In these days of huge transfer fees, with sentiments of loyalty to a club all but forgotten, Juventus forward Alessandro Del Piero has done nothing but stay true to the club he has been with since 1993.
Especially since Juve's return to Serie A last year, he has been nothing short of sensational for Italy's most historic club.
His records speak enough for themselves; Juve's all-time goal scorer with 247 and his 565 appearances, 377 of which have taken place in Serie A, are towards the top in the club's storied history.
He is also the fifth-most capped player in Italian history with 91, scoring 25 goals in the process.
He has led Juve to five Serie A titles, which would have been seven if not for the 2005 and 2006 titles taken away because of the Calciopoli scandal in the summer of 2006.
Del Piero also lead the Old Lady to Champions League and Intercontinental titles in 1996, a Coppa Italia, four Italian Super Cups, the European Super Cup, and an Intertoto Cup. Furthermore, as Juventus won the Serie B title in 2007, Del Piero led Italy's second division in goals while earning Juve a promotion back into Serie A.
This is a profile that most players dream of.
Turning 34 Sunday, Del Piero has proven that, despite his age, he can still be not only one of the best goal scorers in Italy, but still one of the best in Europe.
"Would I like to be 20 again? Of course, then I could play for another 20 years and not the seven or eight ahead of me right now," Del Piero said after scoring the game-winner on his birthday in Juve's 2-0 against Chievo, his 158th Serie A goal. "Having said that, time does help you mature and I am very happy to be 34-years-old right now."
And especially this season, with so many expectations being put upon the club's shoulders, Del Piero has shown up when the club needed him the most.
With the club returning to the Champions League after a two-year absence, Il Capitano has come up huge on Europe's biggest stage, scoring in three of four games, including two sensational free kicks against Zenit and Real Madrid.
"Within the group there is a champion who emerges and that is Del Piero. Alex is the captain and the leader of this squad," Juve manager Claudio Ranieri stated after Sunday's win. "He took the team on his shoulders in a moment of great difficulty and is now being rewarded for that sacrifice with some great goals."
Yet despite his production last season, Del Piero was left out of Italy manager Roberto Donadoni's squad for much of the run-in to Euro 2008. However, just as he has done throughout his career, Del Perio proved the manager wrong, all but forcing his hand to select him because of his great form.
It is hard to believe: Considering all he has done throughout the years, Alex only clinched his first Serie A scoring title last season, finding the back of the net 21 times and leading one of the highest producing attacks in Europe.
Del Piero is one of the classiest players you will ever see on the field. It's hard to imagine that a player of his caliber has been with one club for over 15 years, but he has shown the loyalty to one club for an amount of time that few have.
Because of his efforts and class, most notably this summer against Manchester United at Old Trafford and last week against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the Champions League, he has received standing ovations from the home crowds, an obvious sign of what kind of player he still is.
Il Capitano has made it clear that he has plans to play as close to the age of 40 as possible. And heck, if he continues to play the way he is now for the next few years, it's hard to think that anybody would object to seeing play that long into the future.
34 comments Last one added 4 months ago — Leave a Comment
Nathan Lowe 7 months ago
The man is a God and doesn't get nearly enough credit. I want someone who knows more about Italian football than me to write an article about why Del Piero isn't considered, conventionally, as a footballing great of the generation, when he's been doing it for so long, so well.
Also, Ryan Giggs would be a parallel as far as a player who stays at one club his whole career, and hasn't Nedved been at Juve for much of his? And Maldini and Totti are two others.
Ok, later.
Edit Comment Cancel
Danny Penza 7 months ago
Well, I hope my knowledge of Italian football did the justice. However, considering how great he is, it probably didn't, but I gave it a try.
And while it seems like Nedved has been with Juve for much of Del Piero's career, it has only been for about half of it. He came to Turin from Lazio in 2001 as one of the replacements after Zidane was sold to Real Madrid.
Edit Comment Cancel
Christopher Potter 7 months ago
He is no God. He is a fantastic club player but has not inspired and led Italy like he could have.
I am very pleased to see him back in tip-top form. Hopefully this season the English clubs will not enjoy such a monopoly over the Champions' League.
Edit Comment Cancel
Danny Penza 7 months ago
He is a god to many people in Italy. Even though I'm not in Italy, but am Italian, I feel like he is one of the best strikers of this generation. While obviously he has had more success at the club level, I wouldn't call him a complete failure on the international stage. You gotta remember that the Italy squad was stacked with attacking options in the 90s.
Edit Comment Cancel
Nathan Lowe 7 months ago
Yeah it was a good article. I was just thinking out loud there, because I don't know enough about the intricacies of the Italian game which contributes to Del Piero being less on the world stage.
Scholes and Neville are two others ! Who do you think is better, Scholes or Del Piero?
Edit Comment Cancel
Danny Penza 7 months ago
Wow. That's a really tough call. First, they play different positions, so that's why ADP has dominated in the goal goal category. Ale has also beat him with appearances and goals on the international level. I just know that when I mention Juventus to a lot of people, they think of Alessandro Del Piero immediately. He is the face of Juve.
Edit Comment Cancel
Marzia Hazra 7 months ago
Was thinking of putting together something similar but this time you beat me to it :P Del Piero is a legend, simple at that, just one thing though, he scored 21 times last season ;) Good article Dan!
Edit Comment Cancel
Danny Penza 7 months ago
haha well the mistake is fixed. And considering you usually beat me to game recaps, it's nice to get one up on you. Thank you for the kind words!
Edit Comment Cancel
Maire Ofeire 7 months ago
Del Piero still showing them how it's done. Legend is thrown around far too often but this man is definitely one.
