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Big Three (Italy)

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The Big Three (Italian: Le Tre Grandi)[1][2][3][4] is the nickname of the three most successful and biggest football clubs in Italy.[5][6]

Juventus, Internazionale and Milan are, in that order, the three greatest Serie A winners, winning most of its seasons especially since the 1950s.[7] They are indeed the three only clubs in having a star over his badges, with each star meaning ten titles at Italian First Division.[8] For the period of 77 years between 1949 and 2026, won all but fifteen seasons on it, with each decade having no more than three seasons (and most often two or just one) won by other clubs.[7]

Also in that same order, this trio has the biggest amount of supporters in Italy,[9] spread through the whole country.[6] In a reverse order, they also are the only three Italian clubs regarded as "World Champions" (on the ancient Intercontinental Cup or by FIFA Club World Cup)[10] and winners of UEFA Champions League.[11]

In 2002–03 UEFA Champions League, all three clubs were semifinalists. Milan prevailed after three draws: the "Euroderbies" against Internazionale for the semifinals ended 0–0 and 1–1, with the rossoneri reaching the final due to away goals rule.[12] Milan then faced Juventus and won on penalty shoot-out after 0–0 in 120 minutes.[13] The proposal of European Super League, in the beginning of the 2020s, had just these three clubs to represent Italian football.[14]

History

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The modern Serie A was established in 1929. Until then, the Italian First Division was not a nationwide round robin, being decided in finals among regional champions.[15] This way have been used for thirty years since the creation of the Italian Championship in 1898. Genoa was the main team of this early era, winning his nine titles between 1898 and 1924. The second greatest winner, with seven scudetti (all of them also won until the 1920s), was Pro Vercelli.[7]

Despite that domine of Genoa and Pro Vercelli, Milan (1901, 1906 and 1907), Juventus (1905 and 1926) and Internazionale (1910 and 1920) could also win their first titles on the seasons prior to 1929, but in the middle of more variety of champions: Casale and Novese won (respectively in 1914 and 1922) their only titles each one, while Bologna (1925 and 1929) and Torino (1928) could won for the first time.[7]

By the 1930s, the strongest trio was formed by Juventus and Internazionale along with Bologna,[7] indeed the three most represented clubs in Italy national football team champion in 1934 FIFA World Cup and again in 1938 FIFA World Cup.[16] The 1940s, apart for Roma first title (1942) and seasons still won by Juventus, Bologna and Internazionale,[7] were dominated by the Grande Torino, champion five times in a row. However, after the Superga air disaster, Toro would won the Serie A just one more time, in 1976.[17]

In the 1950s, Milan could end more than forty years without the First Division, while Juventus and Internazionale also re-established themselves as consistent contenders for trophies.[7] These two clubs, then with much more titles due to the decades of Milan's lack of winning seasons, even developed the Derby d'Italia in a race for being the biggest Italian champion. Juventus get his first star (for his tenth scudetto) in 1958. Internazionale, in 1966,[8] with La Grande Inter reaching there also a difference of just two Italian titles below Juve.[7] The Turin club would have more consistent winnings campaings in Serie A for the next two decades, reaching his second star in 1982.[18] The nerazzurri waited for this until 2024,[19] fact that did not cooled down the rivalry against the bianconeri, a feud still seen as bitter than the derby against Milan to Inter fans by the 2010s.[20][21] In the same way, the tifosi from La Vecchia Signora use to regard Internazionale matches as more important than the Turin Derby due to Torino's decline.[17]

Milan waited until 1979 for having his star on crest by winning his tenth scudetto,[22] and by 2026 still did not reach another ten.[7] Soon after the first and still lone star of the rossoneri, they suffered two relegations, in the beginning of the 1980s; but by the end of the same decade the club became the most powerful in Europe, establishing itself as the Italian team with most titles in UEFA Champions League.[23] By the 2020s, Milan is still the second most winner of this tournament (seven times), behind only Real Madrid and having more than Internazionale (three) and Juventus (two) combined.[11]

Since the introduction of Serie A in 1929, the biggest gap of years in a row not won by Juventus, Internazionale and Milan was the three seasons between 1941 and 1943, with titles of Bologna, Roma and Torino.[7] Until 1950, that was not much uncommon be footballers playing for the trio of Giants. Their consolidation as the three biggest forces and the resulting inner rivalries paved a way for almost forty decades without another player in common in the Big Three.[24]

