Alessandro Del Piero
Alessandro Del Piero | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 9, 1974 Conegliano, Veneto, Italy |
| Occupation(s) | Footballer (retired), Sports analyst |
| Years active | 1991–2014 (football player), 2015–present (analyst) |
| Known for | Professional football career mainly as second striker; analyst for Sky Sport Italia |
Alessandro Del Piero (; born 9 November 1974) is a retired Italian professional football player, mainly positioned as a second striker. Since 2015, he has been serving as an analyst for Sky Sport Italia.
Known for his technical skill and inventive attacking style, Del Piero was also distinguished as an expert in free-kick execution. He earned the Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year accolade twice, in 1998 and 2008, and received several nominations for both the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards.
Del Piero ranks as the second highest scorer among Italian players across all competitions with a total of 346 goals, surpassed only by Silvio Piola. In Serie A history, he is tied for ninth place with 188 goals. Beginning his professional journey at Padova in Serie B in 1991, he moved to Juventus in 1993. Over a span of 19 seasons, including 11 years as captain, he set club records for most goals scored (290) and appearances made (705). During his time with Juventus, he secured six Serie A championships, one Coppa Italia, four Supercoppa Italiana trophies, along with victories in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Intertoto Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup.
Following his departure from Juventus in 2012, Del Piero spent two seasons playing for Australian club Sydney FC before concluding his playing career in 2014 after a stint with Delhi Dynamos FC in the Indian Super League.
He managed to score in every tournament he took part in. In 2004, Pelé included him in the prestigious FIFA 100, a list recognizing the top 125 living footballers during FIFA's centenary. Additionally, he was selected in the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll as one of Europe's finest players over the previous five decades. Alongside six Italian awards honoring fair play and sportsmanship, he was honored with the Golden Foot, celebrating both his character and footballing talent.
On the international stage, Del Piero represented Italy in three FIFA World Cup tournaments and four editions of the UEFA European Football Championship, achieving victory at the 2006 World Cup and finishing second at UEFA Euro 2000. With 27 international goals, he shares fourth place among Italy’s top scorers alongside Roberto Baggio, trailing only Silvio Piola (30), Giuseppe Meazza (33), and Luigi Riva (35). His 91 appearances rank him eleventh on Italy’s all-time list. Throughout his entire career, Del Piero amassed a total of 462 goals.
Early life
Alessandro Del Piero was born in Conegliano, Veneto, to parents Gino, who worked as an electrician, and Bruna, who was employed as a housekeeper. During his childhood, he frequently played football alongside friends Nelso and Pierpaolo; although all aspired to professional careers, only Del Piero achieved this goal. His elder brother Stefano had a brief professional tenure with U.C. Sampdoria before an injury forced him to retire; Stefano later became Alessandro’s agent. The family resided in Saccon, a small rural village within San Vendemiano. Due to limited opportunities for travel during his youth, Del Piero once contemplated pursuing a career as a truck driver to explore different places.
While playing for San Vendemiano’s youth team, Del Piero initially took up the goalkeeper role to ensure more playing time; his mother believed this position minimized physical strain and injury risk. However, noticing Alessandro’s offensive abilities, his brother Stefano encouraged him to switch from goalkeeper to an attacking role.
1991–1993: Early beginnings and Padova debut
Del Piero embarked on his professional football path in 1981 with San Vendemiano before joining the youth ranks of Padova in 1988. At just 16 years old, he made his first appearance for Padova's senior team during the 1991–92 Serie B campaign, netting his inaugural professional goal in November 1992. In 1993, Juventus secured Del Piero’s transfer for five billion lire, offering him an annual wage of 150 million lire.
1993–1998: Initial domestic and continental achievements
Upon signing with Juventus in 1993, Del Piero initially featured for the Primavera squad, playing a key role in their triumphs at the 1994 Torneo di Viareggio and the U-20 championship. That same year, he made his Serie A debut and impressively scored a hat-trick during his first full starting appearance. Throughout the season, he appeared 14 times in Serie A and scored five goals as Juventus secured second place.
During Marcello Lippi’s tenure from 1994 to 1995, Del Piero rose to prominence following Roberto Baggio’s injury, contributing significantly to Juventus clinching their first scudetto in nearly a decade as well as the Coppa Italia, while finishing as UEFA Cup runners-up. Known as Pinturicchio for his refined playing style, he achieved fourth place in the 1995 Ballon d'Or rankings. Over his time at Juventus, the club won eight Serie A titles, although two were later revoked due to the 2006 scandal.
In the 1995–96 season, Del Piero took over Baggio’s iconic No. 10 shirt, registering six goals and ten assists in Serie A. He also helped Juventus capture both the Supercoppa Italiana and the UEFA Champions League, finishing as the competition’s second-highest scorer. The subsequent season brought victories in the UEFA Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup—where he earned Man of the Match honors—and he received the Bravo Award as Europe’s best player under 23. Juventus also secured another Serie A crown and reached a consecutive Champions League final; Del Piero scored during that campaign but missed the final due to injury.
