Juventus FC

Juventus Football Club (BIT: JUVE) (from Latin^[5] iuventus: youth, pronounced [juˈvɛntus]), commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve (pronounced [ˈjuːve]), are a professional Italian football club based in Turin, Piedmont. The club is the third oldest of its kind in the country and has spent its entire history, with the exception of the 2006–07 season, in the top flight First Division (knowns as Serie A since 1929).

Founded in 1897 as Sport Club Juventus by a group of Torinese young students^[3] and linked to industrial Agnelli family since 1923, the club has become a symbol of Italian culture and italianità (Italianity),^[6][7][8] reflected, among others, in its contribution to the national team, uninterrupted since the second half of 1920s and recognised as one of the largest and most important in the world,^[9] and, due to ideological politics and socio-economic origin of the club's sympathisers^[10] and their massive presence of all over the country and, abroad, mainly in countries with a significant presence of Italian immigrants, through its fan base, larger than any other Italian club and one of the largest world-wide.^[11][12]

Juventus are historically the most successful team in Italian football and one of the most successful and recognised in the world.^[13][14][15] According to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics, an organization recognised by FIFA, Juventus were Italy's best club of the 20th century and the second most successful European club in the same period.^[15] The club currently ranks third in Europe and sixth in the world with the most international titles won officially recognised by their respective association football confederation and FIFA.^[16] In 1985, Juventus became the first club in the history of European football to have won all three major UEFA competitions, the European Champion Clubs' Cup, the (now-defunct) UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and the UEFA Cup (first Italian and Southern European side to win the competition).^[17][18][19] After their triumph in the Intercontinental Cup the same year, Juventus also became the first football team ever—remain the only one at present—to have won all possible confederation competitions and the club world title.^[20][21][22]

Historic first ever Juventus club shot, 1898

Juventus were founded as Sport Club Juventus in late 1897 by pupils from the Massimo D'Azeglio Lyceum school in Turin,^[23] but were renamed as Foot-Ball Club Juventus two years later.^[3] The club joined the Italian Football Championship during 1900. During this period the team wore a pink and black kit. Juventus first won the league championship in 1905 while playing at their Velodromo Umberto I ground. By this time the club colours had changed to black and white stripes, inspired by English side Notts County.^[24]

There was a split at the club in 1906, after some of the staff considered moving Juve out of Turin.^[3] President Alfredo Dick was unhappy with this and left with some prominent players to found FBC Torino which in turn spawned the Derby della Mole.^[25] Juventus spent much of this period steadily rebuilding after the split, surviving the First World War.^[24]