photo from football365.com
37 years old Alessandro Del Piero will be bidding goodbye to all Bianconeri faithful comes this Sunday as he will be playing his last competitive game for Juventus against Napoli in the Coppa Italia final.
Not a bad 19 years-long futbol career for Del Piero at Turin considering his first realization of the cruel world, was to be a lorry driver in order to earn enough for his family and to see the world. With so many individual accolades under his belt such as European U-21 Footballer of the Year in 1996 and Italian Footballer of the Year in 1998 & 2008, Del Piero also set many records during this time with Juventus.
Honestly, I did not follow too much on Del Piero during his peak, however I am aware what kind of talent and character many had been talking about. How often do you see player of such skill and leadership sticking with his relegated club from Serie-A to Serie B, and fought back to Serie-A again?
There is absolutely no doubt on his love for the club. His 19 years of love for the club and supporters was once again shown when he wrote on his website (thank google translate!), dated 13 May 2012…
Nothing can be better than … than 8 scudettos, than to promotion from Serie B., than Cup Italy (let’s hope two), than 4 Italy Super Cups, than Champions League, than European Super Cup, than Intercontinental Cup, than to Fiorentina scored a goal, than Del Piero style goals, than a goal in Tokyo, than my tears, than a goal in Bari, than a back-heel volley goal in the derby, than a goal for Lawyer, than a tongue stuck out in a game against Inter, than an assist to David, than a goal number 187, than a goal in Germany, than Berlin, than a goal scored to Frosinone, than top goalscorer in Serie B title, than top goal scorer in Serie A, than a standing ovation at the Bernabeu, than 704 matches in black-n-white jersey, than 289 goals, than a free kick scored meant that shield, than a goal against Atalanta, than any record, than number ten jersey with the name Del Piero, than captain’s band. Nothing, but … given what you have in me these 19 years. I’m happy that you have smiled, cheered, cried, sung, shouted for me and with me. No color will ever be brighter for me than black and white. You’ve made my dream come true. More than any other thing, today I just want to say thank you.
Prior to his last competitive game this Sunday, I applause and bid goodbye to this Black & White jersey legend. I believe I will be sharing his Juventus futbol clips with the next generation. And I am pretty certain the next generation will be questioning me who is this great player just like how I used to ask my dad the same question when I was watching a video clip of Pele when I was 10 years old…
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