Andrea Pirlo, Italy
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Andrea Pirlo |
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| Date of birth | 19 May 1979 (age 35) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Flero (Brescia), Lombardy, Italy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) |
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| Playing position | Midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current club | Juventus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–1995 | Brescia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1998 | Brescia | 47 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–2001 | Internazionale | 22 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2000 | → Reggina (loan) | 28 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001 | → Brescia (loan) | 10 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2011 | Milan | 284 | (32) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011– | Juventus | 99 | (12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993–1994 | Italy U15 | 3 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–1995 | Italy U16 | 6 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1996 | Italy U17 | 4 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–1997 | Italy U18 | 18 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–2002 | Italy U21 | 37 | (15) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2004 | Olympic Italy | 9 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002– | Italy | 108 | (13) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 May 2014. † Appearances (Goals).‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18 November 2013 |
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ItalyAge: 34
Club: Juventus
Sky Sports have confirmed Andrea Pirlo is to retire from international duty after the 2014 FIFA World Cup, so be sure to drink in every last moment of him strutting his stuff in the Azzurri blue.
Despite his aging legs, he still runs the show for Italy, with manager Cesare Prandelli building a team and selecting a midfield around his star playmaker.
He utilizes an unorthodox regista (playmaker) role in the side, sitting in front of the defensive line and creating attacks from a deep-lying, quarterback-style position. His passing is as incisive as it is deadly accurate, and opposing teams are willing to commit serious resources to stopping Pirlo from pulling the strings.
He managed to bag a single goal during the European qualification period and was the only Italy player to manage nine of the 10 total games in Group B.
Juventus manager Antonio Conte may be phasing him out of the XI at club level, but he is still top dog on the international scene.
