Super Pippo: Filippo Inzaghi Takes Over at AC Milan

Fillipo Inzaghi is a bit like Marmite. You either love him or you hate him.

Those who hate him have a strong case of negatives to attest to. He cannot dribble, he has no pace and he rarely over-exerts himself on a football pitch. You will never see him tracking back and helping the defence, even if you trawl back through footage of him in his younger days at Juve and his physical presence leaves a lot to be desired.

However, you cannot deny that whilst he is not the most orthodox of players, he has been one of the great strikers of the modern years. Different, yes, from his fellow strikers. He has neither the dribbling ability of Ronaldo nor the work ethic of Didier Drogba, but he is of a different mould. You will see a number of good, proven strikers today, who all base their game around positioning. Van Nistelrooy, Owen, Raul and Trezeguet are some of the few who standout.

And it is Inzaghi’s eye for goal scoring opportunities that has allowed him to tally over 150 goals in Serie A, and over 50 goals in Europe. He is the master predator, one who can see something in nothing and pounce on it.

The Champions League Final in 2007 saw one of the highlights of Inzaghi’s career. Milan won 2-0, with Inzaghi scoring both goals.

The first was bizarre, Andrea Pirlo going for goal on a free kick, which deflected of Inzaghi and went in. Inzaghi did not credit Pirlo who to be fair celebrated with Inzaghi. It was sheer opportunism.

For the second goal Kaka threaded a though ball to Inzaghi who managed to round Pepe Reina and slide the ball into the net. Inzaghi again ran off with his usual celebratory style; not smiling, but instead going crazy and shaking his arms around.

It was a crowning glory for Inzaghi, who may have felt a little underappreciated in the league, with Milan signing Ronaldo in January, and Ronaldo making a big impact with 7 goals in 14 games. However he redeemed himself, having missed the 2005 final though injury.

At 34 years of age, Inzaghi’s swansong edges ever nearer. When he finally does retire, it will be a sad affair, losing a real character on the pitch, and a supremely unique striker.

I’m sure Juve fans will remember him for his goals and legendary link up play with Del Piero and Zidane. Atlanta will remember him at a one season hero, having scored 24 goals and earning the Capocannoniere. Milan will remember him as the super-sub, the man to get them the goal they needed in their hour of need.

And the rest of us will remember a skinny Italian who does nothing but score. As Johan Cruyff once put it: ''He can’t actually play football, he just always seems to be in the right place.”