In 1997–98, Del Piero spearheaded a formidable attack alongside Zidane and Inzaghi, achieving a personal best of 21 Serie A goals and finishing as top scorer in the Champions League with ten goals, including a hat-trick in the semi-finals against Monaco. Juventus won their 25th Serie A title after a tight contest with Inter Milan; Del Piero netted a crucial goal in the Derby d'Italia. He was honored as Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year and earned another Ballon d'Or nomination. Supporters nicknamed him Il Fenomeno Vero ("The Real Phenomenon"), drawing comparisons to Ronaldo.
1998–2001: Challenges with injuries
Juventus opened the 1998–99 Serie A season with a 2–1 defeat in the 1998 Supercoppa Italiana against Lazio, although Del Piero scored from a penalty kick. On November 8, 1998, he suffered a severe knee injury late in a 2–2 draw versus Udinese, which sidelined him for the rest of that season; he managed only two goals during this period. Juventus struggled without his presence and finished sixth in Serie A but reached the semi-finals of the 1998–99 UEFA Champions League, where they lost to eventual winners Manchester United.
After recovering from injury, Del Piero focused on muscle strengthening programs to adapt to football’s growing physical demands, compensating for diminished speed and agility. During this phase of physical adjustment amid Juventus's success in the late ‘90s, allegations arose accusing Del Piero and other club members of illicit performance-enhancing drug use; however, after thorough investigations concluding by 2005, all were exonerated.
With Carlo Ancelotti appointed manager for the following season, Del Piero shifted primarily into a playmaking role, leading Serie A with 14 assists and totaling 20 across all competitions. Despite this creative output, he faced criticism for scoring just one goal from open play in Serie A that year, with most goals coming from penalties. His attacking partnership with Inzaghi weakened due to both personal and tactical difficulties. Nonetheless, Del Piero aided Juventus in winning the 1999 UEFA Intertoto Cup, securing qualification for the UEFA Cup, and ended the season with 12 goals overall as Juventus narrowly missed out on the league title. By 2000, he was recognized as football’s highest-paid player worldwide when combining salary, bonuses, and endorsements.
During the 2000–01 campaign, Juventus again fell short of claiming Serie A glory, this time losing out to Roma. Del Piero began strongly by scoring a winning goal against Napoli on September 30 but later endured another injury and a prolonged goal drought. He finally ended this dry spell on February 18, 2001 with a goal against Bari, which he dedicated to his late father. Although regaining form toward season’s end, he could not prevent Juventus from missing out on the championship despite scoring in an important draw against Roma.
2001–2004: Emerging Triumphs
Upon Marcello Lippi's return, Del Piero was appointed captain of Juventus and partnered with French forward David Trezeguet (who joined in 2000) and Czech midfielder Pavel Nedvěd (signed in 2001) to create a formidable attacking trio. Del Piero contributed 16 goals and numerous assists as Juventus secured their 26th Serie A championship on 5 May 2002. They narrowly surpassed Roma and Inter Milan by a single point, clinching the title with a 2–0 victory over Udinese, featuring strikes from both Trezeguet and Del Piero. Throughout that season, he tallied 21 goals across all competitions, including his 100th and 101st goals for the club against Venezia on 26 August 2001. Juventus also reached the 2002 Coppa Italia Final, where they were defeated by Parma.
By winning the 2002 league title, Juventus earned direct entry into the 2002–03 UEFA Champions League. The season commenced with Juventus capturing the 2002 Supercoppa Italiana against Parma, with Del Piero netting a brace. Juventus successfully retained their Serie A crown in the 2002–03 campaign, during which Del Piero scored his 100th Serie A goal in a 2–1 triumph over Brescia on 27 April 2003.
In the Champions League group stage, Juventus topped Group E, competing against Newcastle United, Dynamo Kyiv, and Feyenoord. Del Piero found the net in a commanding 5–0 win over Dynamo Kyiv on 24 September and scored twice against Newcastle on 1 October. Advancing to the second group phase alongside Manchester United, Juventus edged out both FC Basel and Deportivo de La Coruña on goal difference. In the quarter-finals, they overcame Barcelona thanks to an extra-time goal by Marcelo Zalayeta. The semi-finals saw them overturn a first-leg deficit to defeat defending champions Real Madrid with a 3–1 home victory that featured goals from all three forwards.
Juventus met Italian rivals AC Milan in the 2003 UEFA Champions League Final on 28 May. After a goalless draw through extra time, Juventus were defeated 3–2 in the penalty shootout despite Del Piero successfully converting his penalty.
In the subsequent season, Juventus won the 2003 Supercoppa Italiana against Milan on penalties but were eliminated in the round of 16 of the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League. They concluded the 2003–04 Serie A campaign in third place and reached the 2004 Coppa Italia Final, where they lost to Lazio. At season’s end, Lippi left to take charge of Italy’s national team.
