Alessandro Del Piero

Alessandro Del Piero

Del Piero with Sydney FC in 2014
Personal information
Full name Alessandro Del Piero
Date of birth (1974-11-09) 9 November 1974
Place of birth Conegliano, Italy
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in)[1]
Playing position Forward
Youth career
1982–1988 San Vendemiano
1988–1993 Padova
1993–1994 Juventus
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1991–1993 Padova 14 (1)
1993–2012 Juventus 513 (208)
2012–2014 Sydney FC 48 (24)
2014 Delhi Dynamos 10 (1)
Total 585 (234)
National team
1991 Italy U17 3 (1)
1992–1993 Italy U18 14 (12)
1993–1996 Italy U21 12 (3)
1995–2008 Italy 91 (27)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:48, 9 December 2014 (UTC).

† Appearances (goals)

Alessandro Del Piero (Italian pronunciation: [alesˈsandro del ˈpjɛːro]) Ufficiale OMRI[2][3] (born 9 November 1974) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a deep-lying forward.[4][5][6][7] In 2015, he worked as a pundit for Sky Sport Italia.[8]

A technically gifted,[9] and creative supporting forward,[10][11] who is also a free-kick specialist,[12][13] Del Piero is widely regarded by players, pundits, and managers as one of the greatest players of his generation,[14][15] and as one of the best Italian players of all time,[16][17][18] winning the Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year award in 1998 and 2008. A prolific goal-scorer, he is currently the second highest all-time Italian top-scorer in all competitions, with 346 goals, and behind only Silvio Piola, with 390 goals.[19][20][21][22][23][24] After beginning his career with Padova, he played with Juventus F.C. for 19 seasons (11 as captain), and holds the club records for most goals (290) and appearances (705). During his time at the club, he won 6 Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia, 4 Supercoppa Italiana titles, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the UEFA Intertoto Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup. After leaving the club in 2012, he also spent two seasons with Australian side Sydney FC; he retired after a season with Delhi Dynamos FC in the Indian Super League, in 2014.[4]

Del Piero has scored in every competition in which he has participated.[25] In 2004, he was named in the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers selected by Pelé as a part of FIFA's centenary celebrations.[26] In the same year, he was also voted into the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll, a list of the 50 best European players of the past 50 years.[27] Along with six awards in Italy for gentlemanly conduct,[28][29] he has also won the Golden Foot award, which pertains to personality as well as playing ability.[30]

Del Piero has also represented the Italian national team at three FIFA World Cups and four UEFA European Football Championships, most notably winning the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and reaching the final of UEFA Euro 2000 with Italy. He is the joint 4th highest scorer for the Italian national team, with 27 goals in 91 appearances, alongside Roberto Baggio, and behind Silvio Piola with 30 goals, Giuseppe Meazza with 33 goals, and Luigi Riva with 35 goals.

Early life

Born in Conegliano, Veneto, Del Piero is the son of Gino, an electrician, and Bruna, a housekeeper.[31] He regularly played football in the backyard with two friends, Nelso and Pierpaolo, as a child. All three dreamed of becoming footballers, but only Alessandro would eventually manage to do so.[32] Alessandro's older brother, Stefano, briefly played professional football for Sampdoria before an injury curtailed his career; he later worked as Alessandro's agent.[33] The family lived in the hamlet of Saccon, a rural home in San Vendemiano.[34] While growing up, Del Piero's family did not have much money for travelling abroad, so he considered being a lorry driver in order to see the world.[35]

While playing for the local youth team of San Vendemiano,[36] Del Piero used to feature as a goalkeeper, in order to gain more playing time. His mother thought it would be better for him to play in this role as he would not sweat, and the possibility of him getting injured was less likely. His brother Stefano commented to their mother that, due to his skill, Alessandro was more suited to playing in a more offensive position, and Del Piero switched to a forward role.[34]

Club career

Early career

Del Piero began his rise to professional football in 1981, in the ranks of San Vendemiano. In 1988, Del Piero was first spotted by scouts, and he left home at the young age of 13 to play with the youth side of Padova.[37] He joined the senior side during the 1991–92 season, at the age of 16, and at the age of 17, he made his début in Serie B against Messina, under manager Mauro Sandreani, on 15 March 1992, coming on as a substitute for Roberto Putelli.[38] The following season, on 22 November 1992, he scored his first professional goal in the 5–0 thrashing of Ternana.[39] In 1993, thanks to Giampiero Boniperti, Del Piero was bought by Juventus for five billion lire, with an overlap of 150 million lire per season.[40]

Juventus

Early Domestic and European success

Del Piero celebrates victory in the 1996 Champions League after defeating Ajax.

In 1993, Del Piero transferred to Juventus F.C. and played for the Turin giants for 19 seasons until being released in the summer of 2012.[41] Although manager Giovanni Trapattoni insisted that he trained with the senior team, he initially played with the Primavera squad, which was coached by Antonello Cuccureddu, helping the Juventus Youth team to win both the 1994 Torneo di Viareggio, and the 1994 U-20 Scudetto.[42] Del Piero made his Serie A debut against Foggia in September 1993 under manager Giovanni Trapattoni, as a substitute, and he scored his first goal in his next game against Reggiana, after coming off the bench once again. On his full debut for Juventus, he netted a hat-trick against Parma.[43] After his promising performances, Del Piero began to be deployed with more continuity, and he managed 14 appearances for Juventus that season between youth matches, league matches, the Coppa Italia, and the UEFA Cup, scoring 5 goals, which all came in Serie A, as Juventus finished the season in second place in the league.[44]

The next season saw Marcello Lippi take over as Juventus manager, as well as the introduction of a new team of directors, made up of Giraudo, Roberto Bettega, and Luciano Moggi; Del Piero played a more prominent role for the club that season following Roberto Baggio's injury in November against Padova. Del Piero temporarily took his place in the first team alongside Gianluca Vialli and Fabrizio Ravanelli, flourishing at the opportunity given to him, and Juventus went on to claim their first Scudetto in nine years. Del Piero scored 8 goals in Serie A that season, including a match-winning chipped volley against Fiorentina.[45] Del Piero was also able to achieve a rare double, and he captured the 1994–95 Coppa Italia with Juventus, defeating their season rivals Parma in the final, although they were defeated by Parma in the 1995 UEFA Cup Final.[46] During this time, Del Piero earned the nickname "Pinturicchio", due to the similarity between his own technical and tactical characteristics, and Baggio's creative style of play.[47] This nickname arose when former president Gianni Agnelli compared the emerging talent Del Piero to the renaissance artist Pinturicchio, who was the student of the great Italian renaissance artist "Rafaello", a nickname he had used to describe Baggio, to emphasise his elegance on the ball.[31] Del Piero placed fourth in the 1995 Ballon d'Or for his performances throughout the season.[48] With the Turin club, Del Piero won the Serie A eight times, although the 2005 and 2006 titles were revoked due to Juventus's involvement in the 2006 Italian football scandal.[49]

For the 1995–96 season, Del Piero was awarded Baggio's number 10 shirt (which had also previously belonged to Michel Platini), following his departure to A.C. Milan. Del Piero scored 6 goals and provided 10 assists in Serie A, although Juventus finished the season in second place behind Milan. Del Piero did manage to capture the Supercoppa Italiana in 1995, over Parma, setting up Vialli's only goal of the match.[46] He also played a key role in helping Juventus to win the 1995–96 UEFA Champions League, scoring 6 goals in the competition, and finishing as the second highest scorer of the tournament.[50]

The following season, Del Piero followed these victories up with the 1996 UEFA Super Cup and the 1996 Intercontinental Cup, scoring goals in both finals, also winning the Bravo Award (as the best u-23 player in European Competitions), and placing 4th in the 1996 Ballon d'Or for the second consecutive year.[46][51] Del Piero also captured his second Serie A title with Juventus that season, and helped lead Juventus to their second consecutive Champions League final, although he was unable to start the match due to injury.[52] During the group stage, en route to the final, he helped Juventus to qualify for the quarter-finals a match early, scoring a goal in Juventus's 1–0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford, on 20 November 1996; this was the first time that an Italian team had defeated Manchester United at their home ground.[53] In the 1997 UEFA Champions League Final, he came off the bench to score a goal with a back-heel, which was, however, unable to prevent Juventus from losing 3–1 to Borussia Dortmund.[54] Del Piero received nominations for both the 1997 FIFA World Player of the Year and the 1997 Ballon d'Or, due to his performances throughout the calendar year.

Del Piero began the following campaign strongly by winning the Supercoppa Italiana once again in 1997, forming a strong offensive unit with Juventus team-mates Zinedine Zidane in midfield, and newcomer Filippo Inzaghi upfront. The 1997–98 campaign was his best season yet, as he scored a joint career best of 21 goals in Serie A, and finished top scorer in the 1997–98 UEFA Champions League with 10 goals,[55] one of which included a freekick and a hat-trick against Monaco in the semi-finals.[56] With these goals, he helped Juventus to reach their third consecutive Champions League final, although Del Piero was not fully fit for the match,[57] and Juventus were once again defeated, falling 1–0 to Real Madrid from a strike by Predrag Mijatović on 20 May.[58] Domestic success, however, was achieved that season, after a tight battle with Inter, as Juventus celebrated its 25th Serie A title over their Italian rivals, with Del Piero scoring a memorable and decisive individual match-winning goal during the controversial Derby d'Italia match.[59][60] Del Piero also managed a goal in the 1997–98 Coppa Italia that season, helping Juventus to the semi-finals, and finishing the season with a career best of 32 goals in all competitions. Del Piero was awarded the Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year award for his performances,[61] and he was also nominated for the 1998 Ballon d'Or. During this time, he was nicknamed by the fans as "Il Fenomeno Vero"[62] meaning "The Real Phenomenon", in comparison with the Brazilian striker Ronaldo, who was nicknamed "Il Fenomeno" by supporters of rivals Internazionale.[63]

Injury and Ancelotti era

Juventus began the 1998–99 season with a 2–1 defeat in the 1998 Supercoppa Italiana at the hands of Lazio, although Del Piero was able to score from a penalty.[64] On 8 November 1998, Del Piero picked up a serious knee injury in the final minutes of a 2–2 draw with Udinese;[65][66] this kept him out of action for the remainder of the season, as he managed only 2 goals. The club struggled without him, finishing the league season in a disappointing sixth place.[67] Juventus did manage to reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League that season, however, losing out to eventual Champions Manchester United.[66] Following his serious injury, Del Piero underwent a muscle strengthening regime in order to adapt to the increasingly more physical and athletic demands of twenty-first century football, which allowed him to compensate for the loss of some of his pace and agility.[68] Due to his dramatic weight gain and physical development during this period, as well as the club's success during the mid to late 90s,[69] Del Piero, along with several other Juventus players and staff members, was accused of being involved in illegal performance-enhancing drug abuse;[70] after a lengthy investigation, the club, as well as its players and staff, was eventually cleared of all doping allegations in 2005.[71][72]

