The greatest team of managers EVER? From Zinedine Zidane to Antonio Conte... how an incredible 14 members of Juventus' 2001 squad became coaches
So near, yet so far once more. It was in May 2001 that Juventus' saw their chances of winning the Serie A title slip through their fingers. Roma, a team bestowed with individual brilliance on elderly legs had beaten Parma 3-1 on the last day of the season to claim the league for themselves. 12 months earlier, they'd done exactly the same thing to the downtrodden Old Lady.
For Roma's ageing stars and their team, it was their Supernova; a final expulsion of coruscating brilliance before an imploding, collapsing silence. Sixteen years on and they're still waiting to feel the Coppa Campioni d'Italia in their hands as memories of Batistuta, Montella and a smiling Cafu fade quietly into a dim far-off light.
Juventus, meanwhile, lost the battle but won the war. A total of 32 league titles now makes them the most successful and glamorous of all the Seven Sisters. But in that respect, the class of 2001 were not part of their club's history.
Instead they have a legacy of their own. An incredible 14 of the 27 members of that particular squad have made their way into management or coaching. Among them are those who've reached the top of the game and won some of the biggest trophies on offer, while others have made careers in the Beautiful Game's backwaters. Sportsmail takes a look at this remarkable team.
The full Juventus squad from 2000-01 included no less than 14 managers or coaches, such as: 1) Alessio Tacchinardi, 2) Zinedine Zidane, 3) Antonio Conte, 4) Igor Tudor, 5) Filippo Inzaghi, 6) Gianluca Zambrotta, 7) Edgar Davids, 8) Paolo Montero, 9) Ciro Ferrara, 10) Gianluca Pessotto, 11) Michelangelo Rampulla, 12) Marco Zanchi, 13) Athirson, 14) Juan Esnaider
1 - Alessio Tacchinardi
The former midfielder spent an incredible 13 years with Juventus (his name is inscribed in the club's new stadium alongside 49 other legends) before ending his career with Brescia in 2008.
Sadly, he's not been able to translate his longevity off the pitch into success on the touchline.
He has had two spells with Pergolettese, who currently ply their trade in Serie D, but left his role last year.
Tacchinardi (left) hasn't been able to live up to his reputation on the pitch just yet
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