01 November 2017
It all began with a bench on Corso Re Umberto, one of the most famous streets in Turin’s city centre.
On this bench, a group of friends gathered. They all possessed a shared passion for football, a special game that had recently been ‘imported’ from England. They had an intriguing idea: to create a sports club.
The boys attended the Massimo D’Azeglio high school which specialised in classical studies. They were well educated but the eldest was just 17 years of age. This paved the way for the club’s name. In Latin, the name ‘Juventus’ means youth. They weren’t aware of it yet, but on 1 November 1897, they had given birth to a legend.
And so Italy’s greatest football team was born, almost by chance. The club’s first president was Enrico Canfari, the first ground was Piazza d’Armi (Parade Ground) and the side started out wearing pink.
Sporting that same jersey, the club made its debut in the national championship in 1900 and five years later, the first Italian title arrived. The Bianconeri were in business.
