This is a list of all the captains who played for the Italy national football team.

Francesco Calì Francesco Calì (; 16 May 1882 – 3 September 1949) was an Italian professional football player, coach and referee, who played as a defender. He captained the Italy national football team in their first ever match, on 15 May 1910. Early lif ...

was the first

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

of the Italy national football team. The only players who were captains in all matches they have played in the national team were

Giuseppe Milano Giuseppe Milano (; 26 September 1887 – 13 May 1971) was an Italian footballer and manager who played as a midfielder. At club level, he spent his entire career with Pro Vercelli. With the Italy national football team, he competed in the m ...

(11 appearances), Francesco Calì (2 caps) and

Giulio Cappelli Giulio Cappelli (; 4 March 1911 – 16 December 1995) was an Italian footballer who played as a forward. He competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics with the Italy national football team, winning a gold medal in the tournament. Club career Born in ...

(2 caps). Gianluigi Buffon wore the captain band the most times: 80. Gianluigi Buffon is also the goalkeeper who has worn the captain band the most times: 80. Valentino Mazzola and Sandro Mazzola as well as

Cesare Maldini Cesare Maldini (; 5 February 1932 – 3 April 2016) was an Italian professional football manager and player who played as a defender. Father to Paolo Maldini and grandfather to Daniel Maldini, Cesare began his career with Italian side Triestin ...

and Paolo Maldini are the only cases of father and son who have worn the captain band during their respective times on the national team. Goalkeepers, Gianluigi Buffon and

Lorenzo Buffon Lorenzo Buffon (, ; born 19 December 1929) is an Italian former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Throughout his career, he played 277 times for Italian club A.C. Milan, and also later played for their city rivals Inter Milan, as well as ...

are distant cousins. Attilio Ferraris and Pietro Ferraris, despite the same surname, are not relatives. Leonardo Bonucci is the current captain of the national team.

List of captains by appearances

''Updated as of 20 November 2022.'' Players in bold are still active. Players in ''italics'' served as the designated captain for his captaincy period.

List of captains by captaincy period

List of

captaincy A captaincy ( es, capitanía , pt, capitania , hr, kapetanija) is a historical administrative division of the former Spanish and Portuguese colonial empires. It was instituted as a method of organization, directly associated with the home-rule ...

periods of the various captains throughout the years. * 1910

* 1911–1914

* 1914–1915 Virgilio Fossati * 1920–1925 Renzo De Vecchi * 1925–1927 Luigi Cevenini * 1927–1930

Adolfo Baloncieri Adolfo Baloncieri (; 27 July 1897 – 23 July 1986) was an Italian football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. Critically regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Gianni Brera considered him one of the greates ...

* 1931–1934 Umberto Caligaris * 1934 Gianpiero Combi * 1935–1936

Luigi Allemandi Luigi Allemandi (; 8 November 1903 – 25 September 1978) was an Italian footballer who played as a defender, usually as a left back. He was a member of the Italy national team which won the 1934 World Cup. Club career Born in San Damiano Mac ...

* 1937–1939 Giuseppe Meazza * 1940–1947 Silvio Piola * 1947–1949 Valentino Mazzola * 1949–1950 Riccardo Carapellese * 1951–1952 Carlo Annovazzi * 1952–1960

Giampiero Boniperti Giampiero Boniperti (; 4 July 1928 – 18 June 2021) was an Italian footballer who played his entire 15-season career at Juventus between 1946 and 1961, winning five Serie A titles and two Coppa Italia titles. He also played for the Italy nati ...

* 1961–1962

* 1962–1963

* 1963–1966 Sandro Salvadore * 1966–1977 Giacinto Facchetti * 1977–1983 Dino Zoff * 1983–1985 Marco Tardelli * 1985–1986

Gaetano Scirea Gaetano Scirea (; 25 May 1953 – 3 September 1989) was an Italian professional footballer who is considered one of the greatest defenders of his generation and one of the greatest defenders of all time. He spent most of his career with Juventus ...

* 1986–1987 Antonio Cabrini * 1988–1991

Giuseppe Bergomi Giuseppe Bergomi (; born 22 December 1963) is an Italian former professional footballer who spent his entire career at Inter Milan. He is regarded as one of the greatest Italian defenders of all time, and as one of the best of his generation, be ...

* 1991–1994

Franco Baresi Franchino Baresi (; born 8 May 1960) is an Italian football youth team coach and a former player and manager. He mainly played as a sweeper or as a central defender, and spent his entire 20-year career with Serie A club AC Milan, captaining t ...

* 1994–2002 Paolo Maldini * 2002–2010

Fabio Cannavaro Fabio Cannavaro (; born 13 September 1973) is an Italian professional football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of club Benevento. A centre-back, he spent the majority of his career in Italy. He started his career at Napo ...

* 2010–2018 Gianluigi Buffon * 2018–2022 Giorgio Chiellini * 2022–present Leonardo Bonucci

Notes

References

External links

Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio - Captains
{{Italy national football team

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

Italy captains Association football player non-biographical articles