During the next season under new manager Carlo Ancelotti, Del Piero primarily served as an assist-man, providing 14 assists in Serie A, the most in the league that season, and 20 in all competitions.[73] He faced criticism, however, for his inability to score in open play following his injury the previous season, as only one of his 9 Serie A goals that season was in open play (a header against Parma), with the rest coming from penalties.[73] Del Piero helped Juventus to capture the 1999 UEFA Intertoto Cup that season, which allowed Juventus to qualify for the UEFA Cup; overall, he scored 12 goals in all competitions, as Juventus narrowly missed out on the Serie A title. In 2000, Del Piero was the world's best-paid football player from salaries, bonuses, and advertising revenue.[74]

The following season saw Juventus suffer another disappointing defeat losing out on the Serie A title once again, to Roma. Juventus and Del Piero began the season strongly, and Del Piero scored the winner on his season debut against Napoli on 30 September,[75] although he later suffered another injury and fell out of form, failing to score. On 18 February 2001, Del Piero broke his goal drought, scoring in an away win over Bari. Del Piero celebrated the goal by dedicating it to his father, who had recently died.[76] Del Piero refound his form towards the end of the season, although he was unable to help Juventus capture the Serie A title, despite scoring a goal in a 2–2 draw against Roma.[77]

Lippi second era

Del Piero was named Juventus captain upon Lippi's return to Juventus, and he formed a formidable offensive partnership with French striker David Trezeguet, who joined in 2000, and Czech playmaker Pavel Nedvěd, who arrived in 2001. Del Piero scored 16 goals and provided several assists, as Juventus were crowned Serie A champions for a 26th time on 5 May 2002, the last match day of the season; Juventus won the title over Roma and Inter by a single point, after a 2–0 away victory over Udinese, with goals from top-scorer Trezeguet and Del Piero.[78] Del Piero managed 21 goals in all competitions, also scoring his 100th and 101st goals for Juventus that season, against Venezia, on 26 August 2001.[79] Del Piero also helped Juventus reach the Coppa Italia final that season, although Juventus were defeated by Parma.

Juventus's title success in 2002 enabled the club to automatically qualify for the UEFA Champions League the following season. Juventus began the 2002–03 season by winning the 2002 Supercoppa Italiana over Parma, with Del Piero scoring two goals,[80] and Juventus were also able to successfully defend their Serie A title.[81] Del Piero scored his 100th goal in Serie A in a 2–1 win over Brescia on 27 April 2003.[82] In the UEFA Champions League, Juventus were pooled in Group E alongside Newcastle United, Dynamo Kyiv, and Feyenoord.[83] Del Piero opened up his account in European competitions that season when he scored his side's second goal in a 5–0 victory over Dynamo Kyiv on 24 September, after combining with Nedvěd and Mauro Camoranesi.[84]

On the next matchday, Juventus played hosted to Newcastle on 1 October and Del Piero hit a brace to help his club maintain the top spot in their group.[85] Juventus advanced to the second group stage where the club managed to progress, along with Manchester United, on goal differential over FC Basel and Deportivo de La Coruña.[86] Juventus then saw off FC Barcelona in the quarter-finals through an extra time goal by Marcelo Zalayeta,[87] and faced Spanish opposition again in the likes of defending champions Real Madrid in the semi-finals. The triumvirate attacking partnership proved wonders for Juventus, as the team overturned a 2–1 first leg deficit to record a 4–3 aggregate win as all three attacking stars netted in a 3–1 home win in the second leg.[88] Juventus faced Italian rivals Milan in the Final in Manchester on 28 May 2003. After a goalless 120 minutes, the tie went to a penalty shoot-out, where Del Piero finished his spot-kick, but it wasn't enough, as Juventus fell 3–2 in the shoot-out.[89]

The following season saw Juventus start strongly, winning the 2003 Supercoppa Italiana over Milan on penalties, although Juventus were knocked out in the round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League, and finished the Serie A season in a disappointing third place. The club did manage to reach the final of the Coppa Italia, however, only to be defeated by Lazio. Lippi left Juventus at the end of the season to take charge of the Italian national team.[81]

Capello era and Calciopoli

After Euro 2004, Juventus manager Marcello Lippi was replaced by Fabio Capello. Capello was not convinced of Del Piero's fitness levels, and frequently benched him in favour of the younger, new offensive signing Zlatan Ibrahimović.[90] Despite his limited playing time, Del Piero still managed to score 14 goals as Juventus won their 28th league title, thanks to his overhead assist to teammate David Trezeguet, which proved decisive in a match against Milan at the San Siro.[91] Del Piero also helped Juventus to reach the quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League that season, only losing out to eventual champions Liverpool.

Several journalists and coaches believed that Del Piero was back to his best form in the 2005–06 season,[92] as he managed 12 goals in Serie A, and 20 goals in all competitions, helping Juventus to defend the Serie A title. His role at Juventus, however, changed during his second season under coach Fabio Capello, who preferred to use him as an "immediate impact" substitute.[37] Due to his lack of playing time, Del Piero's relationship with Fabio Capello was often strained.[93]

On 10 January 2006, Del Piero became the all-time leading goalscorer for Juventus when he scored three times in a Coppa Italia match against Fiorentina, taking his total goal tally for the club to 185. The previous record holder was Giampiero Boniperti, with 182 goals.[94] Del Piero also finished the season as the top scorer of the Coppa Italia, with 5 goals. Del Piero equalled José Altafini's Serie A record of six goals as a substitute after scoring in the final minute of Juventus' final game of the 2005–06 season,[95] before Juventus were forcibly relegated due to the Calciopoli scandal, also having their two most recent Serie A titles revoked.[49]

Serie B

After Juventus were demoted to Serie B and their two most recent Scudetti were revoked, Del Piero pledged that he would stay to captain the team. He underlined that players should remain with the team, explaining that "The Agnelli family deserve this, as do the fans and the new directors." While many key players such as Fabio Cannavaro, Emerson, Gianluca Zambrotta, Patrick Vieira, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Lilian Thuram left, Del Piero chose to stay and help the club gain promotion.[96]

A true gentleman never leaves his lady.[97]

“
”

Alessandro Del Piero (about the "Old Lady", Juventus, during Calciopoli)

Del Piero playing for Juventus in September 2006 against Rimini during the 2006–07 Serie B season.

Del Piero's first appearance after the 2006 FIFA World Cup triumph was in a Coppa Italia match against Cesena on 23 August 2006. As Juventus played in the Serie B for the 2006–07 season, the Coppa Italia campaign became increasingly important for the club in order to achieve a UEFA Cup spot. Having been on vacation beforehand, Del Piero started on the bench. Juventus and Cesena were locked on 1–1 when Del Piero entered in the 74th minute and after nine seconds, he scored the winning goal for Juventus.[98]

Del Piero then came on as a substitute in the 61st minute during Juventus's next Coppa Italia match on 27 August, against Napoli. Once again Juventus came from behind, as Del Piero scored twice to give his team the lead. The match eventually went to penalties; although Del Piero scored his spot-kick, Napoli won 5–4 in the penalty shoot-out.[99] Despite starting the season with a nine-point penalty from the match-fixing scandal,[100] Juventus gained promotion to Serie A as Serie B champions;[101] Del Piero finished the league campaign as the top scorer of the 2006–07 Serie B season, with 20 goals.[102] During the season, Del Piero also managed his 200th goal with Juventus on 21 October 2006, in a 1–0 league victory over Frosinone.[103]

Return to Serie A

Del Piero never really grows old.[104]

“
”

Diego Maradona

Following Juventus's return to Serie A, Del Piero was locked in months of fractious negotiations over the signing of a new contract with Juventus' new management. After successfully negotiating a new contract till 30 June 2010,[105] he was greeted with news of the birth of his first child, Tobias Del Piero.[106] This was quite a staggering turnaround in his fortunes, as only two weeks earlier, he was dropped by Claudio Ranieri for the Serie A match with Fiorentina,[107] and was then axed from Roberto Donadoni's Italy squad for the games with Georgia and South Africa.[108]

Del Piero during the 2007–08 season against Fiorentina.

On 15 December 2007, Del Piero scored two goals away at Lazio and was named to two consecutive Serie A teams of the week.[109] In February 2008, he scored the winning goal for Juventus from a free-kick in a 1–0 Serie A home victory over Roma.[110] On 6 April 2008, he set a new appearance record for Juventus, overtaking Gaetano Scirea's previous tally of 552 matches in all competitions.[111][112] In April, he registered seven goals in five Serie A matches, including a hat-trick in a 0–4 away win over Atalanta.[113]

On the final weekend of the 2007–08 season, Del Piero scored a brace against Sampdoria in a 3–3 draw.[114] These two goals were crucial, as it took him to 21 goals for the season, thus winning him the Capocannonieri prize in Serie A for the first time in his illustrious career, beating the likes of team-mate David Trezeguet (20 goals) and Marco Borriello (19 goals), also matching his highest seasonal tally in Serie A since the 1997–98 season.[115] He became only the second Italian ever to win consecutive Capocannoniere titles in two different leagues – former Juventus and 1982 World Cup hero Paolo Rossi being the other. (Coincidentally, Rossi also won the Capocannoniere titles like Del Piero – first in Serie B and then in Serie A). On 26 July, Del Piero was awarded the Scirea Award.[116] Juventus finished the 2007–08 Serie A season in third place, which allowed them to qualify for the UEFA Champions League the following season.

Before the season, Juventus manager Claudio Ranieri remarked that Del Piero would have as good a season, or an even better one, than the previous term. In August 2008, Del Piero announced that he would try to keep playing professional football with Juventus until he turned 40.[117] Juventus were drawn into the same Champions League group as Real Madrid, and UEFA Cup winners Zenit Saint Petersburg. Del Piero marked Juventus's return to the competition with a match-winning free kick to seal a home win against Zenit.[118] On 21 October, Del Piero netted a notable goal as Juventus defeated Real Madrid 2–1 in Turin, scoring with a first-time, curling strike from distance, in the fifth minute of play.[119][120]

Del Piero before a match in April 2012.