2004–2006: Calciopoli Scandal and Relegation
Following Euro 2004, Juventus replaced Marcello Lippi with manager Fabio Capello, who frequently preferred younger signing Zlatan Ibrahimović over Del Piero, limiting his appearances. Despite this reduced playing time, Del Piero managed to score 14 goals, playing a key role in Juventus securing their 28th league title, including providing a crucial assist in a victory over Milan at the San Siro. He also contributed to Juventus reaching the quarter-finals of the 2004–05 UEFA Champions League, where they were eliminated by eventual champions Liverpool.
During the 2005–06 Serie A, Del Piero regained form by scoring 12 league goals and totaling 20 across all competitions, helping Juventus defend their Serie A crown. However, Capello increasingly utilized him as an impact substitute, which caused tension between player and coach due to diminished playing opportunities.
On 10 January 2006, Del Piero became Juventus’ top scorer of all time by netting his 185th goal for the club, surpassing Giampiero Boniperti’s previous record of 182. He finished as leading scorer in the Coppa Italia, with five goals, and equaled José Altafini’s Serie A record by scoring six goals as a substitute. Nevertheless, following the Calciopoli scandal, Juventus faced relegation and had their two most recent Serie A titles revoked.
2006–2007: Triumph in Serie B
After Juventus was relegated to Serie B and their recent scudetti titles were annulled, Del Piero chose to remain as the team's captain. He highlighted his dedication by stating that "The Agnelli family deserve this, as do the fans and the new directors." Although several key players left the club, including Fabio Cannavaro, Emerson, and Zlatan Ibrahimović, Del Piero stayed on to spearhead Juventus's campaign for promotion.
Del Piero made his first appearance following the 2006 FIFA World Cup during a Coppa Italia fixture against Cesena on 23 August 2006. Coming off the bench in the 74th minute, he scored the decisive goal within nine seconds. In the subsequent Coppa Italia game against Napoli, he netted two goals after being substituted in, although Juventus eventually fell in a penalty shootout.
Despite starting the season with a nine-point penalty due to the scandal, Juventus achieved promotion by clinching the Serie B championship. Del Piero concluded the season as the league’s leading scorer with 20 goals and celebrated his 200th goal for Juventus on 21 October 2006 during a 1–0 victory over Frosinone.
2007–2011: Serie A Return and Post-Calciopoli Challenges
Upon Juventus's ascent back to Serie A, Del Piero underwent protracted contract discussions with new club management but eventually secured an agreement extending through June 2010. Shortly thereafter, he welcomed his first child. This positive turn followed a phase where he had been omitted from both Juventus and Italy lineups.
On 15 December 2007, Del Piero scored twice in a match against Lazio, earning back-to-back Serie A team of the week distinctions. In February 2008, he delivered a crucial free-kick goal in a narrow 1–0 triumph over Roma. By April, he had surpassed Gaetano Scirea’s record for Juventus appearances and impressively scored seven goals across five Serie A matches, including a hat-trick versus Atalanta.
In the closing round of the 2007–08 season, Del Piero netted two goals in a thrilling 3–3 draw against Sampdoria, securing his inaugural Capocannonieri title with 21 goals—outscoring teammate David Trezeguet by one. He became only the second Italian player after Paolo Rossi to claim consecutive top scorer awards in two different leagues. On 26 July, Del Piero was honored with the Scirea Award. Juventus finished third in Serie A that season, qualifying for the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League.
Coach Claudio Ranieri anticipated an equally strong or improved season from Del Piero in 2008. In August, Del Piero declared his intention to continue playing professionally until age 40. During Juventus's Champions League group stage featuring Real Madrid and Zenit Saint Petersburg, Del Piero marked their return with a match-winning free kick against Zenit. On 21 October, he scored an exquisite curling goal contributing to Juventus’s 2–1 win over Real Madrid.
On 5 November 2008, Juventus secured a 2–0 victory at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium with Del Piero scoring both goals and receiving acclaim from both team managers. Fans gave him a standing ovation when he was substituted. Despite Del Piero converting a penalty during their Champions League second-round tie against Chelsea, Juventus’s campaign ended at that stage.
On 29 November 2008, Del Piero scored his milestone 250th goal for Juventus via penalty in a comprehensive 4–0 win over Reggina. He played a pivotal role in helping Juventus finish second in Serie A behind Inter Milan by inspiring late-season victories over Siena and Lazio.
On 17 July 2009, Del Piero extended his contract until June 2011, signaling his desire to conclude his career at Juventus. He expressed ambitions to remain competitive for at least another two seasons. On 14 February 2010, he set a new club record for Serie A appearances by scoring twice against Genoa. By season’s end, he had become Juventus’s all-time leading scorer with more than 250 goals and exceeded 600 official appearances—surpassing Scirea’s record for appearances.
On 14 March 2010, Del Piero achieved another personal milestone by surpassing 300 career goals during a draw with Siena. On 30 October, he became Juventus’s top Serie A scorer with his 179th league goal in a victory over Milan, cementing his status as the club’s most prolific marksman.
