Il Capitano Alessandro Del Piero (85 Viewers)
- Thread starter Chxta
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, why It's taking you time to post here you bitch
found this on goal.com apparently every week they chose a player to talk about thought u guys would be interested in this:
European Player Of The Week: Alessandro Del Piero
In the line of duty, Alessandro Del Piero, possibly the most gifted Italian player of the last twenty years, remains, with steadfast loyalty, to the club he loves most, Juventus. A great thing for a player who just three months ago celebrated the World Cup title and now has to play in Serie B after the Italian judiciaries demoted the Turin club for the notoriety they achieved through the infamous match-fixing scandal.
Gifted with accurate passing skills and impressive vision, Alessandro - even though he started his career as a fully-fledged forward - quickly settled into the role of the support striker. His creative abilities were on display whatever the coach's formation, whoever was by his side and whichever team he played for (Juventus or Italy).
Born in Conegliano in 1974, Del Piero caught the eye when playing for his hometown team San Vendemiano. At the age of 16, he started his professional career at Serie B side Padova. After only 14 games and with most Italian football observers having heard of his precocious talent, Del Piero joined Juventus in 1991.
Marcello Lippi, in arguably the most brilliant inspiration of his career, elected to build his team around the promising youngster rather than the successful and highly effective Roberto Baggio, and was paid back as he saw Juvenus lifting trophy after trophy.
In the 1994/95 season the young Del Piero won his first ever scudetto and since then he has won six more Italian titles, the most recent of which came last season, with Del Piero weighing in with 14 goals. Between his first two scudettos came one of his biggest triumphs, the Champions League trophy in 1996. But the crowning moment that season for “Alexander the Great”, as he was nicknamed many times, was his wonderful goal from a corner-kick against River Plate that secured victory for Juventus in the Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo.
With Juventus Del Piero has made over 330 appearances and last season became the club's all-time record goalscorer with over 180 goals in all competitions.
However good he is though, he has never managed to capitalize on his success with Juventus in the national team, as despite his incredible club scoring record and all-round play, Del Piero has never been considered an unquestionable choice for Italy’s starting XI.
Of course Alessandro has done his duty for his nation, scoring 25 goals in over 70 appearances for his country.
A serious knee injury suffered in 1998 was a major setback for Del Piero and marked a turning point in his career. When he returned, Juventus kept faith with “Pinturicchi” (a nickname earned from Gianni Agnelli, the owner of Juventus at the time, for his eye for goal) and continued to pick him in an attempt to coax the best from a player with little to prove in terms of ability and success.
Del Piero adapted his game to suit his loss of speed and was rewarded with a return to form, taking part in highly creative combinations with Zinedine Zidane and Filipo Inzaghi first, and later with Pavel Nedved and David Trezeguet.
Since the comeback of Alessandro, Juventus seemed to be in another golden era of their history, winning consecutive titles. Everything changed though last season when they were linked to the biggest Italian match-fixing scandal. The general manager of Juventus, Luciano Moggi, was identified as the big brain behind the match-fixing of many games in Serie A and B and maybe in the Champions League.
The Italian players, ashamed by the reputation they earned for being apprentices of this system, washed away their disgrace by winning the World Cup last summer in Germany. Del Piero was in the squad, and although not one of those who made the most impact, contributed appreciably to Italy’s success.
La Vecchia Signora were punished with demotion soon after the celebrations for the big trophy and Del Piero could have chosen to leave Juventus and Serie B for something better. This option, however, never crossed the mind of the captain.
First love is always the first love and Del Piero is not willing at all to give up the club that made him famous at the worst turn of their long history. Juventus’ all-time top scorer will stay there to lead them back to Serie A and take his place in the history books alongside the other famous Bianconeri.
And his reward this week was a coveted recall to the Azzurri squad for the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers.
Michael Paterakis
European Player Of The Week: Alessandro Del Piero
In the line of duty, Alessandro Del Piero, possibly the most gifted Italian player of the last twenty years, remains, with steadfast loyalty, to the club he loves most, Juventus. A great thing for a player who just three months ago celebrated the World Cup title and now has to play in Serie B after the Italian judiciaries demoted the Turin club for the notoriety they achieved through the infamous match-fixing scandal.
