Andrea Pirlo

Andrea Pirlo

Andrea Pirlo, born 19 May 1979 in Flero, Lombardy, is an Italian  footballer who plays for Serie A club Milan and the Italian national team. He is usually deployed as a deep-lying playmaker for both Milan and Italy and is widely regarded as the best player in this position. Praised for his inventive play and his long passing ability, he is also a set-piece specialist.

Pirlo has played for the Italian youth teams U-15, U-18 and U-21, captaining and leading the latter to victory in 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 their victory in the 2006 World Cup. He was named man of the match three times, including the final.

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).

Personal Information
Date of birth	19 May 1979
Place of birth	Flero, Lombardy, Italy
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Nationality	Italy (Caps 72, 9 Goal)
Club	AC Milan
Wife	Deborah
Childred	Son Niccolo (born 2003)
	Angela (born 2006)

Senior Career	SSenior Career
Years	Team	Apps	Goals
1995–1998	Brescia	47	6
1998–2001	Internazionale	22	0
1999–2000	→ Reggina (loan)	29	6
2001	→ Brescia (loan)	10	0
2001–Present	Milan	282	32

Honours

Milan Serie A: 2004,2011

Coppa Italia: 2003

Supercoppa Italiana: 2004

UEFA Champions League: 2003, 2007

UEFA Super Cup: 2003, 2007

FIFA Club World Cup: 2007

International

UEFA Under-21 European Championship: 2000

FIFA World Cup: 2006

Individual

UEFA European Under-21 Championship Golden Player: 2000

UEFA European Under-21 Championship Top Scorer: 2000

2006 FIFA World Cup Final Man of the Match

Pirlo

Pirlo-Italy

source : Andrea Pirlo