Alessandro Del Piero
Forward / Attacking Midfielder · Juventus · Italy
About Alessandro Del Piero
Alessandro Del Piero is Juventus's all-time top scorer and one of Italy's greatest footballers. He remained loyal to the club through relegation to Serie B following the Calciopoli scandal in 2006 — a decision that earned him legendary status not just at Juventus but across world football. His free-kicks and left-footed precision made him one of the most elegant finishers of his generation.
Alessandro Del Piero's story
Conegliano to Turin
Del Piero grew up in Conegliano in the Veneto region and joined Juventus at 18, immediately being identified as the heir to Roberto Baggio. His relationship with the club was one of football's great love stories — he stayed through the dark years of Calciopoli, playing in Serie B and turning down wealthy offers from across Europe.
Loyalty Through the Dark Times
When Juventus were relegated to Serie B in 2006 for match-fixing, Del Piero refused to leave. He said: "I am Juventus. I cannot abandon them." He played in Serie B, helped them win promotion, and returned to Serie A with his dignity and the club's eternal gratitude intact. No other star player stayed.
Sydney and Retirement
After leaving Juventus in 2012, Del Piero signed for Sydney FC in Australia — transforming the A-League's profile and drawing record crowds. He retired in 2014 and now works as a TV pundit in Australia and Italy, where he remains one of the sport's most beloved figures.
Did you know?
- 💛 When Juventus were relegated to Serie B in 2006 for match-fixing, Del Piero was the only star player who chose to stay — turning down offers from clubs across Europe.
- ⚽ He is Juventus's all-time leading scorer with 290 goals — more than any other player in the club's 120-year history.
- 👨👩👧👦 Married Sonia Amoruso in 2005; they have three children. After spells in Australia, he settled in the United States.
- 🏆 He won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, coming on as a substitute in the final against France and scoring the goal that made it 2–1.
- 🇦🇺 He signed for Sydney FC in 2012 and was so popular that A-League clubs reported record attendances whenever they hosted his side.
- 🦵 He suffered a severe cruciate ligament injury in 1998 that many feared would end his career. He returned 11 months later and scored a hat-trick.
- 📺 He is widely used as a TV pundit in Italy and Australia, and is considered one of the most articulate and thoughtful ex-players in the media.
- 🤝 He and Zinedine Zidane were voted the two players of the generation by Italian football fans in a 2010 nationwide poll.
- 🌟 Despite never winning the Ballon d'Or (he finished 2nd in 1997 and 3rd in 1998), he is consistently ranked among the top 20 players of all time in expert polls.
Honours
- Serie A x6: Juventus (1995,1997,1998,2002,2003,2012)
- UEFA Champions League: Juventus (1996)
- FIFA World Cup: Italy (2006)
- Serie A Top Scorer: 1999–2000 (28 goals)
See the full Alessandro Del Piero profile
Stats, photo gallery, what the press are saying and the daily challenge, free on DailyPlayer.
Open the full profile