Gifted with accurate passing skills and impressive vision, Alessandro - even though he started his career as a fully-fledged forward - quickly settled into the role of the support striker. His creative abilities were on display whatever the coach's formation, whoever was by his side and whichever team he played for (Juventus or Italy).
Born in Conegliano in 1974, Del Piero caught the eye when playing for his hometown team San Vendemiano. At the age of 16, he started his professional career at Serie B side Padova. After only 14 games and with most Italian football observers having heard of his precocious talent, Del Piero joined Juventus in 1991.
Marcello Lippi, in arguably the most brilliant inspiration of his career, elected to build his team around the promising youngster rather than the successful and highly effective Roberto Baggio, and was paid back as he saw Juvenus lifting trophy after trophy.
In the 1994/95 season the young Del Piero won his first ever scudetto and since then he has won six more Italian titles, the most recent of which came last season, with Del Piero weighing in with 14 goals. Between his first two scudettos came one of his biggest triumphs, the Champions League trophy in 1996. But the crowning moment that season for “Alexander the Great”, as he was nicknamed many times, was his wonderful goal from a corner-kick against River Plate that secured victory for Juventus in the Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo.
With Juventus Del Piero has made over 330 appearances and last season became the club's all-time record goalscorer with over 180 goals in all competitions.
However good he is though, he has never managed to capitalize on his success with Juventus in the national team, as despite his incredible club scoring record and all-round play, Del Piero has never been considered an unquestionable choice for Italy’s starting XI.
Of course Alessandro has done his duty for his nation, scoring 25 goals in over 70 appearances for his country.
A serious knee injury suffered in 1998 was a major setback for Del Piero and marked a turning point in his career. When he returned, Juventus kept faith with “Pinturicchi” (a nickname earned from Gianni Agnelli, the owner of Juventus at the time, for his eye for goal) and continued to pick him in an attempt to coax the best from a player with little to prove in terms of ability and success.
Del Piero adapted his game to suit his loss of speed and was rewarded with a return to form, taking part in highly creative combinations with Zinedine Zidane and Filipo Inzaghi first, and later with Pavel Nedved and David Trezeguet.
Since the comeback of Alessandro, Juventus seemed to be in another golden era of their history, winning consecutive titles. Everything changed though last season when they were linked to the biggest Italian match-fixing scandal. The general manager of Juventus, Luciano Moggi, was identified as the big brain behind the match-fixing of many games in Serie A and B and maybe in the Champions League.
The Italian players, ashamed by the reputation they earned for being apprentices of this system, washed away their disgrace by winning the World Cup last summer in Germany. Del Piero was in the squad, and although not one of those who made the most impact, contributed appreciably to Italy’s success.
La Vecchia Signora were punished with demotion soon after the celebrations for the big trophy and Del Piero could have chosen to leave Juventus and Serie B for something better. This option, however, never crossed the mind of the captain.
First love is always the first love and Del Piero is not willing at all to give up the club that made him famous at the worst turn of their long history. Juventus’ all-time top scorer will stay there to lead them back to Serie A and take his place in the history books alongside the other famous Bianconeri.
And his reward this week was a coveted recall to the Azzurri squad for the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers.
Michael Paterakis
Luca Toni on todays training.
Toni: I can't Imagine Euro08 without Italy, They're saying that we're no more capable of winning after clinching the World Cup, and I simply disagree with that because whoever is watching our training and specially Del Piero the way he's running and training himself will realize that we're ready and up to It.
Source: Rai, and Fiorentina's website.
Toni: I can't Imagine Euro08 without Italy, They're saying that we're no more capable of winning after clinching the World Cup, and I simply disagree with that because whoever is watching our training and specially Del Piero the way he's running and training himself will realize that we're ready and up to It.
Source: Rai, and Fiorentina's website.
Lets just hope alex can turn Italy around.. Italy wasn't too hungry for the first 3 matches.. they undestimated, and were simply outplayed.. but now its different.. just by reading the headlines, and looking at the pics from training.. u can see a new hunger players.. I think the big names for the next two games will be toni an del piero.