On 5 February 2011, Del Piero became Juventus’s most capped player ever by overtaking Giampiero Boniperti’s appearance record. At that time, he ranked as the third most capped active player in Serie A behind Javier Zanetti and Francesco Totti. On 5 May, he signed an extension keeping him at the club through June 2012. Later that month on 24 May, he participated in Gary Neville’s testimonial match against Manchester United at Old Trafford and received a standing ovation upon being substituted.
2011–2012: Final Season Triumph with Juventus
On 18 October 2011, Juventus officially announced that the 2011–12 Serie A season would mark Del Piero's concluding year at the club. With the arrival of forward Mirko Vučinić and under the guidance of new coach Antonio Conte, Del Piero's role was reduced, primarily featuring as a substitute. In the opening match against Parma on 11 September, he provided an assist to Simone Pepe in a convincing 4–1 victory. He netted his first goal at the newly inaugurated Juventus Stadium on 24 January 2012 during a 3–0 Coppa Italia quarter-final triumph over Roma. Subsequently, Del Piero voiced his astonishment regarding Juventus president Andrea Agnelli's decision not to extend his contract.
During the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg versus Milan, Del Piero scored a critical goal that helped Juventus advance to the final with an aggregate score of 4–3. On 25 March, he registered his first Serie A goal of the campaign in a 2–0 win against Inter Milan. Celebrating his 700th appearance for Juventus on 11 April, he scored from a free kick to secure a 2–1 victory over Lazio, propelling Juventus back to the summit of Serie A.
In the final league fixture on 13 May against Atalanta, Del Piero opened the scoring as Juventus clinched their 28th Serie A championship, completing an unbeaten season. He was substituted after 59 minutes, receiving an emotional farewell in what marked their last Serie A game together.
Del Piero’s ultimate appearance for Juventus took place during the 2012 Coppa Italia Final on 20 May against Napoli, which ended in a 2–0 loss. He was replaced in the 67th minute and was honored with standing ovations from both sets of supporters. After nearly twenty years with Juventus, he became a free agent but chose not to retire immediately.
Throughout his tenure, Del Piero set numerous club records: 705 appearances and 290 goals across all competitions, including 188 goals and 108 assists in 478 Serie A matches—ranking him as Serie A’s third-highest assist provider behind Totti and Roberto Baggio. He is Juventus's leading scorer and holds the second-most appearances in the UEFA Champions League with 44 goals in 92 matches. Additionally, he leads the club in goals scored in European contests (50 in 125 games), international tournaments (54 in 131), and holds the record for most goals in the Supercoppa Italiana (3 goals from 6 appearances). His records also include being Juventus's top scorer in Serie B with 21 goals and second-highest scorer in the Coppa Italia with 25 goals.
Together with Giuseppe Signori and Alberto Gilardino, Del Piero ranks ninth among all-time Serie A scorers and shares the record for most goals in the Supercoppa Italiana alongside Samuel Eto'o, Andriy Shevchenko, and Carlos Tevez. As of May 2025, he stands joint nineteenth among all-time UEFA Champions League goal scorers with 42 goals.
Del Piero declined Juventus’s proposal to retire his No. 10 jersey, expressing his wish for it to remain available for future players. On 30 June, he released an open letter expressing gratitude toward Juventus supporters for their unwavering backing throughout his career and conveyed readiness to embrace new opportunities beyond the club.
Sydney FC
On 5 September 2012, Del Piero inked a two-year contract with Sydney FC, reportedly earning around AU$3.5 million annually, which made him Australia's highest-paid footballer at that time. Before this move, he had been linked with Liverpool F.C., but declined due to personal reasons related to the Heysel tragedy.
Del Piero expressed excitement about helping elevate Australian football, describing it as a "very big moment" professionally. Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow hailed the signing as historic, while Football Federation Australia CEO Ben Buckley viewed it as crucial for both economic growth and technical advancement of the sport locally. Sydney FC manager Ian Crook intended to center the team's attacking strategy around Del Piero’s wealth of experience. FIFA President Sepp Blatter also extended his congratulations.
Making his A-League debut on 6 October 2012 in a match that ended with a 2–0 defeat to Wellington Phoenix, Del Piero soon opened his scoring account on 13 October by converting a free-kick against Newcastle Jets. He then netted the decisive goal during the inaugural Sydney Derby on 20 October. On 19 January 2013, Del Piero scored four times and assisted once during a commanding 7–1 win over Wellington Phoenix—his highest single-game tally. By February, he had broken Sydney FC’s single-season scoring record with eleven goals and concluded the season with fourteen goals across twenty-four appearances; however, Sydney failed to qualify for playoffs. He subsequently extended his contract through to 2014.
For the 2013–14 season, Del Piero was appointed Sydney's captain. He opened that season’s scoring and finished as Sydney FC’s top scorer with ten goals, earning the club’s Golden Boot award. He played a key role in securing a finals berth but was released at season's end. His last match came during an elimination final defeat by Melbourne Victory on 18 April 2014.