On 5 November 2008, Juventus and Real Madrid squared off at Santiago Bernabéu in the Champions League. The Italians won 0–2, their first away win against Madrid since 1962, and Del Piero was a key performer, scoring both goals, and drawing praise from Ranieri, as well as Real Madrid's coach Bernd Schuster.[121] As he left the pitch after being substituted, "fans from both sides gave him a standing ovation."[122] Juventus's Champions League campaign ended in disappointment, however, as they were eliminated by Chelsea in the second round. Despite converting a penalty in the second leg in Turin, Del Piero was unable to prevent Juventus from losing 3–2 on aggregate.[123]

On 29 November 2008, Del Piero scored his 250th goal for Juventus from a penalty, in a 4–0 home win over Reggina.[124] In the league, Juventus were mostly challenging Milan for second place and an automatic Champions League spot. Most notably, Del Piero inspired Juventus to a 3–0 win over Siena in their penultimate game of the season, scoring a brace and setting up Claudio Marchisio for the youngster's third goal of the season to end their run of seven winless matches in Serie A.[125] Juventus then went on to defeat Lazio 2–0 and clinch the second place spot in Serie A over Milan, determined by their head-to-head record.[126]

On 17 July 2009, Del Piero extended his contract with Juventus by one more year until 30 June 2011 in Pinzolo while training for pre-season, thus practically ensuring that he would retire at the club with which he started his professional career.[127] During his renewal, he said, "I am happy at Juventus and we are competitive. I want to keep playing for as long as I can and I'm certain that for at least two more years I will be at the top level." He marked his 445th Serie A appearance, breaking the all-time club record, with a brace against Genoa on 14 February 2010.[128] Del Piero finished the season as the all-time top scorer for Juventus, having scored over 250 goals in all competitions with the club, and having also made over 600 appearances in official matches for Juventus, breaking Scirea's appearance record.[129][130]

On 14 March 2010, Del Piero recorded his 300th and 301st career goals during a 3–3 draw with Siena, with the first two goals coming in the second and seventh minutes.[131] On 30 October 2010, he recorded his 179th Serie A goal, helping his side to a 2–1 win at Milan, breaking the record of club legend Giampiero Boniperti as Juventus's top scorer in Serie A, and further cementing his status as the most prolific goalscorer in Juventus history.[132]

On 5 February 2011, with his substitution against Cagliari, Alessandro Del Piero became the most capped Juventus player, edging out former Juventus legend Giampiero Boniperti.[133] Del Piero was the third most capped active player in the Serie A at the time, behind Javier Zanetti and Francesco Totti, respectively. On 5 May 2011, he signed a new one-year contract to stay at the Juventus Arena. His previous deal was due to expire on 30 June 2011.[134] On 24 May 2011, Del Piero and Juventus played against Manchester United at Old Trafford in a friendly match being former England defender Gary Neville's testimonial match. Del Piero was substituted after 65 minutes to a standing ovation from the United supporters.[135]

Champion again

A commemorative shirt, celebrating Del Piero's 500th Juventus appearance.

Juventus confirmed on 18 October 2011 that the 2011–12 season would be Del Piero's last with the club.[136] The 2011–12 season under new manager Antonio Conte, his former Juventus teammate, saw Del Piero being used sparingly, and mainly as a substitute, because of the summer arrival of forward Mirko Vučinić from Roma. Del Piero scored his first goal in the new Juventus Stadium on 24 January 2012, in a 3–0 win over Roma in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia.[137] Later in the season, Del Piero stated that he was surprised at Juventus president Andrea Agnelli's announcement regarding the club's decision not to offer him a new contract.[138]

In the second leg of Juventus's clash with Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-finals, Del Piero finished off a brilliant move by Juventus as they secured a 2–2 draw to progress to the final with a 4–3 aggregate win.[139] On 25 March, Del Piero helped Juventus defeat Inter by scoring the second goal of the match in a 2–0 victory, his first goal of the Serie A season.[140] In Juventus' match against Lazio on 11 April, Del Piero replaced Vučinić in the second half, making his 700th appearance for Juventus,[141] and then went on to score from a free kick to earn his side a 2–1 victory; the result also enabled Juventus to return to the top of the Serie A table.[142]

On 13 May, Del Piero started Juventus's final league game of the season against Atalanta, marking the occasion and the victory of their 28th Serie A title by scoring a goal.[143] Twenty-seven minutes into the match, Del Piero picked the ball up at the edge of the penalty box and placed a shot past Giorgio Frezzolini to make the score 2–0, helping Juventus to go undefeated in Serie A that season.[144] He was substituted off after 59 minutes to an emotional response from both sets of players and supporters, as he made a lap of honour around the pitch. This was Alessandro Del Piero's final Serie A appearance for Juventus.[145][146]

Del Piero's final match for Juventus was in the Coppa Italia Final on 20 May against Napoli. Del Piero was substituted in the 67th minute for Vučinić as his Juventus career came to an end; he received a standing ovation from both the Juventus and Napoli fans.[147][148] Following the game, he confirmed that after his 19-year spell with Juventus, he did not plan to retire. He then left the club and became a free agent. In total, Del Piero made a club record of 705 appearances for Juventus across all competitions, scoring a record 289 goals, and providing 134 assists in all competitions throughout his career with the club; he also scored 188 goals and provided 105 assists in 478 Serie A appearances with the Turin club.[149][150] In addition to these records, Del Piero is also Juventus's top scorer and appearance holder in the UEFA Champions League, with 44 goals in 92 appearances, in European Competitions, with 50 goals in 125 appearances, and in International competitions, with 54 goals in 131 appearances; he is also the club's top appearance holder and top-scorer in the Supercoppa Italiana, with 3 goals in 6 appearances, the club's top-scorer in Serie B, with 21 goals, and the club's second highest scorer in the Coppa Italia, with 25 goals, behind Pietro Anastasi.[151][152] Alongside Giuseppe Signori, Del Piero is also the ninth highest all-time goalscorer in Serie A, and he is currently the joint all-time top scorer in the Supercoppa Italiana, alongside Samuel Eto'o, Andriy Shevchenko, and Carlos Tevez.[153] As of June 2015, he is the thirteenth highest UEFA Champions League all-time goalscorer, with 41 goals.[154]

Del Piero refused the board's offer to retire the number 10 shirt in his honour, saying that "I've really had so much that I would never want it to be retired, this way, every child can dream of day of wearing it."[155] On 30 June, Del Piero wrote an open letter to the Juventus fans thanking them for almost two decades of support, stating, "Above all what remains is the fans, you who are Juventus. That jersey that I loved and will always love, that I desired and respected ... From tomorrow I will no longer be a Juventus player, but I will always be one of you. Now a new adventure begins and I am as fired up as I was 19 summers ago."[156]

Sydney FC

Del Piero playing for Sydney in 2013.
Del Piero taking a corner kick for Sydney in 2013.
Del Piero in 2013.

On 5 September 2012, Alessandro Del Piero signed a two-year deal with Sydney FC. He was paid approximately AU$3.5 million for each of his first two seasons, and therefore became the highest-paid footballer to ever play in Australia.[157] Del Piero had been linked to Liverpool prior to signing for Sydney, but later revealed due to his memories of Heysel he would not have been able to move to the club.[158]

Upon signing for Sydney FC, Del Piero said, "It's a special day for me. I am happy to announce that I just signed for two years for Sydney FC. This is a very big moment for me because I want to continue my career in a new part of the world where I can make a major contribution and help grow the game I love."[159] After the announcement of the transfer to Sydney FC, Juventus wished good luck to their former captain.[160] Francesco Totti and Filippo Inzaghi said they were saddened by his departure.[161][162]

Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow said, "The signing of Alessandro Del Piero is a big moment for this club and, we believe, a historic moment for football in Australia, I wouldn't like to go into the details of the contract, but this does represent the largest professional sporting contract in Australian history and the numbers that have been discussed aren't too far off the mark."[163]

FFA chief executive Ben Buckley said that this signing will be crucial for the growth of Australian Football, both economically and technically.[163] Ian Crook, manager of Sydney FC, said he would build the forward set-up around the Italian, who would be given "licence" to pull the strings. "We're not going to reinvent the wheel here. He's played 19 years for one of the biggest four or five clubs in the world, as a No. 10 or a No. 9. We're not going to change that."[164] FIFA President Sepp Blatter sent his best wishes to Del Piero and his new club.[165]

On 6 October, Del Piero made his debut against Wellington Phoenix. Del Piero scored his first goal on 13 October against Newcastle Jets in his first home game for Sydney with a fantastic free-kick.[166] The match against Newcastle featured hero-cam, which allowed the viewer to track Del Piero's movements with one camera throughout the game.[167] On 20 October, Del Piero scored the winning goal against Western Sydney Wanderers FC (1–0), making history with the first goal in the first Sydney Derby.[168] On 28 October, against Perth Glory (2–1), he scored his third goal from a penalty kick.[169] On 16 November, he scored two goals against Brisbane Roar.[170]

On 13 January, he made the assist for the winning goal against Melbourne Heart (2–1). On 19 January, he scored four goals and made one assist in Sydney's 7–1 win against Wellington Phoenix. This was the first time he scored more than three goals in one game and after being substituted, the fans gave him a standing ovation.[171] On 2 February, Del Piero scored his 10th goal in A-League against Newcastle Jets (2–2). On 10 February, became the scorer of the most goals in a season for the Sky Blues, scoring one goal against Brisbane Roar (2–1).[172] On 21 February, Del Piero renewed his contract until 2014.[173] On 2 March, he scored his 12th goal with a stunning 25-yard thunderbolt.[174] On 23 March, Del Piero scored the goal in a 1–1 draw against Western Sydney Wanderers, in the Sydney Derby. On 28 March, he scored a penalty kick against Brisbane Roar (1–3).

Del Piero was named captain for Sydney in their 2013–14 season.[175] On 11 October 2013, Del Piero scored the opening goal of the 2013–14 A-League season, the game-winner in a 2–0 victory over Newcastle Jets.[176] Alessandro went on to score 10 more goals for Sydney FC in the following season, before being released of his contract at Sydney FC. Alessandro had been rumored to play in the Thai Premier League for PTT Rayong & in the Chinese Super League with Marcelo Lippi's Guangzhou Evergrande. His final competitive match was against the Melbourne Victory who had coincidentally just defeated the Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande in the AFC Champions League. His farewell was at Etihad Stadium losing in an Elimination final due to Gui Finkler's injury time winner in a 2–1 loss.

