Following the passing of AC Milan legend Franco Baresi on Friday, tributes have poured in from across the football world. Among them, a message from former Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero stood out, appearing as a cryptic code to outsiders but resonating deeply within Italy: “39 times thank you. The Juventus fans will understand.”
According to reports from Gazzetta dello Sport, Del Piero’s tribute served as a reminder of a profound act of sportsmanship that bridged the intense rivalry between Milan and Juventus. The history of this connection dates back to March 7, 1990, when Milan was in Brussels to face Mechelen in a European Cup quarter-final at the Heysel Stadium. This was the same venue where, on May 29, 1985, 39 supporters—the vast majority being Juventus fans—tragically lost their lives ahead of the European Cup final against Liverpool.
Although Milan had intended to hold an official commemoration for the victims, Belgian authorities denied the request. Undeterred, Baresi and Milan director Paolo Taveggia visited the site of the former Sector Z privately. Without any fanfare, the Milan captain laid 39 red roses at the base of the stand, offering a silent, personal tribute to each of the lives lost during the bianconeri’s darkest hour.
News of this gesture eventually reached Turin. During the subsequent home match at the Stadio Comunale, the Juventus supporters displayed a banner that has remained etched in the club’s history: “Baresi, 39 volte grazie,” or “Baresi, 39 times thank you.”
Thirty-six years later, Del Piero, who shared a similar status as a legendary one-club icon, chose those exact words to bid farewell to Baresi. By doing so, he highlighted that Baresi’s legacy extended far beyond his defensive brilliance for Milan. He was remembered not only as one of the game’s greatest players but as a man whose integrity and decency transcended the traditional rivalries of Italian football. Fans have since reflected on his immense impact, noting his legendary partnership with Paolo Maldini, which famously saw Milan concede only once every four matches during their prime.
Alessandro Del Piero, Juventus’s own great captain, signed off his farewell to the Milan legend with a line that read like a private code: “39 times thank you.
Quietly, without ceremony or fanfare, the Milan captain laid a bouquet of 39 red roses at the foot of the stand, one for each victim.
At the next home game at the Stadio Comunale, the Juventus curva answered with a banner that has lived in the club’s collective memory ever since: “Baresi, 39 volte grazie”, “Baresi, 39 times thank you.”
“Thank you Franco for what you taught us, on and off the pitch, with your legendary career.
A Truely Great Person And An Absolutely Hugh Loss.
