player."
Alessandro Del Piero
1993/94: 5
1994/95: 8
Del Piero was 18 when he signed for Juventus in 1993 yet he continued to shine in a Bianconeri shirt until 2012, holding the club's all-time records for most appearances (705) and most goals (290). "I hope he wears the No10 jersey with love," he told Tévez when the Argentinian arrived in Turin. His successor is certainly doing that, at least to judge by his performances this term.