On Sunday 10 August 2014, Del Piero captained the Hyundai A-League All Stars against his club of almost 20 years, Juventus, in Sydney, in front of over 55,000 people at ANZ Stadium. Del Piero was substituted off at the 63rd minute of the match for David Williams, to a standing ovation.[177]

In April 2015, Del Piero was named to Sydney FC's team of the decade and to the AFC team of the decade.[178][179]

Delhi Dynamos FC

On 23 August 2014, it was reported that Delhi Dynamos FC who will play in the inaugural 2014 ISL was in talks with Del Piero.[180] His brother, Stefano Del Piero said "During the last (few) weeks, we have received inquiries from several teams, not only from India but also from other countries. There is a lot of interest in Alessandro."[181] On 28 August 2014, he officially signed for the Indian franchise, signing a four-month deal.[182] Del Piero made his debut for the Delhi Dynamos on the 14th October in a 0–0 draw against FC Pune City, a team which featured his former Juventus team-mate David Trezeguet, although he was denied an evident penalty during the match; Del Piero was praised for his performance by pundits.[183] On 9 December, Del Piero scored his first and only Delhi Dynamos goal of the season, netting directly from a free kick, in a 2–2 draw against Chennaiyin FC.[184] Del Piero made 10 appearances throughout the season as Delhi finished in fifth place, failing to reach the play-offs by a single point.[185]

International career

Sacchi and Maldini

Del Piero with Francesco Totti.

Del Piero is currently Italy's joint fourth all-time leading scorer, along with Roberto Baggio, with 27 goals in 91 appearances, with 2 goals for Italy coming in 12 World Cup matches and 1 goal in 13 European Championship matches.[186] Del Piero initially played for the Italian U-21 side on 12 occasions, scoring 3 goals, and was a member of the team that won the 1996 European Under-21 Championship, appearing in the quarter-finals.[186] Del Piero made his senior debut under Arrigo Sacchi at the age of 20, on 25 March 1995, in a 4–1 win over Estonia in a Euro 1996 qualifying match.[186] Del Piero scored his first goal for Italy on the 15th November 1995, in a 4–0 win over Lithuania in a Euro 1996 qualifying match.[186] His tournament debut was at UEFA Euro 1996, where he made his only appearance in the first half of a group match win against Russia as a left-winger, wearing the number 14 shirt, before being substituted at half-time by Roberto Donadoni.[187][188]

The next year, Del Piero was part of the Italy team that took part in the friendly "Tournoi de France" tournament from the 3 to 11 June 1997 under Cesare Maldini. Del Piero scored two goals in a 3–3 draw against Brazil,[189] and scored from a penalty against France in the 90th minute,[190] finishing the tournament as top-scorer with 3 goals, although Italy finished in last place.[191]

Del Piero competed with fan favourite Roberto Baggio for an attacking spot in the starting 11 during the 1998 FIFA World Cup, while struggling to recover from an injury suffered during the 1998 Champions League final with Juventus; Del Piero missed out on Italy's 2–2 opening draw against Chile, and was temporarily replaced by Baggio.[192] He made his first World Cup appearance in the second group match, a 3–0 defeat of Cameroon, coming on for Baggio in the second half, wearing the number 10 shirt, and contributing to Christian Vieri's final goal.[193] In the final group game against Austria, Del Piero won his first start, setting up Vieri's opening goal of the match from a free-kick as Italy won 2–1 to seal a passage into the next round, avoiding reigning champions Brazil; he was substituted by Baggio in the second half.[194] Italy reached the quarter-finals after defeating Norway 1–0, as Del Piero started the match alongside Vieri once again, coming off for Enrico Chiesa in the 77th minute.[195] Italy eventually fell to hosts and eventual champions France on penalty kicks, following a 0–0 draw; Del Piero was criticised for his performance and was substituted in the second half by Baggio once again.[196]

Zoff and Trapattoni

Del Piero was part of Dino Zoff's Italy's squad that reached the final of Euro 2000. Although he was primarily used as a substitute for either Francesco Totti or Stefano Fiore, Del Piero appeared in every match of the tournament, and he wore the number 10 shirt. On 11 June, Del Piero came on as a substitute for Fiore in the 30th minute in Italy's opening Group B 2–1 win against Turkey, hitting the cross-bar from a free-kick.[197] In the final group game, Del Piero started the match and scored the winner with a notable goal against Sweden, taking it past two players before curling the ball into the top corner from outside the area with a left-footed strike; Del Piero also set up Luigi Di Biagio's opener from a corner.[198] Del Piero made his second start of the tournament for Italy in their semi-final against co-hosts, Netherlands, which Italy won on penalties following a 0–0 draw after extra-time.[199] In the final, he missed two gilt-edged chances in Italy's 2–1 loss to France in extra time, and was criticised by the Italian press.[200]

He returned to the international scene in the 2002 FIFA World Cup under Giovanni Trapattoni, after winning the Scudetto with Juventus.[201] Del Piero scored the decisive goal against Hungary, which sealed Italy's qualification for the finals.[202] Del Piero appeared as a substitute in Italy's opening win against Ecuador, wearing the captain's armband for part of the match.[203] He instantly scored with a header against Mexico, after coming on as a substitute, an equalising goal which saved Italy from the ignominy of a first round exit in their final group match.[204] The goal sent Italy through to the second round, where they were eliminated by a golden goal in a controversial match against co-hosts South Korea, a match during which Del Piero started alongside Totti and Vieri.[205][206]

Del Piero took part in 6 of Italy's 2004 European Qualifying matches, scoring 5 goals, and was called up for the Italy squad that would participate in UEFA Euro 2004 in Portugal.[207][208] Del Piero started all three matches, wearing the captain's armband in Italy's final win over Bulgaria, and was involed in Cassano's injury time match-winning goal, although Italy were eliminated in the first round on direct encounters, following a three-way five point tie with Sweden and Denmark.[46][209][210]

Lippi and Donadoni

Del Piero after the semi-final against Germany.

Del Piero took part in the 2006 FIFA World Cup under manager Marcello Lippi, appearing in five matches, and two out of the three group stage matches; he made his first start of the competition in a 1–0 round of 16 win over Australia on 26 June.[46] On 4 July, Del Piero entered as a substitute near the end of regulation and scored Italy's second goal in a 2–0 semi-final win over host Germany.[211][212] In the final against France, which ended 1–1 after extra time, Del Piero scored a penalty in the shootout as Italy won the tournament for the fourth time.[213] He admitted afterwards that winning the World Cup was his childhood dream.[214]

As of 2008, Del Piero has captained Italy seven times (including during UEFA Euro 2008). He also initially regularly wore the number 10 shirt, in particular under Maldini and Zoff, but later gave it to Totti after Euro 2000, and switched to No. 7 for the 2002 World Cup, as it was the first number he wore at the start of his career.[215] Even though the No. 10 shirt was vacated after Totti retired from the national team in July 2007, Del Piero denied any interest in taking back the number, saying he was satisfied with No. 7.[216] In May, he was recalled by popular demand to Italy's UEFA Euro 2008 squad in Austria and Switzerland under manager Roberto Donadoni, after a nine-month absence from international duty, and thus became the second Italian player, after Paolo Maldini, to participate in seven major international tournaments (Euro 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008; World Cup 1998, 2002, 2006).[46]

Although Del Piero was mostly on the substitutes' bench at Euro 2008, he started in Italy's second group match against Romania as the squad's captain.[217] In the first group match against the Dutch, he came on for the under-performing Antonio Di Natale and made an immediate impact, including several efforts on goal; however, he could not prevent Italy from losing 3–0.[218] Italy qualified through the group stage in second-place behind the Netherlands, eliminating Romania and France.[219] In the quarter-final against eventual champions Spain, Del Piero made a substitute appearance during extra-time, and with the game ending in a 0–0 draw, it was decided by a penalty shootout in which Spain won 4–2.[220] On 20 August 2008, he won his 90th cap for Italy in friendly against Austria under Lippi, becoming only the fifth Italy player to reach this landmark at the time.[221] Despite announcing his intention to carry on playing until he is 40 years old, he has not been called up since Italy's 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Georgia on 10 September 2008.[222]

In 2013, the Italy national coach at the time, Cesare Prandelli, stated that he would consider calling Del Piero up for the 2014 World Cup, although he was ultimately excluded from the Italian squad that participated at the tournament in Brazil.[223]

Style of play

He (Del Piero) is different to Zinedine Zidane. He likes to play, he feels it in his soul. Between him and the Frenchman, I choose him.[224]

“
”

Diego Maradona

Del Piero with Juventus in 2008.

Due to his creative style of play, eye for goal, flair, and technical skill, Del Piero is known as a "fantasista" in Italy.[225] His hard-working playing style is regarded by critics as creative in attacking, assisting many goals as well as scoring himself, as opposed to just "goal poaching".[31] Because of his technical characteristics, Del Piero usually plays as a supporting-striker, which is his preferred role,[225] although he is a versatile forward who is capable of playing anywhere along the front line. He has also occasionally been deployed between the midfield and the strikers as a playmaking attacking midfielder, known in Italy as the trequartista position, due to his vision, passing range, ball control, dribbling ability (in particular in one on one situations) and creativity, although he has stated that this is not his preferred position.[226][227] Del Piero was also employed occasionally as a winger throughout his career, in particular during his time under Sacchi with the Italy national football team,[228] due to his tendency to drift onto the wings,[229] and his crossing accuracy,[230] as well as his ability with both feet.[231]

In his youth, Del Piero played in the "trident-attack" of Lippi's 4–3–3 formation, along with veterans Vialli, Baggio, and Ravanelli, as a striker, or as an outside forward.[232][233] With the arrival of Zidane in the advanced midfield playmaking role, Juventus's formation changed, and Del Piero partnered alongside a more offensive striker up front, such as Christian Vieri and subsequently Inzaghi, as a supporting forward.[233][234][235] After losing some pace and agility following his injury in 1998, Del Piero performed a muscle strengthening regime, and he took on a more creative role in a combination with Zidane behind the main striker Inzaghi under Ancelotti.[233][236] As Juventus's playing style changed during Lippi's second stint with Juventus starting in 2001, and subsequently under Capello, Del Piero partnered with Zidane's replacement, Nedvěd, in a free creative role in front of the midfield, or occasionally on the left flank, as a supporting striker, with Trezeguet upfront.[233][237][238]

Del Piero is a free kick and penalty kick (62 goals from penalties) specialist.[239] He is the third highest scorer of penalties in Serie A history, scoring 50 times out of 61 attempts, behind only Francesco Totti and Roberto Baggio.[240] Del Piero's unique free kick technique is usually characterised by a curling strike which rises high over the wall, and then suddenly drops into the top corner of the goal;[241] he attributes his ability on set pieces to the time spent studying Roberto Baggio in training.[47][242][243] Del Piero is currently the Italian all-time top scorer of free kicks in all competitions (52 goals: 46 goals in clubs, 6 goals in Italy national team).[226][244] He is also the third all-time highest goalscorer of free kicks in Serie A, with 22 goals, behind only Andrea Pirlo and Siniša Mihajlović.[245]

Del Piero Zone

The football media refer to a "Del Piero Zone" ("Gol alla Del Piero" in Italian), a style of scoring involving a dribbling approach from the left flank, followed by a precise, curling lob into the far top corner of the goal, from outside the area.[246][247] This association came about as Del Piero had scored several goals in this manner during his first two seasons under Lippi, in particular during Juventus's victorious 1995–96 Champions League campaign;[248] Del Piero continued to score similar goals throughout his career,[249][250] and the "Del Piero Zone" label[251] has also been used to describe similar goals by other players.