On 10 August 2014, Del Piero captained the Hyundai A-League All Stars team facing Juventus in Sydney before an audience exceeding 55,000 spectators; he received standing ovations upon being substituted.
In April 2015, Del Piero was honored by being named both to Sydney FC's team of the decade and to the AFC team of the decade—testaments to his enduring influence on Australian football.
Delhi Dynamos
On 23 August 2014, Delhi Dynamos, a franchise in the Indian Super League (ISL), initiated discussions with Alessandro Del Piero. His brother Stefano acknowledged considerable global interest in the player. Subsequently, on 28 August, Del Piero signed a contract lasting four months with the club based in Delhi, reportedly becoming the highest-earning footballer in India's history.
Del Piero made his first appearance on 14 October during a goalless draw against Pune City, where he played alongside his former Juventus colleague David Trezeguet. On 9 December, he netted his sole goal for Delhi Dynamos from a free kick in a 2–2 draw against Chennaiyin FC. Over the season, he featured in 10 matches, with the team finishing fifth—missing the playoff stage by just a single point.
Retirement
In October 2015, after nearly a year without affiliation to any club, Del Piero formally announced his retirement from professional football and revealed his plans to embark on a coaching career.
1995–1998: Euro 1996 and 1998 World Cup
Alessandro Del Piero ranks as Italy's joint fourth highest scorer alongside Roberto Baggio, having scored 27 goals in 91 caps. This tally includes two goals across twelve World Cup appearances and one goal in thirteen European Championship matches. Additionally, he holds the record for the most goals scored by an Italian international as a substitute, with five strikes. He featured twelve times for Italy's Under-21 team, scoring three goals and was part of the squad that secured the 1996 European Under-21 Championship title.
Del Piero earned his senior Italy debut on 25 March 1995 under coach Arrigo Sacchi during a 4–1 victory over Estonia in Euro 1996 qualifiers. Later that year, he scored his first international goal against Lithuania. His first major tournament appearance came at UEFA Euro 1996, where he played as a left winger in Italy’s opening group match win against Russia before being substituted at halftime.
In June 1997, under Cesare Maldini's leadership, Del Piero competed in the Tournoi de France, finishing as the tournament's top scorer with three goals despite Italy ending last. Notably, he scored twice versus Brazil and converted a penalty against France.
During the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Del Piero contended with Roberto Baggio for a starting spot while recovering from injury. He did not play in the opening game but appeared in subsequent matches, providing assists to Christian Vieri in Italy’s 3–0 victory over Cameroon and again against Austria in the final group stage match. Italy progressed to the quarter-finals but were eliminated by host nation France on penalties; throughout the tournament, Del Piero was frequently substituted for Baggio amid critiques of his form.
1998–2004: Euro 2000 runners-up and subsequent struggles
Del Piero was included in Dino Zoff's Italy squad that reached the final of UEFA Euro 2000. Primarily used off the bench behind Francesco Totti or Stefano Fiore, he participated in every game and donned the number 10 jersey. On 11 June, he entered as a substitute for Fiore in the 30th minute during Italy’s opening Group B victory over Turkey (2–1), hitting the crossbar from a free kick. In the final group match, Del Piero started and scored the decisive goal against Sweden by curling the ball into the top corner after dribbling past two defenders; he also assisted Luigi Di Biagio’s opening goal from a corner kick. He began Italy’s semi-final clash with co-hosts Netherlands, which ended goalless and was decided by penalties in Italy’s favor. In the final, Del Piero came on as a second-half substitute but missed two clear opportunities during Italy's extra-time loss (2–1) to France, attracting criticism from Italian media.
Following Juventus’ Serie A title win ('scudetto'), Del Piero returned to international duty at the 2002 FIFA World Cup under Giovanni Trapattoni. He scored an important free kick against Hungary that ensured Italy's qualification for the tournament finals. In Italy’s opening match victory over Ecuador, he appeared as a substitute and briefly wore the captain’s armband. He then netted an equalizing header against Mexico, aiding Italy’s advancement to the knockout stage where they were controversially eliminated by co-hosts South Korea via golden goal; Del Piero started alongside Totti and Vieri.
Del Piero participated in six qualifying matches for UEFA Euro 2004, scoring five goals. He was selected for Italy’s squad at Euro 2004 held in Portugal and started all three group games. He captained Italy during their final group victory over Bulgaria and contributed to Antonio Cassano’s injury-time winning goal. Despite these efforts, Italy was eliminated in the group stage due to head-to-head results after finishing level on points with Sweden and Denmark.
