It was the summer of 1996, England was gripped with football fever as Euro 96' had the attention of a continent, meanwhile over in Italy while Gareth Southgate was trying to master the art of penalties, Calisto Tanzi was planning his Scudetto challenge at Parma. Nevio Scala had just left the club having lead l'gialloblu through the clubs most successful period, replacing him would be rookie coach Carlo Ancelotti, who had just won promotion with Reggiana the previous season. The Coverciano student had money to burn as the Tanzi family continued to bankroll Parma's success, in came Enrico Chiesa from Sampdoria along with South America's hottest prospect in a young striker called Hernan Crespo, along with the strike duo Ancelotti had his eyes on one of Euro 96's star performers, France and Monaco's 24 year old defender Lilian Thuram. The signing of the young French full back would see Parma's famous formidable defence for the next few years line up for the first time ever, behind Thuram would be 18 year old Gianluigi Buffon who was the talk of the nation, in front of Buffon was one Fabio Cannavaro who had just signed from Napoli the season before, keeping the three youngsters right was Parma legend Antonio Benarrivo. With Tanzi's cheque book and Ancelotti in the dug out, Thuram's debut season was almost a dream come true, The Ducali pushed bitter rivals Juventus all the way to the finish line, almost winning the clubs first ever Scudetto, with Crespo and Chiesa running amok up front and with the shear class at the back Parma heartbreakingly missed out by two point to the Turin giants in the 1996/97 season. During his first campaign, Thuram racked up over 40 appearances for Parma, cementing his place in the team with some breath taking performances, it would be during his debut season he would score his one and only goal for Parma. Despite being a member of a Champions League squad now, Thuram's second season with Parma was one of disappointment, he would part ways with the man who brought him to the Tardini as Carlo Ancelotti was shown the door, Parma finished a disappointing sixth in Serie A as well as being knocked out of the Champions League at the group stages, despite the poor campaign, Thuram continued to impress with some dominant performances as he prepared for the 1998 World Cup in France. Alberto Malesani was the man Tanzi chose to replace Ancelotti at the helm of Parma, as he prepared for his first season in charge little did he know he would be welcoming back a World Cup winner to his ranks, Lilian Thuram. The athletic full back caught the attention of the world as he confirmed himself as arguably the worlds best full backs at the time. Thuram retuned to Parma a national hero back in France as his only two international goals came in a 2-1 semi - final win over Croatia as the French went on to lift the trophy on home soil. Despite Thuram's World Cup displays Parma managed to keep hold of the Frenchman's services and the two were about to have the season of their lives. Malesani opted to go for an adventurous 3-2-3-2 formation for the majority of the 1998/99 season with Nestor Sensini sweeping, Cannavaro and Thuram played alongside him, behind that Gianluigi Buffon was making his case for being one of the worlds best goalkeeper. If you managed to get one by that lot then you had to try and keep out Crespo and Chiesa at the other end, as well as shut of the supply coming from Juan Sebastain Veron and Diego Fuser, it was a squad full of quality from back to front. Thuram would help Parma lift two trophies to add to his World Cup winners medal, firstly overcoming Fiorentina to lift the Coppa Italia before the memorable night in Russia with a UEFA Cup triumph in Moscow when l'gialloblu destroyed Marseille 3-0, in the Space of 10 months Thuram had been in three finals winning the lot. Thuram's world class performances week in week out weren't going unnoticed and in the summer of 2000 Lazio came calling, I'biancocelesti had already managed to lure star striker Heran Crespo to the Olimpico in a deal worth £35.5m, Parma were determined not to lose another one of their stars and managed to persuade the World Champion to stay at the Tardini. With Parma yet again failing to mount any kind of Scudetto challenge, Thuram played out his last season in the Parma colours along with superstar goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, despite qualifying for the champions league the lure of Juventus plus Parma's financial melt down, Thuram, bid farewell to Parma, joining Juventus for £25.5m, a team Thuram admitted to French newspaper Nice-Matin he turned down in favour of Parma five years earlier “What’s interesting when talking about Monaco and Turin, is that Juventus had tried to sign me when I was at Monaco,” Thuram revealed. I preferred, at that time, to go to Parma. I met with the leadership of Juventus, but I thought they were wrong to want to buy me, because it’s a very big club!" Making over 200 appearances for the club and taking the club through it's most successful period Lilian Thuram will always have a place in the hearts of the Parma faithful, this was recognised when in December 2013 to mark the clubs centenary Thuram returned to the Tardini to take part in a legends game. By Giovanni Dougall Follow me @giovannid86
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