Leonardo Bonucci
Leonardo Bonucci Cavaliere OMRI (Italian pronunciation: [leoˈnardo boˈnuttʃi]; born 1 May 1987) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe and the Italy national team. Considered one of the best defenders of his generation, Bonucci is known for his technique, ball-playing skills, tackling and his ability to play in either a three or four-man defence.
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Bonucci with Italy in 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Leonardo Bonucci | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 1 May 1987 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Viterbo, Italy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Fenerbahçe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2005 | Viterbese | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | Viterbese | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | → Inter Milan (loan) | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2009 | Inter Milan | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2009 | → Treviso (loan) | 40 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | → Pisa (loan) | 18 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Genoa | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | Bari | 38 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2017 | Juventus | 227 | (15) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | AC Milan | 35 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2023 | Juventus | 130 | (14) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Union Berlin | 7 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Fenerbahçe | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010– | Italy | 121 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 February 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 June 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
After beginning his career with Inter Milan in 2005, Bonucci spent the next few seasons on loan at Treviso and Pisa, before moving to Bari in 2009. His defensive performances alongside fellow Italian centre-back Andrea Ranocchia earned him a move to Juventus the following season, where he later became a key member of the club's three-man defensive line, alongside Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli, establishing himself as one of the best defenders in world football. Among other titles, he went on to win six consecutive Serie A titles with the team between 2012 and 2017, having also played two UEFA Champions League finals in 2015 and 2017. In 2017, he moved to AC Milan, and one season later returned to Juventus, winning two more consecutive league titles.
At the international level, Bonucci has earned over 120 caps since his senior debut in 2010, representing Italy at two FIFA World Cups (2010 and 2014), three European Championships, (2012, 2016, and 2020), and a FIFA Confederations Cup (2013); he won Euro 2020 and earned a runners-up medal at Euro 2012 and a third-place medal at the 2013 Confederations Cup.
Bonucci has also won several individual honours for his performances: he was named to the UEFA Europa League Squad of the season during the 2013–14 and 2017–18 seasons, and is a four-time member of the Serie A Team of the Year. He was named the Serie A Footballer of the Year in 2016, and was also included in the UEFA Team of the Year in the same season. In 2017 and 2021, he was included in the FIFA FIFPro World11 and the IFFHS Men's World Team. He was also selected to the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League Team of the Season and the 2016–17 ESM Team of the Year.