2004–2008: World Cup triumph and subsequent period
Alessandro Del Piero featured prominently in the 2006 FIFA World Cup squad led by coach Marcello Lippi, participating in five matches throughout the tournament. He earned his first starting position during the round of 16 clash against Australia on 26 June, which Italy won 1–0. On 4 July, Del Piero netted Italy's second goal in the 120th minute of the semi-final against host nation Germany, contributing to a 2–0 victory. In the final versus France, he successfully converted a penalty in the shootout, securing Italy’s fourth World Cup championship. Del Piero regarded lifting the World Cup trophy as the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition.
During this era, he captained the Italian national team on seven occasions, including at UEFA Euro 2008. Initially donning the number 10 jersey under coaches Maldini and Zoff, he later relinquished it to Francesco Totti following Euro 2000 and reverted to his original number 7 for the 2002 World Cup. Even after Totti’s retirement in 2007, Del Piero chose to retain the number 7 shirt. After a nine-month hiatus, he was recalled by Roberto Donadoni for Euro 2008 due to popular demand, becoming only the second Italian player after Paolo Maldini to compete in seven major international tournaments (Euro editions of 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008; World Cups in 1998, 2002, and 2006).
At Euro 2008, Del Piero primarily appeared as a substitute but captained Italy in their match against Romania. He also took part in the opening fixture versus the Netherlands; however, Italy suffered a heavy 3–0 defeat. The team progressed from the group stage as runners-up behind the Netherlands but were eliminated by eventual winners Spain in a quarter-final decided by penalties.
On 20 August 2008, Del Piero achieved his 90th international cap during a friendly against Austria, becoming only the fifth Italian player to reach this landmark. Although he had expressed intentions to continue playing until age 40, he was omitted from Lippi’s squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. His final appearance for Italy occurred on 10 September 2008 in a World Cup qualifying match against Georgia, where he assisted Daniele De Rossi’s goal in a 2–0 victory.
In 2013, Cesare Prandelli contemplated recalling Del Piero for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but ultimately he was not included in the final tournament roster.
Playing style
In Italy, Del Piero was recognized as a "fantasista," celebrated for his imaginative approach, technical prowess, and flair. He excelled not only as a goal scorer but also as a creator, frequently setting up teammates rather than solely focusing on finishing chances. His preferred position was that of a supporting striker, where his abilities in link-up play, intelligent movement off the ball, and accurate finishing made him an effective goalscorer.
Occasionally deployed as a trequartista—an attacking midfielder role—Del Piero utilized his exceptional vision, passing accuracy over various distances, dribbling skills, and inventiveness to orchestrate play between midfield and attack. Nonetheless, he often clarified that this was not his favored role on the pitch. Former teammate and coach Didier Deschamps characterized him as a "nine and a half," describing a hybrid role blending striker and attacking midfielder responsibilities that highlighted his tactical flexibility. Operating within this free position, Del Piero frequently drifted wide to cut inside onto his stronger right foot to shoot.
In addition to his offensive talents, Del Piero was praised for his defensive commitment on the field, precise crossing ability, and proficiency with both feet.
Position and reception
Widely acknowledged as one of Italy's finest footballers, Del Piero is often hailed as Juventus's most iconic player. Demonstrating early promise, he initially operated as a striker or left winger within Lippi's 4–3–3 setup, sharing the attack with seasoned players such as Vialli, Baggio, and Ravanelli. Following Zidane's arrival, Juventus transitioned to a 4–4–2 formation, where Del Piero frequently played alongside forwards like Vieri and Inzaghi, fulfilling roles either as a supporting forward or main striker. After suffering a significant injury in 1998 that diminished his speed and agility, he adapted by emphasizing physical conditioning and assumed a more creative position behind the lead striker in Ancelotti’s 3–4–1–2 system. Although initially facing criticism for reduced goal output, he effectively evolved into a playmaker and key assist provider.
During Lippi’s second spell starting in 2001, Del Piero often linked up with Nedvěd in a flexible attacking role or occasionally functioned as a supporting striker within a dynamic 4–4–2 arrangement featuring Trezeguet at the forefront. Under managers such as Capello, he retained similar responsibilities but saw increased use as a substitute due to advancing age. Additionally, he was deployed sporadically as a winger, notably under Arrigo Sacchi during his time with the Italian national team.
Journalist Roberto Beccantini identified two distinct phases in Del Piero’s career: an initial period marked by prolific goal scoring and creative playmaking as a "fantasista," followed by a post-injury phase where he initially struggled but successfully modified his style. Despite difficulties replicating his club success on the international stage, Del Piero received commendations for his durability, steady goal-scoring record, and sustained high-level performances well into his late thirties. Beyond his technical abilities, he was esteemed for his leadership qualities at Juventus despite a reserved demeanor and earned widespread respect for his sportsmanship and professionalism on the field.
Set pieces
Del Piero excelled as a free kick and penalty specialist, netting 62 goals from penalty kicks alone. He ranks third among Serie A players for penalties scored, converting 50 out of 61 attempts—surpassed only by Francesco Totti and Roberto Baggio. His trademark free kick technique involved striking the ball with curl that soared over defensive walls before dipping sharply into the upper corner of the goal. Del Piero attributed much of his set-piece expertise to studying Roberto Baggio during their shared Juventus tenure and also drew inspiration from Platini’s direct free kicks executed from approximately 20 metres out.