On your poll I would have to go for Maldini without any hesitation. He has been my favourite player for about 17 years now, he is the reason I started watching football. Out of all the stars that adorned Ac Milan in the early 90s he was the one that I always favoured and it is perhaps strange that I should pick a defender. He made been a defender into an art form and his loyalty to his club is fantastic.
Edit Comment Cancel
Danny Penza 7 months ago
Yeah he's definitely a legit legend in every sense of the word.
And as much as I love ADP, I am with you and have to go with Maldini. He is one of the best defenders in the history of the game. I talk about Del Piero having loyalty to his club, Maldini has had even more. One of the best defenders ever staying with one club for the whole time, hard to believe.
Edit Comment Cancel
Guido 7 months ago
I absolutely loved the title, very nice metaphore Daniel. I liked the article as well. As for the poll, I'm afraid I have to pick Maldini. Always loved his style and composed way of defending.
Edit Comment Cancel
Danny Penza 7 months ago
Thanks for the kind words. However, in the original title, I only had fine wine. When it was edited, the person who did it added the Tuscan part to it. So I gotta give him props for that.
But don't worry, as much as I love Del Piero and hate AC Milan, I voted for Maldini as well.
Edit Comment Cancel
Nathan Lowe 7 months ago
Heh.. damn.. that's the same poll I had in my Del Piero article a week ago :^| I think Del Piero won then too
Edit Comment Cancel
Danny Penza 7 months ago
hahaha yeah. I just noticed that. But honestly, I would have thought it would be closer between Maldini and Del Piero. I probably should have thrown Cannavaro in there too, but it's too late now.
Edit Comment Cancel
illya mclellan 7 months ago
Great player, outstanding striker, able to score goals that lift his team to greater things. I love how he eats up chances if they are given to him, no mess, no fuss.
Edit Comment Cancel
Danny Penza 7 months ago
The bigger the game, the bigger role he plays. Juve's two games against Real Madrid in the Champions League this season are evident of that. You said it perfectly.
Edit Comment Cancel
Yoosof Farah 7 months ago
del piero was a great player, and you've written a great article on him daniel.
Edit Comment Cancel
Danny Penza 7 months ago
Don't talk about him in the past tense my friend, he is still a great player!
Edit Comment Cancel
Yoosof Farah 7 months ago
yeah sorry that was actually just a typing error. indeed i agree he still is a great player.
Edit Comment Cancel
Danny Penza 7 months ago
hahaha no worries
Edit Comment Cancel
Khalid Shakran 7 months ago
Great article. Thoughtfully written out. Your title drew me in, in a heartbeat. Great stuff Danny! Sorry I couldn't contribute in the round tables. Tell me if you're going to do any, by the way.
Edit Comment Cancel
Danny Penza 7 months ago
Thank you my friend. I can't take full credit for the title considering it was just slightly changed during the editing process.
I will definitely tell you about the next roundtables. I think I have sent you the last few topics via email, but obviously you haven't gotten them. I want to get a few new people in there, and considering you haven't done one in a long time, it would be like getting a new recruit.
Edit Comment Cancel
Alden Sing 7 months ago
Very good article Daniel.
I actually forgotten about Del Piero prior to reading your piece.
Your article certainly brought back memories of this great player. And what a loyal player too!!
Edit Comment Cancel
Danny Penza 7 months ago
I'm glad to bring you back in because that's hard to imagine forgetting about a player of this quality. Thanks for the kind words Aiden. I really appreciate it.
Edit Comment Cancel
Danny Penza 7 months ago
Sorry. I called you Aiden. It's been a long day. But I really appreciate the POTD Alden.
Edit Comment Cancel
Alden Sing 7 months ago
No worries Daniel.
Edit Comment Cancel
Saraswathi Siriginia 7 months ago
Daniel, I really liked this article on Del Piero, yes he is a sort of rarity in today's world of football transfers where players are traded for the value/money they bring into the club
Edit Comment Cancel
Danny Penza 7 months ago
It is rare indeed. Juve do have a few players who have shown a lot of loyalty. Buffon and Del Piero especially to be specific. But Del Piero has been in Turin since 1993, which is incredible to think about considering what kind of transfer activity goes on every year.
Edit Comment Cancel
Keith Griffin 7 months ago
Great article mate....
Wish I had the knowledge of Italian football to write such an accomplished article myself. Del is truely a legend....
And i agree with illya....best thing about him is no mess, no fuss. A class apart.
5* and POTD
Edit Comment Cancel
Danny Penza 7 months ago
Thanks a lot Keith. He certainly is pure class and a joy to watch every week.
Edit Comment Cancel
Jermaine Koko 7 months ago
He is very fit and alert for his age. Players usually lose mobility and pace when they get to that age. Although he still has his mobility, his pace has gone but then again, he was never the sot of player that would outrun his opponent. He would tend to beat them with his brain and vision for goal.
He isn't as good as he was a few years ago when Juve made the CL final! Him and Nedved absolutely tore the CL to pieces that season.
Edit Comment Cancel
Danny Penza 7 months ago
Yeah the did go absolutely off in the Champions League when Juve made the final, but ADP isn't having a bad CL campaign this year either.
Edit Comment Cancel
rouda y 4 months ago
I have been watching Del piero since he join Juve in 1993 and with time you feel that you know him. Really I don’t know what to say about him. There is no words can describe how amazing player he is. God bless him
Edit Comment Cancel
JUVE4Llife 4 months ago
Alessandro...The King
the only thing that makes me I admire him for more than his talent it would be his loyalty...
he is the reason I play football... since i first saw him play with Zidan...he is simply...
theKING...
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.