The sport in its universal profile makes room for honorable exceptions. Football, in that infinite path of long distances, gives spaces to former glories who with vocation and self-preparation embark on the role of coach to build feats by leading teams and to establish themselves in the soccer spectrum. In the statistics, 20% has floated and reached the top with exemplary results. There are recent names like Pep Guardiola, who managed Barcelona, and Zinedine Zidane, who leads Real Madrid. Two idols as players, Pep in Spain and Zinedine in France, who dared after their retirement to be strategists and both are now at the top of their coaching abilities.
In that football path today another symbol presents itself as a coach, at the age of 41, and we refer to Andrea Pirlo, who as a player at Inter, Milan and Juventus was a master of the ball and recognized by critics worldwide as a stellar midfielder. He demonstrated his hierarchy, playing style, intelligence, leadership and winning power both in his clubs and defending Italy. He won the crown in the 2006 World Cup. His technical, innate and brilliant virtues are still present in the fans.
- Denis Dau: This is how a soccer team works in each of its training sessions
And why did we dare to write about Pirlo? For journalistic justice, for his human quality, for the range of technical references he gave us when he acted on the field; when he unbalanced the rival, he was a genius. In his first presence in Ecuador, in 2017, during a friendly match, his team New York City FC faced Emelec, as part of the events for the remodeling of Capwell, Pirlo showed his impeccable class strengthening total football. Then, in the Monumental Stadium as a guest in the unforgettable Yellow Night, he wore the Barcelona idol's jersey in 2019. In both scenarios, he dazzled with his class with the number five and above all, with his humility as a person on and off the field.
Today he has been named head coach of the Juventus first team. It is an immense responsibility to lead a team that has the patent of being one of the best in the world and with millions of fans at home and abroad. It always aspires to be a champion in the tournaments it competes in and is an institution that does not forgive adverse results; their challenge: to win matches, titles, get closer to being unbeatable, and achieve the Champions League as they did in 1985 and 1996. It is their current obsession.
- Denis Dau: I don't feel like talking publicly about the National Team, said a coach with no ethics
Pirlo, with his characteristic serenity and frank words, has expressed: "I know where I will go with the team, how to handle situations in the locker rooms, I am captivated by working with players of strong temperament; the functional and creative ones will have my respect, discipline will be enforced with a code of conduct. I am fascinated by the challenges that life in the sports field presents and I love this new profession." These are expressions that will resonate with his disciples. Football never abandons its sons who want to reach the podium and on this occasion, Pirlo conducts himself with composure to face this challenge.
No more words... (O)