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Del Piero with Juventus in 1998. Photo by,Anton Andreas Patoschik-

Top 10 Facts about Alessandro Del Piero

Born of Gino and Bruna, Alessandro Del Piero traces his origin in Conegliano, Veneto. He was a renown Italian football player who was well known across football history. This popularity came in as a result of scoring in every competition he has participated in and being a prolific football player. 

Not only has he participated in various world cup matches but also brought a great impact into winning the 2006 World Cup. Alessandro was truly a talented sportsman in his prime. 

1. Alessandro Del Piero’s mother made him play as a goalkeeper

Del Piero during the 2007–08 season against Fiorentina. Photo by, Roberto Vicario – Fiorentina-Juventus (44) from Toscanafotonotizie.it-

Alessandro ventured into goalkeeping while playing for his local youth team San Vendemiano. His mother believed that playing in this position would make him sweat less and that he would be less prone to injuries.

Piero was also comfortable in this position as he needed much playing time. Stefano, his elder brother, talked to their mother about Piero’s role as he believed he was more talented in a more offensive position. 

Fortunately, their mother yielded to Stefano’s advice and this became a great turn for Alessandro’s football career. 

2.Alessandro Del Piero is well known as a magnificent set piece taker

Del Piero with Juventus in 2008. Photo by, James Adams RanZag – This file was derived from: Del Piero.jpg-

Securing the black and white ball into the net was Piero’s specialty. A vivid scenario is when the ball would curl after a sensational strike by the talented player, easily going over the wall or just between it. 

Alessandro has managed to score 50 goals out of penalties, making him the third highest scorer of penalties in Serie A behind Francesco Totti and Roberto Baggio. 

Del Piero acknowledges that he got to sharpen his set piece taking skills with the help of Roberto Baggio, while they were training in Juventus. Currently, he is the Italian all time top scorer from free kicks in all competitions. 

3.Alessandro Del Piero has a soft spot for the music industry

Despite being a sportsman, he also as a keen interest in music. One of the things he has done to fulfill this attribute is by recording his own albums. 

Fond of concerts too, he appeared on stage at a Rolling loud show in Milan, shortly after clinching the 2006 World Cup. 

Alessandro also featured in the Oasis video ” Lord Dont Slow me Down” and is also allies with former band member, Noah Gallagher. 

4. Alessandro Del Piero has featured in the cover of FIFA and PES

Del Piero during the presentation of FIFA 2004. Photo by, Mauro “Kilamdil” Monti-

FIFA and PES are well-known video games played by various football fanatics across the world. Both games were fortunate to put the football star on their games’ cover. 

Del Piero was featured on the cover of “EA Sports FIFA Football 2004” alongside legends Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry. The Italian edition of the 2006 FIFA World Cup video game were pleased to put him on the cover. 

In 2010, he was one of the two stars to feature on the Italian edition of PES 2010 alongside PSG’s Lionel Messi. 

5. Alessandro Del Piero was a victim of injuries 

As a sportsman, injuries come through one at a time and this was the case with Alessandro. His injuries majorly pulled him down between 1998 to 2001. 

At the end of 1998, Del Piero picked up a serious knee whilst being 2-2 with Udinese. This forced him to not finish the rest of the season,only having two goals. 

But the team provided him with the needed facilities to help him get back on track. The end results were so unbelievable, forcing Juventus to be suspected with doping. Truly, he had transformed to an individual full of physique.

Another injury that came in was in 2001-2002 season. It occurred when he was facing Napoli after scoring the winner goal. 

6. Alessandro Del Piero is well know for his celebrations

Del Piero with Francesco Totti celebrating a goal for Italy during Euro 2000. Photo by, Quirinale.it-

A key signature in a player’s career is his/her signature. One of his known celebrations is the one he would occasionally point to the sky. He did this so as to dedicate the goals scored  to his late father. 

Another signature celebration is whereby Del Piero would run to the touchline in front of the fans with his arms out-stretched and sticking out his tongue. 

Apart from the stated celebrations, Del Piero would leap happily into the air clenching his fist into the sky. 

7. Alessandro Del Piero has a scoring style named after him

Del Piero scoring his 250th goal against Reggina in the 2008–09 Serie A season. Photo by, Roberto Ferrari-

“Del Piero Goal” is a famous scoring style well known in the football world. It is a style which involves dribbling from the flanks into the opponent’s goalpost.  A bending chip is then fired into the far top corner of the goal. 

The area of the pitch well conversant with this type of play was later on referred to as “Del Piero Zone”. With time, the term ” Del Piero Goal” has been used to refer to other goals scored by other players in that manner.

8.Alessandro Del Piero has been involved in  numerous charity works

Del Piero can be defined as a kind hearted individual. He has taken part in aiding a number of charities. In 1998, he held an auction in a bid to auction his jersey.

He later on donated 5.2 Million Ire to Fondazione Bambini in Emergenza for abandoned children and those having AIDS. In 2001, he was an ambassador to a cancer research project known as Un gol per la Ricerca. 

On 1st April 2011, he launched a project which aided victims that were greatly affected by the Japanese earthquake.  

9. Alessandro Del Piero is also fond of Basketball 

Del Piero not only bases his interests in football and music, but also a great fan of basketball. Some say that one of his goal celebration is similar to that of Michael Jordan. 

With the admiration of this talent, he has notably gained fans outside the football world. Some of the NBA players and stars such as Steve Nash are great fans of the football legend. 

10. Alessandro Del Piero married his long term girlfriend

Del Piero and his wife Sonia at the 2013 ARIA Music Awards in Sydney. Photo by,Eva Rinaldi-

Del Piero tied the knot with Sonia Amoruso in 2005. They had based their long term relationship way back in 1999. The two are proud to be parents of three children namely Tobias( born 2007), Dorotea( born 2009) and Sasha( born 2010). 

Alessandro Del Piero is arguably among the top 50 players in the world and his remarkable stats prove so. Del Piero shows those with the zeal to follow their dream should do so without hestitation. He has set records that are yet to be broken by the future generations and his lifestyle is one that should be emulated by all and sundry.