He holds the record as Italy’s all-time leading scorer from free kicks across all competitions, tallying 52 goals (46 at club level and 6 internationally). Within Serie A, he ranks third in free kick goals with 22 strikes, trailing only Andrea Pirlo and Siniša Mihajlović.
"Del Piero Goal and Zone"
Within football commentary, the phrase "Del Piero Goal" (Gol alla Del Piero) refers to a distinctive method of scoring: advancing from the wing, cutting inward, and then striking a precise, curling lob with the dominant foot into the upper far corner from outside the penalty area. This specific pitch region became known as the "Del Piero Zone" (Zona Del Piero). The expression emerged due to Del Piero’s repeated use of this technique, especially during Juventus's 1995–96 Champions League triumph under coach Lippi. He netted numerous such goals in open play and from set-pieces, predominantly using his right foot after moving in from the left flank. This scoring approach remained a hallmark throughout his career and has since been used to describe similar finishes by other players.
Goal celebrations
In the latter stages of his playing days, Del Piero commonly celebrated goals by sprinting toward the sideline with arms extended and tongue out, evoking images of Michael Jordan. He often jumped into the air with a clenched fist or slid on his knees while fervently connecting with supporters. Notably, he performed a back-flip celebration during a 2008 UEFA Champions League encounter against Zenit and occasionally pointed skyward to honor his late father, including memorable moments against Bari in the 2000–01 season and Mexico during the 2002 World Cup.
Personal life
Since 1999, Del Piero has been in a relationship with Sonia Amoruso, marrying her in 2005. The couple has three children born in 2007, 2009, and 2010.
He had the honor of carrying the Olympic Flame as it passed through Turin for the 2006 Winter Olympics. Beyond football, Del Piero holds an interest in basketball and counts NBA player Steve Nash and cyclist Eddy Merckx among his admirers.
Del Piero has also pursued music ventures, recording albums and performing live alongside Marco Materazzi at a Rolling Stones concert following Italy’s World Cup victory. He maintains a friendship with musician Noel Gallagher and appeared in an Oasis music video. During his youth, he was inspired by the football-themed manga Captain Tsubasa.
In 2012, Del Piero became involved with Save the Dream, an initiative combating corruption in sports, and delivered a speech at the Sorbonne during the Sport Integrity Symposium.
Since March 2018, he has owned and operated an Italian dining establishment in Los Angeles named No.10, paying tribute to his iconic jersey number.
In 2019, Del Piero acquired partial ownership of American lower-tier club LA 10 FC competing in the United Premier Soccer League. The club’s name and black-and-white kit honor his No. 10 shirt and former team Juventus.
Charity work
Throughout his career, Del Piero has actively supported numerous charitable causes. In 1998, he raised funds for Fondazione Bambini in Emergenza by auctioning his Juventus jersey for 5.2 million lire. By 2001, he acted as ambassador for Un gol per la ricerca, a cancer research campaign. In 2006, he served as a spokesperson for AIRC cancer research and was awarded the Believe in Research prize by Italy’s President. In 2008, he took part in a golf event organized by Gianluca Vialli’s and Massimo Mauro’s foundations to support amyotrophic lateral sclerosis studies.
In 2009, Del Piero participated in a charity match at Stadio Olimpico di Torino with his Ale 10+ team, generating €180,000 for solidarity initiatives. The following year, he auctioned off his Juventus No.10 shirt to aid Un Campo per L'Aquila. On 1 April 2011, he launched ale10friendsforjapan to assist earthquake victims in Japan, raising $303,880 through T-shirt sales. That same year he also competed in the Fondazione Sant'Anna Cup golf tournament benefiting neonatal intensive care.
On 21 July 2012, Del Piero featured in a charity game at Kashima Stadium organized by J. League; proceeds supported those affected by Japan’s 2011 earthquake. He has acted as a spokesperson for ADISCO promoting umbilical cord blood donation and for 1GOAL advocating education access for disadvantaged children. In 2015, Del Piero helped organize and inaugurate the AYRTON exhibition in Turin honoring Formula One champion Ayrton Senna; ticket sales supported the Instituto Ayrton Senna charity.
Television, gaming, and media presence
Del Piero has been featured in promotional campaigns for prominent companies such as Adidas, Uliveto mineral water, Fiat, Suzuki, Pepsi, Bliss, Cepu, Walt Disney, and Upper Deck.
In 2006, he starred in a television advertisement for the Suzuki Burgman scooter alongside his agent, Andreas Goller. Renowned for his comedic talent, Del Piero has made guest appearances on Italian comedy programs including Paperissima and Striscia la notizia. Additionally, he acted in the film L'allenatore nel pallone 2 and participated in the sketch show La sai l'ultima di Totti, which was developed by his friend and Roma team captain, Francesco Totti.
