Juventus Nickname Sparks Confusion on Quiz Show 'The Chase' as Answer Explained
Bradley Walsh and chaser Mark Labbett hadn't previously heard of it.
A football-related question on a recent episode of The Chase baffled host Bradley Walsh and quiz expert Mark Labbett, who were both unaware of Juventus' unusual nicknames.
Juventus are known by many as 'La Vecchia Segnora' or 'The Old Lady', a nickname that dates back to the 1930s, when the club's owners were known as the 'vecchios signores' or ‘old gentlemen’.
The term ‘lady’, meanwhile, is said to derive from male fans passionately referring to the club like it were their other half.
Legend has it that the nickname was coined by a journalist in 1931, after he referred to Juventus as “The Old Lady” in his match report, and the nickname stuck. But what about their other nicknames?
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On a recent episode of ITV quiz show The Chase, the following question was broadcast: "Which Italian football club's nicknames include 'The Girlfriend of Italy', 'The Lady Killer' and 'The Zebras' – AC Milan, Juventus or Napoli."
The contestant went for Napoli, while chaser Mark Labbett opted for the right answer, Juventus.
Bradley Walsh, meanwhile, gave his thoughts before the correct option was shown on screen. "You don't know your football, do you," he said. "I sort of get that, but I've never heard them being called any of those, funnily enough."
Labbett agreed: "Like you, I'd never heard any of those names, but the Zebras are black and white and of course, Juventus famously play in the Notts County kit."
Like those involved in the show, some fans were surprised by 'The Girlfriend of Italy' and 'The Lady Killer' nicknames.
Some sections of Juventus' fanbase call the club 'la Fidanzata d'Italia', which means 'The Girlfriend of Italy'. This nickname highlights the widespread support Juve enjoys across Italy, particularly from southern Italians who adopted the club as their own.
'The Lady Killer', meanwhile, appears to the another take on 'The Old Lady' nickname, as mentioned above. Of course, 'The Zebras' is a reference to the team's black and white colours.
Juventus' link to League Two side Notts County is a special one
The relationship between Notts County and Juventus can be traced back to the early 1900s, when Nottingham-born Turin resident Tom Savage gifted Juventus a batch of Notts County kits as a replacement.
Juventus enjoyed playing in stripes. In fact, they decided to keep them as their home kit and have played in them ever since.
Back in September 2011, Juve invited the club to play in the opening game at the Allianz Stadium, with the match finishing 1-1.
Jack Kenmare