Tourism chiefs woo Juventus fans for icon Charles tribute visit
IF you spot the odd Juventus fan looking lost in Cwmbwrla in the coming weeks, don’t be too surprised.
One of Swansea’s finest sons – footballer John Charles – hailed from Alice Street in the close-knit community and earned legendary status at the Turin club, which is competing in the Champions League final in Cardiff on June 3.
Tourism chiefs at Swansea council are targeting potential Italian visitors with online marketing messages to encourage them to visit the city where “il gigante buono” (the gentle giant), as he was known at Juventus, grew up. They are also keen to attract Real Madrid fans to Swansea ahead of the clash at the Principality Stadium.
Thousands of supporters from Italy and Spain will be heading to south Wales after their teams secured a final spot this week.
Gareth Bale’s Real Madrid have won the Champions League 11 times, compared to Juventus’ two successes.
John Charles, born in 1931, made 155 appearances for Juventus between 1957 and 1962, scoring 108 goals. In 1997, as part of the Turin club’s centenary celebrations, he was voted Juventus’ best-ever foreign player, equally adept as a striker and defender.
Former Spurs and England striker Jimmy Greaves once named him Britain’s best-ever footballer, saying: “Big John, Swansea-born and built like a coalface, was utterly commanding in both areas, the word ‘immense’ could have been invented for him. He was the greatest header of a football I have ever seen.”
Frances Jenkins, Swansea council’s strategic manager for tourism, marketing and events, called the fact Wales was hosting the Champions League final “a huge coup” and added: “With Cardiff just 40 miles or so away along the M4, we’re looking to attract visiting Real Madrid and Juventus fans to Swansea Bay as well.”