Andrea Pirlo, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI (born 19 May 1979 in Flero, Lombardy), is an Italian footballer with Sinti origins, who plays for Serie A club Milan and the Italian national team. Praised for his inventive play, he is also a free-kick specialist.
Pirlo has played for the Italian youth teams U-15, U-18 and U-21, captaining and leading the last to win the 2000 as the Golden Player and Top Scorer of the tournament. He joined the Italian senior side during the qualification round for World Cup 2002 and captained the national team to a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics. Later, he was instrumental in the teams victory in the 2006 World Cup. He was named man of the match three times, more than any other player in the tournament, and ultimately won the Bronze Ball (3rd best player in tournament).
With club side A.C. Milan he has won two UEFA Champions League (2003 and 2007), two European Supercups (2003 and 2007), a Scudetto (2004), an Italian Supercup (2004), a FIFA Club World Cup (2007), and the Italian Cup in 2003. For both club and country Pirlo plays defensive midfield, as a deep-lying playmaker. He came in 3rd and 2nd in IFFHS World Playmaker of the Year awards in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Fellow players on the Italian team gave him the nickname ‘l'architetto’ (the architect) because his long passes frequently set up goal-scoring opportunities for the Azzurri (Italian national team).
Pirlo has played for the Italian youth teams U-15, U-18 and U-21, captaining and leading the last to win the 2000 as the Golden Player and Top Scorer of the tournament. He joined the Italian senior side during the qualification round for World Cup 2002 and captained the national team to a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics. Later, he was instrumental in the teams victory in the 2006 World Cup. He was named man of the match three times, more than any other player in the tournament, and ultimately won the Bronze Ball (3rd best player in tournament).
With club side A.C. Milan he has won two UEFA Champions League (2003 and 2007), two European Supercups (2003 and 2007), a Scudetto (2004), an Italian Supercup (2004), a FIFA Club World Cup (2007), and the Italian Cup in 2003. For both club and country Pirlo plays defensive midfield, as a deep-lying playmaker. He came in 3rd and 2nd in IFFHS World Playmaker of the Year awards in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Fellow players on the Italian team gave him the nickname ‘l'architetto’ (the architect) because his long passes frequently set up goal-scoring opportunities for the Azzurri (Italian national team).
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