The last title of Bologna (1964) or the only titles of Fiorentina (1956 and 1969) and Cagliari (1970) came between the 1950s and the late 1960s, the first two decades of the emergence of Juventus, Internazionale and Milan as the most often champions in the Serie A. Since 1970, just another few of seasons were not won by these three clubs: Lazio won its only titles in 1974 and 2000, Roma won in 1983 and 2001, Hellas Verona (1985) and Sampdoria (1991) had their only scudetti while Napoli was champion four times (1987, 1990, 2023 and 2025). These last titles of Lazio and Roma (2000 and 2001, respectively) are also the last period of two consecutive Serie A seasons won by clubs outside the Big Three.[7]

Since the 2000s, playing for the Big Three regained a certain frequency and even became a proof of the quality of the player envolved,[24] although just eleven footballers (and three coaches) could do so until the 2020s.[5][25]

People in all three clubs

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Footballers

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Milan vs. Juventus at 2003 UEFA Champions League final. The Dutchman Edgar Davids, pictured there, played in all Big Three clubs.

Cevenini had four brothers (Aldo, Mario, Cesare and Carlo), and curiously all of them did also play for both Internazionale and Milan.[24]

Candiani is the only one who neved played for its national team. He was also for decades the last footballer on the entire trio, before its consolidation as the three strongest clubs in Italy; it would be just at the 2000s that playing for all three clubs bring "world class" quality status to the footballer envolved.[24]

Serena, the "successor" of Candiani, is the only Serie A champion with all three clubs as a player;[26] Ibrahimović could win with Internazionale and Milan, but his scudetti celebrated on his seasons in Juventus were revoked due to Calciopoli scandal.[27] Giovanni Trapattoni was champion in all three clubs, as player in Milan and as coach by the other two.[28]

Serena and Vieri are the only ones in also having played by both Turin and both city of Milan clubs.[17] Serena was even Serie A runner up on his only season on Torino (1984–85)[26] and Vieri debuted in adult football in this club, in 1991.[17]

Besides the three clubs, Baggio also played on both sides in other rivalries, like the Derby dell'Appennino between Fiorentina and Bologna or the Fiorentina–Juventus feud.[29]

Baggio and Pirlo were Internazionale fans on their childhoods, but curiously both of them had better performances with the other two clubs.[30]

Coaches

[edit]
Giovanni Trapattoni won the Serie A and European trophies with all three clubs: as player for Milan and as coach for both Juventus and Internazionale.

As players, Viola also had seasons on Juventus and Internazionale, while Trapattoni had a large career on Milan.[28]

Trapattoni won Serie A and also European cups for all three: as Milan player, he was a member of 1963 UEFA Champions League winning team, also the first ever won by any Italian club.[34] As coach, he managed in 1985 the first UEFA Champions League won by Juventus, a club in which he also won two UEFA Europa Leagues (1977 and 1993) and one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1984); and at Internazionale he won the 1991 UEFA Europa League.[28]

