Calcio Compleanno: Alessandro Del Piero

Every weekday Goal.com celebrates the birthday of past and present Calcio-related figures. Today includes all those born on November 9...

Nov 9, 2009 7:45:12 AM

Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero relishes his wondergoal against Real Madrid (Grazia Neri)
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Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero relishes his wondergoal against Real Madrid (Grazia Neri)
1960: Andrea Brehme (49) – German World Cup winning defender of the 1990 edition. He made his name at Kaiserslautern, before earning a move to Bayern Munich at the completion of the 1986 World Cup, after losing the final that year to Argentina. After two seasons with the Bavarians, he earned a move to Italy, where he played for four years with Inter, winning a Scudetto and a Supercup in his first season with the club. In all, he represented his country on 86 occasions, scoring eight times.

1974: Alessandro Del Piero (35) – The Golden Boy of Italian football has done it all. Having joined the San Vendemiano youth squad at the age of just seven, 'Alex' has gone from strength to strength over time, commencing his playing days with Padova in 1991. After two seasons there, and 12 goals in just 14 appearances for the Under-18 national team, he was offloaded to Juventus where he has been ever since. He has gone on to become one of the greatest Italian players of all time. He has managed six Scudetti with the Bianconeri, one of which was revoked, as well as four Super Cups, a Coppa Italia and a Serie B title in the domestic competitions. In Europe, 'Pinturicchio' has won a Champions League in 1996, a UEFA Supercup, as well as an Intertoto Cup in 1999. Currently sitting in sixth place on the all-time list for caps earned by an Italian for his national team with 91 – seven of those which he has captained – 'Alex' was apart of the World Cup winning side that defeated France in the final at the 2006 tournament and scored the clinching goal in the semi-final to defeat the hosts Germany 2-0. He is fourth on the all-time goal scoring list for Italy, finding the back of the net on 27 occasions in his time. Injury has plagued the current season of the Juve skipper to date. However, he remains hopeful of becoming the first Italian to play at eight successive international tournaments and four FIFA World Cups.

1977: Albano Bizzarri (32) – Extremely talented Argentine goalkeeper, who was called up to his national team once, back in 1999. However, he failed to make an appearance and had to make do with a spot on the bench. Having spent a season at Real Madrid, where he was a member of the squad that went on to lift the Champions League title in 2000, the 'keeper spent time with Real Valladolid for the next six years and a brief stint with Gimnastic, before being sent to Catania in Italy. After a promising spell there, he was purchased by Lazio at the commencement of this season, where he has already celebrated success in the Italian Super Cup with victory over Inter.

1982: Houssine Kharja (27) – Moroccan international who, after failing to make his mark in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon, earned a move to Italy in 2001, where he has been ever since. After four years with Ternana, the midfielder was loaned out to Roma, where he would go on to debut in a 4-1 thrashing of Parma at home, before scoring his next goal the following year in 2001 to salvage a draw against Juventus. He returned to Ternana, before brief stints with Piacenza, Siena and now Genoa, whom he joined in the summer transfer period. Has represented his country on 19 occasions since 2004, scoring once.

Adrian Del Monte, Goal.com
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