Max Allegri stands on the verge of making history as only the second man to ever win four consecutive Serie A titles. Should he steer Juventus to the Scudetto this term, the 50-year-old would join Carlo Carcano – who led the Bianconeri back in the 1930s – on that most exclusive of lists. While his initial appointment was met with scepticism, he has delivered in spectacular fashion. His side have clinched a league-and-Coppa-Italia double in each of his three seasons in charge, while he has also helped them reach the Champions League final in two of those three years. Replacing a club legend on the bench was never going to be easy, but while Antonio Conte ensured Juve were feared once again, it is Allegri who pushed them back to the top table of European football.


He still has his critics of course. Before, during and after every match, the lineup announcement is analysed, his choices lambasted as one player the majority believe should be in the starting XI or replaced during the game is inevitably overlooked. Many times, those complaints have been found to be misplaced as the team collects maximum points, with the Coach deserving huge credit for pushing young players like Rodrigo Bentancur to prominence. Yet none of that means Allegri’s decisions should be exempt from examination, and in recent weeks there is one that has increasingly baffled supporters and observers alike. The biggest story in Italian football this summer was undoubtedly Leonardo Bonucci’s transfer to AC Milan, the defender turning his back on the Old Lady after seven years of unparalleled success. That meant that as the 2017/18 campaign began, filling the void at the heart of Juve’s backline was always going to be the major focus of attention. Fans of the Turin giants were disappointed to see Medhi Benatia given the nod for the Supercoppa Italiana clash with Lazio, his performance in the 3-2 defeat only serving to fuel their anger. However, when Serie A fixtures began just seven days later, Allegri instead chose Daniele Rugani as the partner for Giorgio Chiellini and the 23-year-old delivered exactly the kind of performance those in the stands expected.


OptaPaolo @ OptaPaolo 2160 - Daniele Rugani is the only outfield player to have played every minute of this Serie A season. Certainty. http://t.co/o31zB1kdtI

Calm and composed, he snuffed out almost every Cagliari attack and would retain his place for subsequent matches against Genoa and Chievo. He was not flawless, but given his age and lack of playing time since arriving from Empoli following the 2014/15 campaign – where he had played every minute of all 38 games – the errors were both excusable and understandable. Indeed, Rugani had made just 22 league starts in two full seasons with Juventus which again, given the presence of Andrea Barzagli, Bonucci and Chiellini, was somewhat inevitable. Yet Allegri had not only chosen to start Martin Caceres or Benatia instead of the young Italian, but had occasionally even deployed full-backs Stephan Lichtsteiner or Patrice Evra in a three-man defence. Rumours of an exit surfaced each transfer window, but both the Coach and the man himself insisted there were no problems. Allegri told reporters in August that “it will be an important year for Rugani,” while the player was quick to highlight just how important the former Milan boss had been in his development. “He has helped me a lot,” he told Calcio2000 earlier this year. “When I couldn’t find space in the first team, he always encouraged to continue doing my best, telling me that my time would come. He pointed out the faults I had and he’s made me improve in every aspect of play.”