REPORTS

Alessandro Del Piero is only 26, but it is not unusual to hear people talk about his career coming to an end. Alex is the typical number 10, playing as the second forward, the beloved position by everyone in Italy. Apart from scoring himself, he will create opportunities for his teammates, shoot free kicks as well as penalty kicks and represents a great threat to the opposing side's defence in general. Del Piero is the successor of other legendary players at Juve in his position on the pitch. Those in question are Michel Platini and Roberto Baggio. It was said about the former that he could tie a tie with his left foot, whereas the latter is known as the genius of Italian soccer in the 90s.

Young Alex caused a disruption in the great career of Roberto Baggio, taking his place in the team. Baggio was sold to Milan and since those days never really found the way back to his once great form. The management of Juve sold Baggio when at his best in favor of a player of a great potential in the mid-90s. Many experts refused to recognize the logic in Juve's policy, but it was Del Piero who played the lead role in the Champions League victory of 1996. The two successive finals in that same competition the two following years were also largely his achievement.

Fabulous dribbles, free kicks taken with the precision of a surgeon, goals delivered when the team needed them the most, those things will remain permanently in the memories of the tifosi. Take for example the goal scored in the Intercontinental Cup (1997), the goal that was going to decide the outcome of the world club cup final, thereby pronouncing Juventus as the world's best club. Alex received the ball from a corner kick, controlled it with his chest and made a shot that was impossible to parry by the keeper.

It has been said about Del Piero what was once said about Boniek, that he likes to play in the glare of the stadium lights. It was the cup's that always were his passion. On those occasions his star burnt the brightest, that was when he scored the most goals. Unfortunately, Serie A matches are usually played on Sunday afternoons, not in the evenings. One can only imagine how many goals he would have scored if he were to play all games under conditions of artificial light.

For the Italian national team, Del Piero never starred as much as for his club. One of the reasons for this is the immense focus on defence in the Azzurri, not allowing too much space for creative offensive players that of Del Piero or Roberto Baggio.

Del Piero's current troubles began in November 1998, when he was injured. Juventus then on top of the league fell to 11th place on the table to finally finish 6th. Alex played in only 8 games that season.

Last season he scored 7 goals from penalties and only one from game, to that add his many assists. This season, Trezeguet ended Del Piero's 5-year run of playing from start unless unavailable. He started ahead of Alex, the latter never even entered the pitch. Nonetheless, we all hope that this was merely an unlucky spell and that brilliant Alex will return to his brilliant form prior to the 1998 season.

Adapted from PAI international.