Goal celebrations

After scoring a goal, Del Piero has often celebrated in recent years by running to the touchline in front of the fans with his arms out-stretched, and sticking out his tongue, in a similar manner to Michael Jordan, also frequently leaping into the air with a raised first towards the sky, or sliding onto his knees whilst passionately chanting to the crowd.[252][253][254][255] Del Piero has also performed a back-flip goal celebration in a 2008 UEFA Champions League match against Zenit,[256] and he has pointed up at the sky after scoring on certain occasions,[257] to dedicate a goal to his late father, such as when he scored against Bari during the 2000–01 season, and Mexico at the 2002 World Cup.[204]

Retirement

In October 2015, after almost a year without a club, Del Piero officially communicated his retirement from professional football, also stating his intention to pursue a coaching career.[4]

Outside football

Personal life

Del Piero and his wife Sonia at the 2013 ARIA Music Awards in Sydney, Australia.

Del Piero is married to Sonia Amoruso and the two have been together since 1999 and married in 2005.[258] They have three children, son Tobias (born 2007),[106][259] daughter Dorotea (born 2009)[260] and son Sasha (born 2010).[261]

When the Olympic Flame for the 2006 Winter Olympics passed through Turin, Del Piero was a torchbearer.[262] He has an interest in sports outside of football, particularly basketball, and in turn has gained fans outside of football; sport icons such as NBA star Steve Nash and cyclist Eddy Merckx have stated that they are fans of Del Piero.[263][264]

Del Piero has a keen interest in music. He has recorded some of his own albums.[265] Along with Marco Materazzi, Del Piero appeared on stage at a Rolling Stones show in Milan shortly after Italy's World Cup win.[266] He is a good friend of musician and singer Noel Gallagher and a fan of his former band Oasis. Del Piero appears in the Oasis video "Lord Don't Slow Me Down".[267] One of Del Piero's inspirations as a youngster was Japanese football manga Captain Tsubasa.[268]

In 2012, he participated in the project "Save the dream" (against corruption in the sport) and spoke about this at Sorbonne, during the "Sport Integrity Symposium".[269][270]

Charity work

Del Piero has promoted and supported a number of charities. In 1998 he donated 5.2 million lire to "Fondazione Bambini in Emergenza" (for abandoned children and victims of AIDS) by auctioning his Juventus shirt. [271]

In 2001, he was ambassador for "Un gol per la ricerca" (for the cancer research).[272] In 2006, he was AIRC testimonial for the cancer research and in recognition of this, he has received from the President of Italy a prize of "Believe in Research".[273]

In 2008, he participated in a golf tournament organized by the foundation of Gianluca Vialli and Massimo Mauro for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis research.[274] In 2009, he played a friendly match at Stadio Olimpico with his team "Ale 10+"; the proceeds (€180,000) were donated to solidarity projects.[275]

In 2010, he auctioned off his Juventus shirt number 10 for the foundation "Un Campo per L'Aquila".[276] On 1 April 2011, he launched the project "ale10friendsforjapan" which he designed to help Japanese earthquake victims creating a website to sell T-shirts and collecting $303,880.[277]

In 2011, he participated in a golf tournament, "Fondazione Sant'Anna Cup – Crescere insieme", for the neonatal intensive care unit of the hospital Sant'Anna.[278] On 21 July 2012, he played a friendly match at Kashima Stadium organized by J. League (Del Piero scored one goal and he left the field with a standing ovation); the collection was donated to the Japanese earthquake victims of 2011.[279]

He was testimonial of ADISCO, for the donation of umbilical cord blood,[280][281] and testimonial of 1GOAL for the education of poor children.[281]

In 2015, in honour of F1 World Champion Ayrton Senna, Del Piero facilitated and inaugurated the "AYRTON" exhibition in Turin, open between February and May 2015. The exhibition is curated by, with tickets proceeds going to, the Instituto Ayrton Senna charity.[282]

TV, games, and publicity

Del Piero during the presentation of FIFA 2004.

Del Piero has been used in many advertising broadcasts. He is under contract with German sports equipment manufacturer Adidas, Uliveto water, Fiat, Japanese motorbike company Suzuki, Pepsi,[283] Bliss, Cepu, Walt Disney and Upper Deck.[284]

In 2006, he appeared in a television commercial for the Japanese motor scooter Suzuki Burgman together with the sports agent Andreas Goller.[285]

Del Piero is also known for his sense of humour and is a popular guest at Italian comedy shows such as Paperissima and Striscia la notizia. He featured in the film "L'allenatore nel pallone 2" and in the show La sai l'ultima di Totti, a series of short comedy sketches created by his good friend and Roma captain Francesco Totti in which the two of them and national teammates former A.C. Milan defender Alessandro Nesta, Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and striker Antonio Cassano would tell jokes and anecdotes about one another.

Del Piero was featured on the cover of EA Sports FIFA Football 2004 video game, alongside Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho,[286] and on the cover of the Italian edition of the FIFA World Cup 2006 video game.[287] He was one of the two stars featured on the cover of the Italian version of PES 2010 video game, the other being FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi.[288]

In 2015, Del Piero worked as a pundit for Sky Sport Italia.[8]

Career statistics

Del Piero scoring his 250th goal against Reggina in the 2008–09 Serie A season.

Club

As of 5 November 2014.[244]
Season Club League League Cups Continental Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1991–92PadovaSerie B 4000——40
1992–93 10100——101
Total14100——14 1
1993–94JuventusSerie A 1151020—145
1994–95 298101112—5011
1995–96 29621116104313
1996–97 2284064333515
1997–98 3221411010104732
1998–99 82104011143
1999–00 3492192—4512
2000–01 2592060—339
2001–02 321641104—4621
2002–03 241600135123823
2003–04 2284343103114
2004–05 301410103—4117
2005–06 33124573104520
2006–07Serie B 352023——3723
2007–08Serie A 372143——4124
2008–09 31133296—4321
2009–10 2391250—2911
2010–11 33820103—4511
2011–12 23352——285
Total 513 208 56 25 127 51 9 6 705 290
2012–13Sydney FCA-League 2414———2414
2013–14 2410———2410
Total 48 24 ———48 24
2014Delhi DynamosIndian Super League 101———101
Total 10 1 ——— 10 1
Career total 585 234 56 25 127 51 9 6 777 316
^ Other includes Supercoppa Italiana, UEFA Super Cup, and Intercontinental Cup

International career

[186]

National Team Year International
Competitions		 Friendlies Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Italy 1995 5 1 2 0 7 1
1996 1 0 3 2 4 2
1997 3 0 3 4 6 4
1998 6 2 2 1 8 3
1999 1 0 1 0 2 0
2000 9 3 4 1 13 4
2001 5 3 1 0 6 3
2002 6 4 5 1 11 5
2003 3 2 1 0 4 2
2004 4 1 2 0 6 1
2005 1 0 3 0 4 0
2006 6 1 3 1 9 2
2007 4 0 1 0 5 0
2008 4 3 2 2 6 0
Total 58 17 33 10 91 27

Records

Honours

Club

Juventus[294]

International

Italy[294]

Individual

Orders

5th Class/Knight: Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 2000[2]

Collar of Merit Sports: 2006[315]

4th Class/Officer: Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 2006[3]

Notes

  1. 1 2 This title was revoked through the courts following the Calciopoli scandal.

