One of the most loved players in history! Alessandro Del Piero is a living legend and one of the most collected players in the hobby! In this article I am going to do a year by year breakdown of his career, and display all of his cards and stickers; from the rookie sticker to his final card.
*Note: I will only be displaying cards and stickers from his playing career. There has been many tribute and legend cards made in the proceeding years, these will not be included in this article*
Playing Style
Known for his goalscoring prowess, Del Piero was far more than just a goal scorer. He was a technical genius and assisted nearly as much as he scored. His nickname, “Pinturicchio”, was given to him as he looked as though he was an artist on the field. From my experience, it’s hard to find a player who has so many spectacular goals. More often than not, the goals he scored were absolute screamers! Known for his trademark curl and dip, he scored many from long range. Additionally, he was a set piece specialist, curling the ball past helpless keepers.
I am sure everyone here knows who this man is, so lets get to it!
1992/93 – Panini Calciatori #442 – Rookie Sticker
Del Piero began his Padova career in the 1991/92 season but this is his first offical product. 22 November 1992, and Del Piero scores his first professional goal against Ternana.1 Impressive performances earned him a move to Juventus, aged 18.
In total, Del Piero played 14 games for Padova, scoring 1 goal.2
I love the old-school rookie cards (below). Quite difficult to find and one’s I need to add to my collection!
1993/94 – No Products (Maybe)
According to a few sources there is a Del Piero sticker in the Merlin Calcio 94 set. This is an updated set sticker 109 to 109b, replacing Di Canio at Juventus. I have searched long and hard and can’t find any images of Del Piero or the updated Di Canio (to Napoli) for this set.
This leads me to believe maybe these updated stickers may not exist.
Played 14, scoring 5. Del Piero made his Serie A debut against Foggia on 12 September 1993 under Trapattoni, as a substitute, and he scored his first goal in his next game against Reggiana on 19 September, after coming off the bench once again. On his full debut for Juventus, he netted a hat-trick against Parma.1
It is likely that no products exist this season due to Del Piero‘s young age and a stacked Juventus squad.
1994/95 – Panini Calciatori #180
Played a total of 50 appearances (29 in the league), scoring 11 and assisting 12.2
Del Piero got increased playtime under new manger, Marcelo Lippi, due to the injury of Roberto Baggio. During this time, Del Piero earned the nickname Pinturicchio due to the similarity between his own technical and tactical characteristics, and Baggio’s creative style of play.6
Del Piero also won the Copia Itallia title against Parma but lost top Parma in the UEFA Cup final.
His first sticker with Juve here (I think). An extremely big collectors item!
1995/96 – Panini Calciatori #131
Played a total of 53 appearances (29 in the league), scoring 14 and assisting 11.2
Del Piero was awarded Baggio’s No. 10, following his departure to A.C. Milan.
Juventus finished the season in second place behind Milan. Del Piero did manage to capture the Supercoppa Italiana in 1995, over Parma, setting up Vialli’s only goal of the match.7 Juve also won the Champions League title with Del Piero starring throughout the competition. He scored 6 goals, with the majority of them being sensational! 8
International – Euros 1996 – Panini #249 – International Rookie Sticker
A young Del Piero only managed one appearance for Italy in the tournament. He got 45 minutes in a 2:1 win against Russia.4 It was an underwhelming tournament for Del Piero, and Italy as a whole, as Italy were knocked out in the group stages.
1996/97 – Panini Calciatori #145
Played a total of 35 appearances (22 in the league), scoring 15 and assisting 8.2
Del Piero followed these victories up with the 1996 UEFA Super Cup and the 1996 Intercontinental Cup, scoring goals in both finals, and being named Man of the Match in the latter final.10
He also won the Bravo Award (as the best U-23 player in European Competitions), and placed 4th in the 1996 Ballon d’Or for the second consecutive year.9
Del Piero won the Serie A title with Juventus this season, and helped lead Juventus to their second consecutive Champions League final. He scored in the final but Borussia Dortmund were the victors, 3-1.11
1997/98 – Panini Calciatori #165
Del Piero’s best season in his career. Played a total of 47 appearances (32 in the league scoring 21), scoring 32 and assisting 16.2
Additionally, he finished top scorer in the 1997–98 UEFA Champions League with 10 goals! With these goals, he helped Juventus to reach their third consecutive Champions League final. For the second year in a row, Juventus lost the final, 1–0 to Real Madrid.12
Juventus celebrated its 25th Serie A title, with Del Piero being crucial, scoring 21 during the Serie A season. Del Piero was awarded the Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year award for his performances,13 and he was also nominated for the 1998 Ballon d’Or.
