DELPIERO 10

Da Wikipedia inglese... C'E' SOLO UN CAPITANO!!

ALESSANDRO DEL PIERO (THE BEST!)

Alessandro Del Piero, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI, (born November 9, 1974 in Conegliano) is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer. He is the captain of Juventus and a member of the Italian national team. He is regarded as one of the best Italian footballers of his generation.

Usually, Del Piero plays as a supporting-striker and occasionally between the midfield and the strikers (in the hole), known in Italy as the "Trequartista" position. He is not the tallest of forwards, but is certainly one of the more creative attacking players in the world, often choosing wit, finding another player, rather than playing as a traditional "goal poacher."

Del Piero is renowned for his deadly finishing, and the ease in which he dribbles past defenders. He is an expert in dead-ball situations as he is among the world's best freekick takers and is a penalty specialist (as evident in the 2006 world cup final shootout).

Alessandro Del Piero is recognised as one of the greatest players ever to grace the game for decades.

Experts agree that Del Piero was back to his best in the 2005-06 season having scored 20 goals in all competitions. His most

• 7 Italian Championships: 1994-95, 1996-97, 1997-98, 2001-02, 2002-03, (2004-05, 2005-06 : last two revoked due to Calciopoli scandal)
• 1 Italian Serie B Championship: 2006-07
• 1 Italian
• 4 Italian Super Cups: 1995, 1997, 2002, 2003
• 1 Coppa Italia: 1994-95
• 1 UEFA Champions League: 1995-96
• 3 UEFA Champions League Finalist medals: 1996-97, 1997-98, 2002-03
• 1 European Supercup: 1996
• 1 Intercontinental Cup: 1996
• 1 Intertoto Cup: 1999
• 1 Italian Youth Championship 1994
• 1 Torneo di Viareggio: 1994
• 1 UEFA Cup Finalist medal: 1995
• 2 European Under-21 Football Championships: 1992/94, 1994/96
• 1 UEFA Euro 2000 Finalist medal
• 1 FIFA World Cup: 2006

• U-21 European Footballer of the Year
• MVP of the Intercontinental Final Award 1996
• Best Italian Player Award 1998
• Best Overall Player Award 1998
• UEFA Champions League Top Scorer 1997
• UEFA Champions League Top Scorer 1998
• Most Popular Italian Player Award
• Most Charismatic Striker in Italy 2001
• UEFA Champions League 10 Years Jubilee Poll Best Attacker
• Pelé named Del Piero in his 125 Top Living Footballers
• All-time top scorer for Juventus F.C. 
• Bravo Award (European Under 23 Footballer of the Year, 1996)

• Carlo Ancelotti: "He is a world-class player who needs no introductions".

• Mauro Camoranesi: "He is an exceptional person and really doesn’t need to prove himself to anyone. Del Piero is a wonderful man and player."

• Fabio Cannavaro: "In my view he’s the best person I’ve met in this sport."

• Fabio Capello: "I believe in champions and Alex is a champion". "Del Piero is a player of very high quality and deserves his record". Because of having many strikers in the squad: "Sometimes I feel embarrassed at putting him on the bench."

• Frankie Dettori: "Del Piero is a true genius"

• Angelo Di Livio: "I've met Ale at the Primavera. And he was already a phenomenon. He was so brave that we forced the coach to make him debut at the main team". "He has those abilities that only great stars have. And everyone, as soon as they saw him, said “This one will surely make it".

• Mark Hughes: "Even though Del Piero may be well into his 30s now, he remains one of the great players".

• Pepe Kamel :"With his charm and charisma he has won us all, his creativity and magnificent talent have given us nothing more to ask for, and his free kicks, no comment"

• Marcello Lippi: "Del Piero is a champion with extraordinary technical ability and wonderful characteristics. When he is selected he never disappoints. He is an example to us all." "He has great skills and intuitions that few other players have". "He is a captain in the real sense of the word".

• Diego Armando Maradona: Talking about the best 100 world footballers ever he says "Here he is, he is different from Zidane, he likes to play, he feels it in his soul; between he and the French (Zinedine Zidane), I stay with him."

• Adrian Mutu: "Alex is an example for all of us. He works hard in training without ever speaking out."

• Ruben Olivera: "Del Piero is my idol. When I arrived at Juventus and I was introduced to Alex, it was like touching the heavens with my finger"

• Fabrizio Ravanelli: "Del Piero is able to do certain things, that could seem extraordinary, but he does them like they were simple"

• Alessio Tacchinardi: "He (Del Piero) always comes to the training field with a smile for everyone, a comforting word for everyone. This is his greatness: humbleness... he’s a golden person".

• Giuseppe Taglialatela: The former S.S.C. Napoli keeper recalls a goal conceded from Del Piero: "Let’s say he scored a goal a la Baggio, a la Maradona. He took the ball in midfield, dribbled 3-4 teammates of mine. He’s good, what can I say?"

• Gianluca Zambrotta: "It’s still surprising to me that Alessandro Del Piero has gone through his career without winning this trophy" (the Ballon d'Or).