References

  1. ↑ "Alessandro Del Piero, passaporto". Alessandrodelpiero.com.
  2. 1 2 "Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana Sig. Alessandro Del Piero" Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana Sig. Alessandro Del Piero" Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 Mike Hytner (12 October 2015). "Alessandro Del Piero and Roberto Carlos touted for A-League coaching roles". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Agent: ’Del Piero could retire’". Football Italia. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  6. ↑ Ben Gladwell. "Juventus shouldn't sell Paul Pogba, says Alessandro Del Piero". ESPN FC. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  7. ↑ Mark Doyle. "Del Piero: Berlusconi wanted me at AC Milan and now I'm a free agent...". goal.com. goal.com. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  8. 1 2 David Schiavone (10 October 2015). "Del Piero wants coaching career". La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  9. ↑ "Totti e Del Piero sulla via del Portogallo" (in Italian). Panorama.it. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  10. ↑ "A-League: Del Piero assist-man, Sydney ai playoff" (in Italian). Il Sole 24 Ore. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  11. ↑ "Del Piero, Totti e Baggio la fantasia al potere" (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  12. ↑ "The Ten Best Free-Kick Specialists: Alessandro Del Piero". The Independent. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  13. ↑ "Kings of the free-kick". FIFA.com. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  14. ↑ "Hall Of Fame – Sydney FC". Sydney FC. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  15. ↑ Barney Ronay (31 January 2014). "Alessandro Del Piero walks the line in Sydney but is still sensational". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  16. ↑ "Ode al Pinturicchio Del Piero". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  17. ↑ "Tutti i trofei vinti da Alessandro Del Piero" (in Italian). Il Post. 9 November 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  18. 1 2 Marcelo Leme de Arruda (14 December 2007). "AFS Top-100 Players of All-Time". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  19. ↑ "Ciao Alex Del Piero, buona nuova avventura". Calcionews360.net.
  20. ↑ "Capitani Azzurri: Alessandro Del Piero (2004–2008) – Nazionali – TMW". Tuttomercatoweb.com. 20 April 2012.
  21. ↑ "Festa Del Piero "Questa maglia mi rende speciale"". Archiviostorico.gazzetta.it.
  22. ↑ "Le 7 vite di Inzaghi I numeri magici di SuperPippo – Risultati e ultime notizie calcio e calciomercato – La Gazzetta dello Sport". Gazzetta.it. 13 October 2010.
  23. ↑ "Inzaghi, riflessioni sul futuro. Via dal Milan, Italia o Stati Uniti". Sportmediaset.mediaset.it. 28 October 2011.
  24. ↑ "Del Piero a quota 301 gol in carriera: nel mirino c'è Inzaghi – Juventus / Serie A / Calcio". Tuttosport.
  25. ↑ "Juve, come Del Piero nessuno mai – Juventus / Serie A / Calcio". Tuttosport.
  26. ↑ "Fifa names greatest list". BBC Sport. 4 March 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  27. ↑ "UEFA Awards". RSSSF.
  28. ↑ "Two awards for Alex". Juventus. 10 May 2006. Archived from the original on 15 May 2012.
  29. ↑ "Comunicato Stampa" (in Italian) (PDF). Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  30. ↑ "Ale vince il Golden Foot 2007 Premiato dal principe Alberto" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 4 September 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  31. 1 2 3 "Seeking glory in blue shirt". Sportstar. 1 April 2006. Archived from the original on 23 December 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  32. ↑ "Le luci di Del Piero". Raisport.rai.it. 28 June 2001. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  33. ↑ "Stefano Del Piero: "Juve scelta di cuore"" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 18 July 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  34. 1 2 "Del Piero biografie" (in Italian). ItBiografie.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2006. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  35. ↑ Giovanni Audiffredi (17 April 2012). "Alessandro Del Piero: "Se avessi saputo dire: "Papà, ti voglio bene""" (in Italian). Vanity Fair. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  36. ↑ "Del Piero profile". Kicker.de. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  37. 1 2 "Del Piero an ace at icing Juventus cake". The International Herald Tribune. 14 February 2006. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  38. ↑ Gloria Callarelli (9 November 2014). "Auguri Del Piero, dal Padova alla Juve: come si divente leggenda" [Happy birthday Del Piero, from Padova to Juve: how one becomes a legend]. padovaoggi.it (in Italian). Padova Oggi. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  39. ↑ "Alessandro Del Piero racconta i primi anni nel calcio che conta a Padova" (in Italian). Padova 24 Ore. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  40. ↑ "Del Piero, tre passi nel futuro Juve". CorrieredellaSera.it (in Italian). 21 March 1994. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  41. ↑ "Festa per il capitano Del Piero". La Stampa (in Italian). 12 September 2010.
  42. ↑ "25 giugno 1994, Primavera tricolore". Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  43. ↑ "Juventus Corner : What Del Piero Means To Fans". The Hard Tackle. 21 May 2012.
  44. ↑ "Del Piero, tre passi nel futuro Juve Del Piero, tre passi nel futuro Juve". Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  45. ↑ "Fiorentina-Juventus, 20 anni fa il super gol di Del Piero". Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  46. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Euro 2008: Alex Del Piero" (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  47. 1 2 "DEL PIERO, FESTA TRADITA". Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  48. ↑ José Luis Pierrend (26 March 2005). "European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or") 1995". RSSSF. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  49. 1 2 "Punishments cut for Italian clubs". BBC. 26 July 2006.
  50. ↑ "Alex Del Piero". repubblica.it (in Italian). La Repubblica. 23 May 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  51. ↑ José Luis Pierrend (26 March 2005). "European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or") 1996". RSSSF. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  52. ↑ Roberto Perrone (29 May 1997). "Peccato, ma resta un anno eccezionale" [It's a shame, but it's still been an exceptional year]. corriere.it (in Italian). Il Corriere della Sera. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  53. ↑ Salvatore Lo Presti; Lodovico Maradei (1 October 1997). "Del Piero la forza del passato" [Del Piero the strength of the past]. gazzetta.it (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  54. ↑ "Riedle makes Dortmund's day". UEFA. 28 May 1997. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  55. ↑ "Alessandro Del Piero's 283 goals for Juventus make him the greatest one-club marksman in Italy". Goal. 25 April 2011.
  56. ↑ "Calcio Flashback: Juventus 4–1 Monaco (Champions League Semi Final 1998)". Goal. 6 January 2009.
  57. ↑ "in ansia per Del Piero". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  58. ↑ "1997/98: Seventh heaven for Madrid". UEFA. 20 May 1998.
  59. ↑ "Scudetto of 1998 Belongs To Inter, Not Juventus – Gigi Simoni". Goal. 20 April 2009.
  60. ↑ "Juve, lo scudetto dei veleni e' vicino". Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  61. ↑ "La notte degli Oscar" [Oscar night]. rai.it (in Italian). Rai Sport. 22 September 1998. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  62. ↑ "Alex Del Piero Fenomeno Vero". Eurocalcio News (in Italian). Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  63. ↑ "Un Fenomeno di sfortuna Tutti gli infortuni di Ronaldo" [An unfortunate Phenomenon: All of Ronaldo's injuries]. gazzetta.it/ (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 13 February 2008. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  64. ↑ Giancarlo Padovan; Stefano Agresti (30 August 1998). "Lazio, una Supercoppa aspettando Vieri" (in Italian). Il Corriere della Sera. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  65. ↑ "Campionato gia' finito per Del Piero infortunato" (in Italian). Il Corriere della Sera. 10 November 1998. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  66. 1 2 "Flashback – Juventus 2–3 Man Utd. 1999 CL semi final". Football Speak. 25 March 2012.
  67. ↑ "Italy 1998/99". RSSSF.
  68. ↑ Andrew Warshaw (13 October 1998). "Football: Drugs in Serie A – Italy sinking deeper into scandal". independent.co.uk. The Independent. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  69. ↑ Frank Dunne (1 December 2004). "The drug scandal that blackens the name of Juve's team of the Nineties". independent.co.uk. The Independent. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  70. ↑ "Doping. Clamorose testimonianze di Ronaldo, Zidane e Del Piero" [Doping: Incredible accounts from Ronaldo, Zidane, and Del Piero]. rainews.it/ (in Italian). RAI. 12 July 2001. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  71. ↑ Bob Hughes (31 October 2010). "A Reminder of the Beautiful Game". nytimes.com. The New York Times. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  72. ↑ "Juventus team doctor acquitted in doping case". espnfc.com. ESPN FC. 14 December 2005. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  73. 1 2 "Serie A 1999/2000". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  74. ↑ Paddy Agnew (24 June 2000). "Del Piero fuels passionate debate". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  75. ↑ "NAPOLI-JUVENTUS. I precedenti e le curiosità". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  76. ↑ "Esulta la Juve, è tornato Del Piero". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  77. ↑ "Del Piero torna leader Resterò alla Juventus". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  78. ↑ "The story of a legend". Juventus FC.
  79. ↑ Forcolin Paolo (16 October 2006). "Del Piero bussa alla storia". gazzetta.it (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  80. ↑ "Supercoppa Italiana, la Juve cerca l'aggancio al Milan". tuttosport.com/ (in Italian). Tuttosport. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  81. 1 2 "Tutti i trofei vinti da Alessandro Del Piero". ilpost.it/ (in Italian). Il Post. 9 November 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  82. ↑ "La Juve batte il Brescia 2–1 scudetto sempre più vicino". repubblica.it (in Italian). La Repubblica. 27 April 2003. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  83. ↑ "2002/03 clubs". UEFA.
  84. ↑ "Electric Juventus power past Dynamo". UEFA. 24 September 2002.
  85. ↑ "Newcastle stung by Del Piero double". UEFA. 1 October 2002.
  86. ↑ "Dramatic win not enough for Basel". UEFA. 18 March 2003.
  87. ↑ "Zalayeta sends Juventus through". UEFA. 22 April 2003.
  88. ↑ "Madrid fall to brilliant Nedved". UEFA.
  89. ↑ "2002/03: Shevchenko spot on for Milan". UEFA. 28 May 2003.
  90. ↑ Luca Curino (22 November 2008). "Quando Del Piero era riserva di Ibrahimovic" [When Dep Piero was a reserve for Ibrahimovic] (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  91. ↑ "A match that needs no introduction.". AC Milan. 22 February 2012.
  92. ↑ Arianna Ravelli (14 February 2006). "Del Piero ringrazia Capello: "Rinato grazie al turn over"". corriere.it (in Italian). Il Corriere della Sera. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  93. ↑ "DEL PIERO-CAPELLO: E' ROTTURA". tuttocalciatori.ne (in Italian). 10 May 2006. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  94. ↑ "Del Piero supera Boniperti" [Del Piero overtakes Boniperti]. juventus.com (in Italian). 10 January 2006. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  95. ↑ "La Juve festeggia lo scudetto Poker al Cagliari di Zola". repubblica.it (in Italian). La Repubblica. 29 May 2005. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  96. ↑ "Real Madrid, accordo con la Juve per Cannavaro ed Emerson". repubblica.it/ (in Italian). La Repubblica. 19 July 2006. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  97. ↑ "La sfida più difficile di Alex Del Piero". Archiviostorico.corriere.it. 1 September 2005. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  98. ↑ "Juventus 2–1 al Cesena" (in Italian) Juventus.com. 23 August 2006
  99. ↑ "Napoli – Juventus, 3–3 a.e.t. (Napoli win 5–4 on penalties)" Juventus.com. 28 August 2006
  100. ↑ "Arbitration board reduces Juventus' points penalty". ESPN. 27 October 2006.
