One World Cup, two Champions League, six Scudetti, two Italian Cups, one Italian Super Cup, one Club World Cup and two European Super Cups . Only by listing his palmares is it easy to understand who we are talking about: Andrea Pirlo , one of the best Italian footballers of all time, has announced that he will permanently retire from football in December .
Not a random date: currently under contract with New York FC, he will hang up his boots at the end of the MLS season, when his contract the club expires. At 38, therefore, the umpteenth hero of the 2006 World Cup will say goodbye to football , the last one still in business – together with Buffon– of the 11 holder who wins on penalties against France in the final in Berlin.
Pirlo started playing professional football in 1994 with Brescia, a team from his city. In his career he has played for Inter, Reggina, Milan and Juventus and with the Italian national team.
In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport he explains the reason for his next retirement. Between ailments and space for young people with a patella that is now devoid of cartilage. In short, the time has come.
When he gets up from the table in the outdoor bar in the Chelsea area in front of his house, Andrea Pirlo complains of the pain in his right knee that has tortured him for months. He says: «Where the kneecap is, I no longer have cartilage. When Juve came on tour at the end of July, I also went to their doctor. But there is little to do ». Due to injury he had to miss a handful of matches in his third season in MLS and when available he often sat on the bench: 15 appearances out of 32 games and two assists. To say, in the past championship he had practically never missed a match and had always been a starter. With great serenity, he explains: «The youngest players, Herrera and Ring, go on the pitch. At 38 it is right to give space to children. No I’m not angry. On the contrary, I give a hand to the others and to the coach ».
Her contract expires in December. She will stop
«You realize for yourself that the time has come. Every day you have physical problems, you are no longer able to train as you would like because you always have some ailments. At my age there is enough to say. It’s not that you can go on up to 50. I’ll do something else. ”
You have already thought about the future
«I don’t know yet. I returned to Italy in December. Conte’s deputy
They say about things. I have ideas, but I allow myself time to decide ».
Many of his former teammates have chosen the bench: Nesta, Gattuso, Inzaghi, Sheva…
«… And Grosso, Cannavaro, Zambrotta, Brocchi, Oddo. Everyone now. If I think about coaching
It is not said that since you have been a good player you can do it. You must be prepared and have proof of the field. You have to get the spark. It hasn’t taken me yet. ”
Better to start from the bottom like Nesta or like Inzaghi immediately from Milan
«There is no right or wrong path. It depends on the opportunities they offer you. If a first team calls you immediately, it’s hard to refuse. I repeat: for now I don’t have that intention. After 25 years of football I am staying at home with my family (in August he was born with twins, ed). To keep fit I play golf (handicap 10) and tennis ».
