Revisiting Andrea Pirlo: Juventus and AC Milan legend's career remembered

Juventus vs AC Milan 

Andrea Pirlo was unquestionably one of the greatest midfielders of his generation and we’ve taken great pleasure from revisiting his illustrious career, ahead of Juventus facing AC Milan in Serie A this weekend. The distinguished Italian represented both clubs with aplomb and nobody to play for I Rossoneri and I Bianconeri did so more times than Pirlo. From humble beginnings at Brescia, learning from his idol Roberto Baggio to the grandest stages in football, Pirlo was calmness personified whenever he graced the pitch.

‘I think therefore I play’ was an exquisite choice for his acclaimed autobiography as time as Pirlo always appeared unflustered, with a clear vision on what to do next in the most frantic surroundings. Gianluigi Buffon, the most decorated Italian footballer in history, labelled him the nation’s best talent in 25 years and he received the highest praise from an iconic figure, Johan Cruyff. “Pirlo can make his feet do whatever he wants,” acclaimed Cruyff. “He’s a genius.” With football increasingly about athleticism, pace and power, Pirlo outclassed so many of his peers and made the beautiful game, truly beautiful.

Revisiting Andrea Pirlo

Pirlo was recognised as a prodigious talent as he progressed through the youth ranks at boyhood club Brescia. He became their youngest ever player when he debuted in Serie A at just 16 against Brescia in 1995 but he only became a first-team regular during the 1996-67, when he helped Brescia gain promotion from Serie B. Pirlo earned his big move to Inter Milan in 1998 but it never truly worked out for him at I Nerazzurri. He was initially loaned to Reggina but it was his temporary return to Brescia in 2001 that altered the trajectory of his career. At the start of his career, Pirlo was viewed as an attacking midfielder but Brescia manager Carlo Mazzone deployed him as a deep-lying playmaker due to Baggio’s presence, and the rest is history.

Pirlo played seven times alongside his Baggio for I Biancazzurri and he was later showered in praise by his hero. “When we played together, everything started with him,” Baggio said in 2007. “He always had the great gift of being able to visualise and anticipate plays before everyone else. His vision, what he can do with the ball, and what he's able to create, make him a true superstar. Andrea has something which you don't see very often.” After his loan spell at Brescia, Pirlo moved across the city to join AC Milan, where he truly blossomed into a world-class player under the tutelage of Carlo Ancelotti.

The legendary Italian manager persisted with Pirlo in a deeper midfield role and he credited Ancelotti with ‘changing his career’ and they enjoyed a ‘magnificent’ relationship. Pirlo won the first of his two Champions League titles with AC Milan in 2003 and his maiden Serie A title arrived the following year. The midfield genius famously decided to leave AC Milan to join Juventus in a hugely controversial fee transfer in 2014 when he was comfortably one of the best midfielders of the world - Buffon labelled his arrival as ‘the signing of the century’.

Success followed Pirlo to Turin as Juventus became the dominant force in Italian football, winning four consecutive Scudetto’s between 2012 and 2015. After spending 20 seasons in Italy, Pirlo departed for his twilight years in MLS with his legacy cemented in history. The midfielder has the sixth most assists in Serie A history with 105 and his achievements with the national team ensure his reputation as one of the greatest Italian footballers ever.

Andrea Pirlo international legacy

Pirlo is the sixth most capped Italian in history, turning out for the Azzurri 116 times. The pinnacle of his international career unquestionably arrived on July 9th, 2006 when Italy won the World Cup. Pirlo famously quipped about playing Playstation pre-match as he was so relaxed for the biggest game in football and he stepped up to score the first penalty in the shootout win over France.

Pirlo was voted as the third-best player of the tournament in Germany and although he never won more international honours, the Italian was regularly a standout performer for his country in major competitions. Individual awards never mattered much to the Italian but three top ten finishes in the Ballon d’Or provides an indication of the regard Pirlo was held in. A true legend of the game.