Why are Juventus called "Old Lady"? Nickname, trophies, history

Carrie Dunn

Why are Juventus called "Old Lady"? Nickname, trophies, history image

Juventus are the most successful team in Italian football history. They have won 36 Serie A titles, 14 Coppa Italia, plus two European Cups (now the Champions League) among other silverware.

Their iconic black-and-white kit is instantly recognisable - and their affectionate nickname "the Old Lady" is well known. The origin of the nickname, however, is less famous.

When did Juventus start being called 'the Old Lady'?

The 'lady' part of the nickname goes back to the early part of the 20th century. Juventus fans (mostly men) referred to the club as female, with some sections of the supporter base calling it la Fidanzata d'Italia (the Girlfriend of Italy).

Dusan Vlahovic scored a goal within seconds of his UEFA Champions League debut
(Getty Images)

As for 'old', this seems to be a pun; 'Juventus' stems from 'youth' in Latin. In the 1930s, the team's star players were ageing and not being replaced by younger talent - and that was when the reference to 'old' was brought into the nickname.

What other nicknames do Juventus have?

Juventus' other nicknames include another reference to the club being female: [La] Madama (Piedmontese for Madam). Others refer to the famous kit: i bianconeri (the black-and-whites) or le zebre (the zebras). 

There is also the rather strange 'gobbi' (the hunchbacks), which is thought to date back to the 1950s when the Juventus kit had a baggy cut and a lace-up neck, meaning it fell open at the chest and gave the impression of a bulge over the back.  
 

Carrie Dunn