Pirlo celebrated in the 2007 Champions League final
“No Pirlo, No Party”。 As one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, Andrea Pirlo was as cool on the pitch as he was. The former Italy international has won the Champions League twice with the Rossoneri and won the World Cup with the Italian national team in 2006. During his career, he has had great performances in AC Milan, Juventus and New York City.
Andrea Pirlo's Champions League stats:
Champions League appearances: 108
Appearances for Inter Milan: 5 times
Appearances for AC Milan: 78 times
Appearances for Juventus: 25 times
Champions League goals: 8
Represents AC Milan: 7
Representing Juventus: 1
Best result: UEFA Champions League winner (AC Milan, 2003, 2007)
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If you don't remember him...
"Keep calm and pass the ball to Pirlo" is a slogan printed on a T-shirt that Juventus fans love, and during Pirlo's four years with Juventus, this slogan perfectly explains Pirlo's style. He always played very easily on the pitch and even in the most difficult situations, Pirlo was the ideal deep organiser. He has the ability to read the game perfectly, control the rhythm of the game, and efficiently select every pass on the pitch. His set-pieces are superbly skilled and amazingly accurate, and he is one of the most popular midfield masters in the history of football.
Pirlo won four league titles with Juventus
How he made 100 appearances in the Champions League
Pirlo started his career at his hometown of Brescia, but Inter soon discovered his talent. He played in the forward position behind the two strikers, but he did not succeed in the Nerazzurri. However, a loan contract from Brescia completely changed Pirlo's career. In Brescia with Roberto Baggio, head coach Carlo Mazzoni pulled back from Pirlo's position to a back. Carlo Ancelotti then took him to AC Milan the following summer.
During his glorious 10 seasons with the Rossoneri, Pirlo won the Champions League twice, as well as several other trophies. When he joined Juventus in 2011, many people thought his peak was over, but they were wrong. He continued to shine, helping the Bianconeri to four-time ProVisliga title and reaching the 2015 UEFA Champions League final.
Pirlo with the 2007 Champions League trophy
Highlight moments
In his second season with AC Milan, he became the backbone of Milan, supporting the Rossoneri midfield along with Gattuso, Seedorf and Rui Costa. In the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League semi-final he helped AC Milan beat his former club Inter Milan, then at Manchester's Old Trafford stadium, beating another Italian side, Juventus, in a penalty shootout to win the UEFA Champions League title.
Pirlo admitted that he had considered quitting football after the famous Istanbul miracle in 2005 (AC Milan led 3-0 in the first half of the Champions League final, Liverpool scored three goals in a row in the second half and won the championship in a penalty shootout) – but instead he took the lead in a sweet revenge. Two years later at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, his free-kick was refracted on Philip inzaghi, breaking the deadlock on the pitch and eventually helping the Rossoneri win 2-1 over Liverpool to win the title.
As we all know, in 2013, Pirlo received a standing ovation from Real Madrid home fans when he was replaced at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. In 2015, still at the Santiago Bernabeu, Pirlo helped Juventus draw 1-1 with Real Madrid to reach the Champions League final 3-2 on aggregate.
What others have to say about him
"We were all young, when I saw the things he could do with the ball in training. I asked myself if I really thought I was a high footballer. Or should I change jobs. —Gennaro Ivan Gattuso, former AC Milan teammate
"When I saw him playing, I thought to myself, 'God exists.'" —Gianluigi Buffon, former Juventus teammate
"Pirlo was a silent leader who spoke with his feet." Marcello Lippi, former Italian national team coach
That's seven of the 100 Club Games in the Champions League: Andrea Pirlo. If there are any errors in the text, please do not hesitate to advise, thank you. Like and favorite friends here together thanks.