Today is the 62nd birthday of former Juventus, Sampdoria, Inter and Ascoli midfielder Liam Brady.
The Irish attacking midfielder joined Juve from Arsenal in the summer of 1980, the first foreign transfer in Serie A since foreign transfers were re-allowed.
Brady won the Scudetto in his first season with the Bianconeri, but it’s his second for which his time in Turin is really remembered.
Today is the 62nd birthday of former Juventus, Sampdoria, Inter and Ascoli midfielder Liam Brady.
The Irish attacking midfielder joined Juve from Arsenal in the summer of 1980, the first foreign transfer in Serie A since foreign transfers were re-allowed.
Brady won the Scudetto in his first season with the Bianconeri, but it’s his second for which his time in Turin is really remembered.
At the time Italian clubs were only allowed two foreign players, and the Old Lady had already agreed to sign Michel Platini and Zbigniew Boniek for the following season.
That left no room for Brady in the side, and with two games of the season remaining he was told that he wouldn’t be kept on for the following season.
The Irishman was furious, but he nevertheless played the following match against Udinese as Juve won 5-1.
That sent the Scudetto race down to the final weekend, with Fiorentina battling the Old Lady for the Scudetto.
With both sides locked on 44 points, the Viola travelled to already relegated Cagliari while Juve were at Catanzaro.
Fiorentina had what they thought was a legitimate goal ruled out, and could only draw 0-0 in Sardinia.
With 15 minutes to play in Catanzaro, Juve were awarded a penalty. Pietro Virdis, the striker, had been substituted. The responsibility fell to Brady.
Some Juventini feared the former Arsenal man would miss deliberately, a middle finger to the club that didn’t want him.
Brady had no such thing on his mind though, and he converted the spot kick to bring the Bianconeri their 20th Scudetto.
Instead of returning to England that summer, Brady moved to Sampdoria where he had two good seasons before joining Inter for 4.5 billion lire.
After two seasons with the Nerazzurri, Brady moved on to Ascoli where he won the Mitropa Cup, before returning to England with West Ham United.
It’s his two seasons in Turin for which he is most remembered though, and the Irishman remains a popular figure among Juventus fans.
image via juventus.com