Official: Bonucci joins Italy U-20 staff in first coaching role of his career | OneFootball

Former Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci joined Italy Under 20 staff as coach Bernardo Corradi’s assistant, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) said in an official statement.

The 37-year-old played his last professional game in May 2024 with Turkish side Fenerbahce and decided to hang up his boots, focusing on making the first steps of his coaching career as he recently passed the UEFA B licence.

Bonucci joins Italy U20 in first coaching role of his career

Bonucci will work alongside coach Bernardo Corradi’s in Italy U-20 staff, with the FIFA World Cup in Chile scheduled for September 2025 set to be the first major event in his managing career.

The FIGC issued an official statement on Tuesday, confirming the ex-Juventus and Milan centre-back would join the ‘Club Italy’ as ‘assistant coach of the U-20 National team managed by Bernardo Corradi’.

Leonardo Bonucci (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

Bonucci claimed he was ‘proud’ to have accepted FIGC’s proposal, adding that it is now time for him to ‘watch, study and learn’.

The former defender is the fourth player with the most appearances for Italy, as he racked up 121 games in the Azzurri’s shirt and was part of the squad that secured their second European Championship title in history in 2021 under Roberto Mancini.