Zaccheroni also coached Torino (2006–07), being the only one in managing both city of Milan and both Turin clubs.[25]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "67 scudetti fuori dalla lotta per il Tricolore: Juve, Inter e Milan mai così giù in classifica" [67 league titles out of the race for the *Tricolore*: Juve, Inter, and Milan have never been this low in the standings.]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 3 May 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  2. ↑ "Juventus, Inter e Milan vogliono la Serie A a 18 squadre: l'uscita allo scoperto in Lega" [Juventus, Inter, and Milan want an 18-team Serie A: making their stance public within the League.]. la Repubblica (in Italian). 5 February 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  3. ↑ "Chi segna di più vince?" [Does the most scorer team win?]. Juventus (in Italian). 4 June 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "Juve, Milan e Inter tre favorite doppie" [Juve, Milan and Inter three double favorite]. Il Giornale (in Italian). 10 January 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "A tribute to U21 EURO ambassador Andrea Pirlo". UEFA. 3 November 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  6. 1 2 "AC Milan madness". Sicily Inside and Out. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Who has won Serie A? All-time Italian soccer champions list". ESPN. 4 May 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  8. 1 2 "Inter Secures Its 20th Scudetto and Adds a Second Golden Star". Il Messaggero. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "Which team has the biggest fans in Italy? See the ranking". Italianismo. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "O que você precisa saber sobre a Copa Intercontinental da FIFA" [what you need to know about the FIFA Intercontinental Cup]. FIFA (in Portuguese). 20 September 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  11. 1 2 "UEFA Champions League roll of honour: Real Madrid, AC Milan among top men's title winners – full list". Olympics. 30 May 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Em 2003, o Milan superou a Inter no primeiro dérbi milanês da história da Champions League" [In 2003, Milan defeated Inter in the first Milanese derby in Champions League history.]. Calciopédia (in Portuguese). 9 May 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
  13. ↑ "28 mai 2003 - Final - Old Trafford, Manchester - Juventus 0-0 Milan (2-3p)". UEFA. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
  14. ↑ "Leading European football clubs announce new Super League competition". Internazionale. 18 April 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "A história da Serie A italiana: desde o seu início até à atualidade" [The history of the Italian Serie A: from its inception to the present day]. Calciopédia (in Portuguese). 11 December 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "Os 10 maiores jogadores da história do Bologna" [The 10 greatest players in Bologna's history]. Calciopédia (in Portuguese). 10 September 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "Corações ingratos: os jogadores que defenderam os rivais Juventus e Torino" [Ungrateful hearts: the players who played for rivals Juventus and Torino]. Calciopédia (in Portuguese). 15 December 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "Times históricos: Juventus 1980-1986" [Historical teams: Milan Juventus 1980-1986]. Calciopédia (in Portuguese). 8 April 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2026.
  19. ↑ "Por que Inter de Milão conquistou 20º título italiano, mas só terá duas estrelas na camisa?" [Why did Inter Milan win their 20th Italian title but will only have two stars on their shirt?]. ESPN (in Portuguese). 22 April 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2026.
  20. ↑ "Corações ingratos: os jogadores que defenderam os rivais Inter e Juventus" [Ungrateful hearts: players who played for rivals Inter and Juventus]. Calciopédia (in Portuguese). 7 December 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2026.
  21. ↑ "Corações ingratos: os jogadores que defenderam os rivais Inter e Milan" [Ungrateful hearts: players who played for rivals Inter and Milan]. Calciopédia (in Portuguese). 19 October 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2026.
  22. ↑ "Lateral artilheiro, Aldo Maldera foi peça importante em títulos de Milan e Roma" [A goal-scoring back, Aldo Maldera played a key role in title wins for Milan and Roma]. Calciopédia (in Portuguese). 11 November 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2026.
  23. ↑ "Times históricos: Milan 1987-1990" [Historical teams: Milan 1987-1990]. Calciopédia (in Portuguese). 11 April 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2026.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Os 11 jogadores que vestiram as camisas dos três gigantes do futebol italiano" [The 11 players who wore the jerseys of the three giants of Italian football]. Calciopédia (in Portuguese). 14 July 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  25. 1 2 3 "Alberto Zaccheroni, ainda que tenha obtido feito invejável, foi uma promessa não cumprida" [Although Alberto Zaccheroni achieved an enviable feat, he was an unfulfilled promise.]. Calciopédia (in Portuguese). 28 July 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  26. 1 2 "O currículo e os feitos de Aldo Serena fazem inveja a muitos craques mais conhecidos" [Aldo Serena's track record and achievements are the envy of many more famous stars.]. Calciopédia (in Portuguese). 2 May 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  27. ↑ "Paris Saint-Germain star Zlatan Ibrahimovic rules out Roma move". ESPN. 2 January 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  28. 1 2 3 4 "Por que é injusto dizer que Giovanni Trapattoni 'é só catenaccio'" [Why it is unfair to say that Giovanni Trapattoni is ‘just catenaccio’]. Calciopédia (in Portuguese). 10 August 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  29. ↑ "Signing with the enemy". Viola Nation. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  30. ↑ "Os torcedores ilustres das equipes italianas" [The famous fans of Italian teams]. Calciopédia (in Portuguese). 1 July 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  31. 1 2 3 "Juventus-Inter, il gol più veloce segnato da un doppio ex: ricordate chi?" [Juventus vs. Inter: the fastest goal scored by a player who played for both clubs—do you remember who it was?]. Tuttosport (in Italian). 26 November 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  32. ↑ "Criticado, Stefano Pioli entra para lista de técnicos que treinaram Inter e Milan" [Facing criticism, Stefano Pioli joins the list of coaches who have managed both Inter and Milan.]. Calciopédia (in Portuguese). 9 October 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  33. ↑ "Pioli to AC Milan: Coaches to have worked for both Inter and Rossoneri". beIN Sports. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  34. ↑ Oliveira, Nelson (3 June 2020). "Marcador implacável, Giovanni Trapattoni ficou conhecido por anular craques" [A relentless marker, Giovanni Trapattoni became known for neutralizing star players.]. Calciopédia (in Portuguese). Retrieved 12 August 2026.
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