  101. ↑ "Juventus win Serie B at a canter". BBC. 19 May 2007.
  102. ↑ "Italy – Serie B Top Scorers". RSSSF.
  103. ↑ "Adesso Del Piero è mister 200". gazzetta.it/ (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 21 October 2006. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  104. ↑ "Del Piero è meglio 'e Maradona" (in Italian). Tuttosport. 6 November 2008. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  105. ↑ Alberto Mauro (16 October 2007). "Del Piero-Juve fino al 2010 Ale: "Giorni entusiasmanti"" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  106. 1 2 "Del Piero, giorni d'oro E' nato il figlio Tobias". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  107. ↑ "Pari con polemiche tra Fiorentina e Juventus" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 7 October 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  108. ↑ Gaetano De Stefano (7 October 2007). "Nazionale, novità Montolivo A casa Del Piero e Inzaghi" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  109. ↑ "Juventus edge Lazio". Euro Sport. 15 December 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  110. ↑ "Del Piero è l'anima Juve Roma battuta e avvicinata" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 16 February 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  111. ↑ "Del Piero, 552 senza tempo" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 24 March 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  112. ↑ Pier Luigi Todisco (6 April 2008). "Juve, che doccia fredda nel momento più caldo" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  113. ↑ "Del Piero stands by for Italy as Totti gives way". Daily Mail (London). 21 April 2008.
  114. ↑ "Del Piero at the double". ESPN. 17 May 2008.
  115. ↑ "Samp-Juve show Super Del Piero è il re del gol" (in Italian). gazzetta.it. 18 May 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  116. 1 2 "Premio Nazionale Carriera Esemplare "Gaetano Scirea": Alba d'Oro". Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  117. ↑ "Del Piero: 'I'll play until I'm 40'". Football Italia.
  118. ↑ (Italian) Del Piero è infinito. Lo Zenit si arrende gazzettadellosport.it – Retrieved on 8 January 2008
  119. ↑ (Italian) Del Piero-Amauri in gol. La Juve risorge, Real k.o. gazzettadellosport.it – Retrieved on 8 January 2008
  120. ↑ "Juve enjoy high life at Madrid's expense". UEFA. 22 October 2008.
  121. ↑ Molinaro, John F. (7 November 2008). "CBC News – A class act". Cbc.ca. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  122. ↑ (Italian) Ale incanta il Bernabeu. La Juve è già qualificata gazzettadellosport.it – Retrieved on 8 January 2008
  123. ↑ Fifield, Dominic (10 March 2009). "Essien and Drogba draw the sting from 10-man Juve". London: The Guardian.
  124. ↑ Riccardo Pratesi (29 November 2008). "Super Juve sotto la neve Reggina presa a pallate" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  125. ↑ "Siena 0–3 Juventus". ESPN. 24 May 2009.
  126. ↑ "2008/09 Italian Serie A Table / Table". ESPN.
  127. ↑ "Del Piero inks new Juve deal". FIFA. 17 July 2009.
  128. ↑ "Del Piero, vittoria e record: "Punti pesantissimi"" (in Italian). Sky. 14 February 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  129. ↑ "Juventus player records". Bianconeri.Tripod.com.
  130. ↑ "Fairytale for Del Piero: a goal in his 700th game; Juve back on top". La Gazzetta dello Sport. 12 April 2012.
  131. ↑ "Del Piero celebrates his 300th goal for Juventus". Eurosport. 22 April 2010.
  132. ↑ "Del Piero record caps Juve win at Milan". UEFA. 30 October 2010.
  133. ↑ "Del Piero's black and white legacy". FIFA. 20 May 2012.
  134. ↑ "Del Piero renews contract at new stadium!". Juventus FC. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  135. ↑ Adam Bostock (24 May 2011). "Gary Neville Testimonial Report: Man United 1 Juventus 2". Man Utd.com. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  136. ↑ "Juve not retaining Del Piero". Sky Sports. 18 October 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  137. ↑ "Match report: Juventus 3 Roma 0". ESPN Soccernet. 24 January 2012.
  138. ↑ "Del Piero surprised at Agnelli's refusal to grant him Juventus extension". Goal.com. 17 April 2012.
  139. ↑ "Report: Juve 2 Milan 2". ESPN Soccernet. 20 March 2012.
  140. ↑ "Report: Juve 2 Inter 0". ESPN Soccernet. 25 March 2012.
  141. ↑ "Del Piero steals the show to send Juventus top". UEFA.com. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  142. ↑ "Report: Juve 2 Lazio 1". Goal.com. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  143. ↑ "Festa Scudetti per la Juventus". legaseriea.it (in Italian). 13 May 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  144. ↑ "Decorated veterans score on final bows". ESPN Soccernet. 13 May 2012.
  145. ↑ "Report: Juve 3 Atalanta 1". ESPN Soccernet. 13 May 2012.
  146. ↑ "Del Piero & Inzaghi wave goodbye as winners in fairytale ending". Goal.com. 13 May 2012.
  147. ↑ "Cavani and Hamsik clinch Coppa Italia and dash double dreams of Turin giants". Goal.com. 20 May 2012.
  148. ↑ "Cup glory for Napoli". Sky Sports. 20 May 2012.
  149. ↑ "Del Piero Statistics". Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  150. ↑ "Alessandro Del Piero: ESPN Profile". ESPN FC. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  151. ↑ "Juventus F.C., Statistiche Giocatori: Presenze" (in Italian). My Juve.it. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  152. ↑ "Juventus F.C., Statistiche Giocatori: Reti Segnate" (in Italian). My Juve.it. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  153. ↑ Sorin Arotaritei; Roberto Di Maggio (5 November 2015). "Italy Super Cup Finals". RSSSF. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  154. ↑ "Champions Cup / Champions League Topscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  155. ↑ "No. 10 left empty by Juve". ESNsoccernet. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  156. ↑ "Del Piero sends open letter to Juventus fans: I will always be one of you". Goal.com. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  157. ↑ "Ciao 4m Del Piero signs for two years". smh.com.au. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  158. ↑ "I declined Liverpool because of Heysel tragedy" Daily Mail 11 October 2012
  159. ↑ "Buongiorno Oz! Del Piero Signs – Official". Four Four Two. 5 September 2012.
  160. ↑ "Good luck Alex!". Juventus.com. 5 September 2012.
  161. ↑ "Inzaghi saluta Del Piero: ÂŤCiao Alex, tiferò per teÂť – Calciomercato / Calcio". Tuttosport.
  162. ↑ "Zeman: "Contento della prestazione" – Calcio – Sportmediaset". Sportmediaset.mediaset.it. 6 January 2013.
  163. 1 2 Nick Mulvenney (5 September 2012). "Del Piero deal most lucrative in Australian sport – club – Chicago Tribune". Articles.chicagotribune.com. Reuters.
  164. ↑ Sebastian Hassett (7 September 2012). "Sydney banking on Del Piero". Smh.com.au.
  165. ↑ "Blatter fa gli auguri a Del Piero tramite Twitter – TMW". Tuttomercatoweb.com. 5 December 2007.
  166. ↑ Habashy, Angela (13 October 2012). "Jets ruin Del Piero's home debut | A-League". Fox Sports.
  167. ↑ Did you want to make a comment? Use our form below… (9 October 2012). "Del Piero Hero Cam | A-League". Fox Sports.
  168. ↑ "Sky News Australia – Sport Article". Skynews.com.au.
  169. ↑ Liam FitzGibbon (28 October 2012). "Del Piero, Emerton rescue Sydney | A-League". Fox Sports.
  170. ↑ "Sydney, non-basta super Del Piero. Doppietta di Alex, ma vince il Brisbane". Sportmediaset.mediaset.it. 16 November 2012.
  171. ↑ David Sygall. "Del Piero bags four in 7–1 rout". Smh.com.au.
  172. 1 2 "Del Piero Ready To Break Record on Sunday – Sydney FC – Sydney FC 2014". Footballaustralia.com.au.
  173. ↑ "Alessandro Del Piero and Sydney FC Commit to Second Season – Sydney FC – Sydney FC 2014". Footballaustralia.com.au.
  174. ↑ "Del Piero Stunner Not Enough For Sydney – Sydney FC – Sydney FC 2014". Footballaustralia.com.au.
  175. ↑ "Del Piero named Sydney FC captain". FIFA. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  176. ↑ "Del Piero, Sydney sink Jets". A-League. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  177. ↑ "Sydney FC Home | Sydney FC". footballaustralia.com.au. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  178. 1 2 "Del Piero headlines strong Sydney FC team of the decade". Special Broadcasting Service. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  179. 1 2 "Alessandro Del Piero named on bench in PFA's A-League team of decade". The Guardian. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  180. ↑ "Alessandro del Piero to play for ISL side Delhi Dynamos". Sports-nova.com. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  181. ↑ "Del Piero set to join Delhi Dynamos". Goal. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  182. ↑ "Del Piero pens a four-month deal with Delhi Dynamos FC". Goal. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  183. ↑ "ISL: Delhi Dynamos and FC Pune City Finish 0–0; Alessandro Del Piero Dazzles on Debut". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  184. ↑ "Del Piero sparks a comeback for the visitors". Goal. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  185. ↑ "Indian Super League Wrap: Blasters into semi-finals". Four Four Two. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  186. 1 2 3 4 5 "Nazionale in cifre – FIGC: Del Piero, Alessandro". figc.it/ (in Italian). FIGC. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  187. ↑ "Instinctive Casiraghi helps Italy sink Russia". UEFA. 6 October 2003.
  188. ↑ "1996: GERMANIA". Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  189. ↑ Luca Valdiserri (9 June 1997). "Italia Brasile, un pareggio spettacolo. Ma Del Piero batte Ronaldo 2 gol a 1". corriere.it (in Italian). Il Corriere della Sera. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  190. ↑ "Francia-Italia 2–2" (in Italian). Italia 1910. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  191. ↑ "Per l'amichevole con l'Italia, Dunga lascia a casa Amauri". tuttosport.com (in Italian). Tutto Sport. 26 January 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  192. ↑ "Francia 1998 - Capitolo II: Le scelte di Cesare" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  193. ↑ "Italy – Cameroon3:0 (1:0)". FIFA. 17 June 1998.
  194. ↑ "Vieri, Baggio goals help Italy win 2–1, avoid Brazil". CNN. 15 September 1998.
  195. ↑ "Italia, la vittoria della sofferenza" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  196. ↑ "Francia avanti, ancora rigori stregati" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  197. ↑ "Euro 2000: Turchia-Italia (1–2)". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  198. ↑ "Italy foil brave Sweden". UEFA. 6 October 2003.
  199. ↑ "Euro 2000 Full-time Report: Italy v Holland (0–0)". espnfc.com. ESPN FC. 29 June 2000. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  200. ↑ "Trezeguet's golden moment". UEFA.com. 6 October 2003. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  201. ↑ "Juventus snatch dramatic title". BBC Sport. 5 May 2002. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  202. ↑ "Italy 1 Hungary 0". FIGC. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  203. ↑ Massimo Vincenzi (3 June 2002). "L'Italia parte bene Battuto l'Ecuador 2-0" [Italy starts well Ecuador defeated 2–0] (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  204. 1 2 "Gruppo G: Italia-Messico 1–1" (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  205. ↑ "Italy flop as Ahn's golden goal atones for penalty miss". The Daily Telegraph. 18 June 2002. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  206. ↑ "South Korea 2–1 Italy – as it happened". The Guardian. 18 June 2002. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  207. ↑ "UEFA Euro 2004: Statistiche". uefa.com/. UEFA. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  208. ↑ "Euro 2004: Italy squad". BBC Sport. 3 June 2004. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  209. ↑ "Italy 2-1 Bulgaria". BBC. 23 June 2004. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  210. ↑ "la storia dei campionati europei di calcio – 2004: Grecia" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  211. ↑ "World Cup 2006: Germany 0–2 Italy (aet)". BBC Sport. 4 July 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  212. ↑ "Del Piero's goal against Germany". Youtube.com.