Del Piero graced the cover of EA Sports' FIFA Football 2004 together with Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho, as well as the Italian edition of FIFA World Cup 2006. He earned the distinction of being an Ultimate Team Legend in FIFA 17 and appeared on the Italian cover of PES 2010 alongside Lionel Messi.
In 2015, Del Piero began working as a commentator for Sky Sport Italia. He was featured in the Netflix documentary series First Team: Juventus in 2017. The following year, he was included by Konami as a myClub Legend in Pro Evolution Soccer 2019. Starting from 2020, he has contributed as a football analyst for ESPN's ESPN FC and provided coverage for UEFA Euro 2020.
Club
2012-13 Sydney FC season rowSpan= "2" A-League 24 ||14 || colspan= "2"|- || colspan= "2"|- || colspan= "2"|- ||24 ||14 2013-14 Sydney FC season 24 ||10 || colspan= "2"|- || colspan= "2"|- || colspan= "2"|- ||24 ||10 Delhi Dynamos FC2014 Delhi Dynamos FC seasonIndian Super League 10 ||1 || colspan= "2" - || colspan= "2" - || colspan= "2" - ||10 ||1| Club | Season | League | Coppa Italia | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Padova | 1991–92 | Serie B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| 1992–93 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 1 | ||||
| Juventus | 1993–94 | Serie A | 11 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 14 | 5 | |
| 1994–95 | 29 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 2 | — | 50 | 11 | |||
| 1995–96 | 29 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 13 | ||
| 1996–97 | 22 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 35 | 15 | ||
| 1997–98 | 32 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 32 | ||
| 1998–99 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 3 | ||
| 1999–2000 | 34 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 2 | — | 45 | 12 | |||
| 2000–01 | 25 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 33 | 9 | |||
| 2001–02 | 32 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 46 | 21 | |||||
| 2002–03 | 24 | 16 | 0 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 38 | 23 | ||||
| 2003–04 | 22 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 31 | 14 | ||||
| 2004–05 | 30 | 14 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 41 | 17 | |||||
| 2005–06 | 33 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 45 | 20 | ||||
| 2006–07 | Serie B | 35 | 20 | 2 | 3 | - | - | 37 | 23 | |||
| 2007–08 | Serie A |37 |21 |4 |3 |colspan="2"|- |colspan="2"|- |41 |24 | |||||||||||
| 2008–09 Juventus FC season |31 |13 |3 |2 |9 |6 |colspan= "2"|- |43 |21 | ||||||||||||
| 2009-10 Juventus FC season | 23 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 | colspan= "2"|- | 29 | 11 | ||||||||||||
| 2010-11 Juventus FC season | 33 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 3 | colspan= "2"|- | 45 | 11 | ||||||||||||
| 2011-12 Juventus FC season | 23 | 3 | 5 | 2 | colspan= "2"|- | colspan= "2"|- | 28 | 5 | ||||||||||||
| Total !513 !208 !56 !25 !127 !51 !9 !6 !705 !290 | ||||||||||||
| rowspan= "3" Sydney FC | ||||||||||||
| colspan= "2" Total !48 !24 ! colspan= "2" - ! colspan= "2" - ! colspan= "2" - !48 !24 | ||||||||||||
| colspan= "3" Career total !585 !234 !56 !25 !127 !51 !9 !6 !777 !316 | ||||||||||||
International
| National team | Year | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 1995 | 7 | 1 |
| 1996 | 4 | 2 | |
| 1997 | 6 | 4 | |
| 1998 | 8 | 3 | |
| 1999 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 13 | 4 | |
| 2001 | 6 | 3 | |
| 2002 | 11 | 5 | |
| 2003 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2004 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2007 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total | 91 | 27 | |
- The score listings show Italy's goals first; the score column reflects the match score immediately following each Del Piero goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score after goal | Final result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 November 1995 | Stadio Giglio, Reggio Emilia, Italy | Template:Fb | 1–0 | 4–0 | UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying Group 4 |
| 2 | 24 January 1996 | Stadio Libero Liberati, Terni, Italy | Template:Fb | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly match |
| 3 | 29 May 1996 | Stadio Giovanni Zini, Cremona, Italy | Template:Fb | 1–2 | 2–2 | Friendly match |
| 4 | 22 January 1997 | Stadio Renzo Barbera, Palermo, Italy | Template:Fb | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly match |
| 5-6 | (two goals)
8 June 1997 Stade de Gerland, Lyon, France Template:Fb (1–0 and 3–1) (3–3) (1997 Tournoi de France) |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score after goal | Final result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 4 July 2006 | Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup knockout stage#Semi-finals
} Records
HonoursJuventus Primavera
Juventus
Italy U21
Italy
Individual
Orders Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana (Knight, fifth class): awarded in year2000 Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana (Officer, fourth class): conferred in year2006 CONI Golden Collar of Sports Merit recipient: awarded year2006 BibliographyExternal links
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