  213. ↑ Jonathan Stevenson (9 July 2006). "World Cup 2006: Italy 1–1 France (aet)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  214. ↑ "SkySports.com". Sky Sports.com. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  215. ↑ "Azzurri, ecco i numeri a Totti va il numero 10" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 15 May 2002. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  216. ↑ Giampiero Timossi (1 February 2008). "E' un Del Piero da Nazionale" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  217. ↑ Michael Harrold (14 June 2008). "Buffon saves Italy with penalty stop". UEFA. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  218. ↑ Phil McNulty (9 June 2008). "Euro 2008: Netherlands 3–0 Italy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  219. ↑ Matthew Spiro (18 June 2008). "France sunk as Italy grab lifeline". UEFA. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  220. ↑ McNulty, Phil (22 June 2008). "Spain 0–0 Italy (4–2 penalties)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  221. ↑ Enrico Curro Nizza (20 August 2008). "La nuova Italia cerca gol e spettacolo" (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  222. ↑ Massimo Perrone (3 June 2010). "Il Mondiale 2010 in pillole" (in Italianb). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  223. ↑ "Prandelli considers Del Piero for Italy recall". Goal.com. 20 August 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  224. ↑ "There will never be another Del Piero: Juventus say arrivederci to the most loved player in their history". Goal. 21 May 2012.
  225. 1 2 "Del Piero e la Nazionale: "mai più da centrocampista"". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  226. 1 2 "7 Alessandro Del Piero". Worldcup365.com. 25 May 2006. Archived from the original on 19 November 2006. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  227. ↑ "Lo sgarbo di Del Piero "Non gioco trequartista"" (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  228. ↑ "UEFA Euro 96: Italia vs. Russia (2–1)". UEFA. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  229. ↑ Dominic Bossi (7 March 2014). "Alessandro Del Piero says Sydney A-League derby atmosphere rivals Europe's best". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  230. ↑ Henry Winter (29 May 2003). "Shevchenko the Milan master". The Telegraph. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  231. ↑ "KEY MEN". The Daily Star. 28 May 2003. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  232. ↑ "Europeran Football: Bergkamp ban lifted". The Independent. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  233. 1 2 3 4 Nada Grkinic (26 May 2003). "Alessandro the Great". BBC. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  234. ↑ Rob Hughes (15 April 1998). "Del Piero Wants Big Money and Wants It Now: Striker With a Goal: Turning Juve's Tables". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  235. ↑ Rupert Webster (1 January 2007). "PIPPO MILAN'S MAN". Sky Sports. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  236. ↑ "Zeman-Juventus, tutte le dichiarazioni di "guerra"". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  237. ↑ "Madrid fall to brilliant Nedved". UEFA. 15 May 2003.
  238. ↑ "Del Piero e Trezeguet lanciano la sfida alla Roma" [Del Piero and Trezeguet launch their duel with Roma] (in Italian). la Repubblica. 13 December 2004. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  239. ↑ "Gli eroi in bianconero: Alessandro DEL PIERO". Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  240. ↑ "I 10 migliori rigoristi della storia della Serie A". Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  241. ↑ "Juventus: una punizione di Del Piero lancia i bianconeri alla vittoria 2–0 contro il Chievo". Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  242. ↑ "Garlando (Gazzetta): "Ferito e affamato, Del Piero esempio anti-crisi"". Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  243. ↑ Alessandra Bocci; Silvano Stella (19 January 1998). "Baggio, meglio a casa che in panchina: "sono schifato"" [Baggio, better at home than on the bench: "I'm disgusted"] (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  244. 1 2 "Alessandro Del Piero". Espnfc. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  245. ↑ "Pirlo eyes Mihajlovic record". Football Italia. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  246. ↑ Gilbert, Dan (22 July 2009). "Calcio Italia 150 issue, Calcio Icons, Del Piero". Channel4.com. Archived from the original on 4 January 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  247. ↑ "Alessandro Del Piero". Archived from the original on 4 January 2009. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  248. ↑ "I gol "alla Del Piero"". Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  249. ↑ "RAGAZZI, TIRATE COME LUI". Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  250. ↑ "Del Piero e la voglia di futuro A trent' anni non si è decrepiti". Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  251. ↑ "Il " soldatino " scherza sul gol alla Del Piero: " Alex ha imparato da me "". Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  252. ↑ Camillo Demichelis (9 November 2011). "Le 10 perle più belle di Alessandro Del Piero" [The 10 most beautiful peals [goals] of Alessandro Del Piero]. tuttojuve.com (in Italian). Tutto Juve. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  253. ↑ "Le cinque esultanze "magiche" di Del Piero" [Del Piero's five "magical" goal celebrations]. tuttosport.com. Tutto Sport. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  254. ↑ "Del Piero per sempre Juve "Mai pensato di andar via"". Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  255. ↑ "Del Piero, così no". Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  256. ↑ "Juve-Zenit, Del Piero sull'esultanza: "La mia prima capriola"". Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  257. ↑ "I primi 40 anni di Del Piero. Anche Totti gli fa gli auguri" (in Italian). Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  258. ↑ "Del Piero, dribbling sull'altare". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 13 June 2005. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  259. ↑ Congratulations, Captain! Juventus.com. 22 October 2007.
  260. ↑ "Del Piero papa". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 5 May 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  261. ↑ "Five of us" Official website. 12 September 2010.
  262. ↑ "Also Alex with the Olympic flame" Juventus.com. 10 February 2006
  263. ↑ "FIFA World Cup @ Yahoo.com". Fifaworldcup.yahoo.com. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  264. ↑ "Del Piero, Italy's Stoical Substitute". Reuters. 13 June 2000. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012.
  265. ↑ "InternetBookShop.it". InternetBookShop.it. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  266. ↑ "The Rolling Stones cover The White Stripes!". NME.com. 12 July 2006. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  267. ↑ "Del Piero gets shirty with Noel". The Sun (London). 8 November 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  268. ↑ "A Soccer Hero Adored Around the World".
  269. ↑ "Del Piero professore per un giorno alla Sorbona – Sport – Sky.it". Sport.
  270. ↑ "Save the Dream". Alessandro Del Piero.
  271. ↑ "Del Piero batte Ronaldo all'asta di beneficenza". gazzetta.it. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  272. ↑ "Airc, maratona in Rai per i fondi alla ricerca". corriere.it. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  273. ↑ "Premio Credere nella Ricerca". sportwide.net. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  274. ↑ "Alex Del Piero e Nedved giocano a golf per beneficenza". gossipnews.it. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  275. ↑ "Olimpico esaurito per la Partita del cuore". corriere.it. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  276. ↑ "La maglia di Del Piero all'asta per beneficenza". Tuttojuve.com.
  277. ↑ "RACCOLTI $303,880.00". Alessandro Del Piero. 13 September 2011.
  278. ↑ "Golf E Beneficenza". Alessandro Del Piero. 27 May 2011.
  279. ↑ "Gol A Kashima". Alessandro Del Piero. 21 July 2012.
  280. ↑ "Una Penna Preziosa". Alessandro Del Piero.
  281. 1 2 "Alessandro Del Piero, solidale". Alessandrodelpiero.com.
  282. ↑ "Inauguration of the "Ayrton" exhibition". ADPLOG. 19 February 2015.
  283. ↑ "Pepsi Commercial". Youtube.com.
  284. ↑ "Del Piero, che faccia da spot". gazzetta.it. 8 May 1998.
  285. ↑ "Alessandro Del Piero Mr. Burgman". YouTube. 22 July 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  286. ↑ "FIFA Football 2004". UEFA. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  287. ↑ "Xbox 360 – Alex Del Piero testimonial di EA Sports Mondiali FIFA 2006". xboxway.com (in Italian). 24 March 2006. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  288. ↑ "Del Piero Confirmed as PES 2010 Italian Cover Star". Winningelevenblog.com. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  289. 1 2 3 4 5 "Juventus, Del Piero: Due gol... per Mihajlovic | Altre notizie". Calciomercato.com. 4 February 2014.
  290. ↑ "Alessandro Del Piero: statistiche gol fatti – Juworld.NET – Juventus World: il portale dei tifosi Juventini". Juworld.NET.
  291. ↑ "Del Piero, conto alla rovescia, Tutti i record che puň battere – La Gazzetta dello Sport". Gazzetta.it.
  292. ↑ "I numeri di Alessandro Del Piero". En.alessandrodelpiero.com.
  293. ↑ "Record da fedelissimo, Ma Del Piero č amaro – La Gazzetta dello Sport". Gazzetta.it. 13 October 2010.
  294. 1 2 "Alessandro Del Piero: Palmares". alessandrodelpiero.com/. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  295. ↑ "ESM XI". rsssf.com. RSSSF. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  296. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Alessandro Del Piero: Awards & Records". alessandrodelpiero.com. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  297. ↑ Christopher Davies (5 March 2004). "Pele open to ridicule over top hundred". telegraph.co.uk. The Telegraph. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  298. ↑ "Zinedine Zidane voted top player by fans" (PDF). uefa.com. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  299. ↑ "CALCIO, PREMIO PRISCO A SENSI, DEL PIERO E GIAMPAOLO" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 5 April 2006. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  300. ↑ "Notizie". Conipiemonte.net.
  301. ↑ "Premio Gentleman: riconoscimenti a Del Piero e Maldini" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 8 May 2006. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  302. ↑ "Milano 2006 - Premio Gentleman" (in Italian). Premio Gentleman. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  303. ↑ "Golden Foot Legends". goldenfoot.com. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  304. ↑ "Telegatti, vince anche Fiorello" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 26 January 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  305. ↑ "PALLONE D'ARGENTO A EL SHAARAWY: L'ALBO D'ORO". acmilan.com (in Italian). 12 May 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  306. ↑ "Premio Internazionale Sport Civiltà ad Alessandro Del Piero" (in Italian). Tuttosport. 12 November 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  307. ↑ "Wall of Fame". Globe Soccer.com. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  308. ↑ "Premio Fair Play Novara: vince Del Piero | Altre notizie". Calciomercato.com. 4 February 2014.
  309. 1 2 "Alessandro Del Piero Wins Sydney FC Player of the Year Award – Sydney FC – Sydney FC 2014". Footballaustralia.com.au. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  310. ↑ "Videos | Sydney FC". Footballaustralia.com.au. 2 October 2012.
  311. ↑ "PFA Team of the Season named – Football Australia 2013". Footballaustralia.com.au.
  312. ↑ "Del Piero rocket voted goal of the season – Football Australia 2013". Footballaustralia.com.au.
  313. ↑ Justin Huntsdale (4 August 2014). "Del Piero excited for All Stars game and beyond". ABC.net. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  314. ↑ "Sydney FC inducts greats into Hall Of Fame". A-League. 16 March 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  315. ↑ "Collar of Merit Sports Mr. Alessandro Del Piero". Coni.it. 23 February 2014.

Bibliography

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Antonio Conte		 Juventus F.C. captain
2001–2012 		Succeeded by
Gianluigi Buffon
Preceded by
Giampiero Boniperti		 Juventus Highest Goal-Scorer
30 October 2010–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Gaetano Scirea		 Juventus Highest Capped
6 April 2008–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alessandro Del Piero.
Wikiquote has quotations related to: Alessandro Del Piero

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, February 02, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.