This season Ronaldo (R9) was Del Piero’s main rival in the Serie A. Del Piero won the player of the year and Ronaldo won the best foreigner of the year.13 During this time, he was nicknamed by the fans as Il Fenomeno Vero14 (“The Real Phenomenon”), as a jibe to Ronaldo, “O Fenômeno“.
International – World Cup 1998 – Panini #97
Played 4 times assisting once. Italy knocked out in the quarter-final.5
Still feeling the effects of the horrific knee injury, Del Piero wasn’t able to influence the tournament as he would have wanted.
1998/99 – Panini Calciatori #157
Played a total of 14 appearances (8 in the league), scoring 3 and assisting 6.2
On 8 November 1998, Del Piero picked up a serious knee injury in the final minutes of a 2–2 draw with Udinese;15 this kept him out of action for the remainder of the season.
Del Piero’s absence was felt as Juventus finished the season in sixth place.16 Juventus did manage to reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
Following his serious injury, Del Piero underwent a muscle strengthening regime. Due to his dramatic weight gain and physical development during this period, as well as the club’s success during the mid to late 90s, Del Piero, along with several other Juventus players were subject on an investigation involving performance enhancing drugs.17 The charges were eventually dropped.
1999/2000 – Panini Calciatori #140
Played a total of 45 appearances (34 in the league), scoring 12 and assisting 20.2
During the next season under new manager Carlo Ancelotti, Del Piero primarily served as an assist-man, providing 14 assists in Serie A, the most in the league that season.18
Only one of his 9 Serie A goals that season was in open play (a header against Parma), with the rest coming from penalties. This brought criticism and, I think, showed the injury from the previous season was affecting him negatively. This was further affected by his partnership with Filippo Inzaghi. The two had a deteriorating relationship and it affected on-field performances.19
Del Piero helped Juventus to capture the 1999 UEFA Intertoto Cup that season, which allowed Juventus to qualify for the UEFA Cup.
International – Euros 2000 – Panini #184
Del Piero was a key figure featuring 6 times scoring 1 and assisting 1.4
Wearing the number 10, Del Piero had a decent tournament. Mostly used as a substitute, but was able to make an impact on the games.
Italy just fell short of the title losing the Final to France 2:1.
2000/01 – Panini Calciatori #164
Played a total of 33 appearances (25 in the league), scoring 9 and assisting 11.2
The following season saw Juventus suffer another disappointing defeat losing out on the title once again, this time to Roma. Juventus and Del Piero began the season strongly, although he later suffered another injury and fell out of form, failing to score.
Del Piero found his form towards the end of the season, although he was unable to help Juventus capture the Serie A title.
2001/02 – Panini Calciatori #166
Played a total of 46 appearances (32 in the league), scoring 21 and assisting 13.2
Del Piero was named Juventus captain upon Lippi’s return to Juventus, and he formed a formidable offensive partnership with French striker David Trezeguet, who joined in 2000, and Czech playmaker Pavel Nedvěd, who arrived in 2001.
Juventus were crowned champions for a 26th time. The last match day of the season and Juventus won the title over rivals by a single point, after a 2–0 away victory over Udinese, with Del Piero scoring an important goal.20
Del Piero scored his 100th goal for Juventus that season, against Venezia.21 Del Piero also helped Juventus reach the Coppa Italia final that season, although Juventus were defeated by Parma.22
International – World Cup 2002 – Panini #471
Featured 3 times only managing 89 minutes in total.5 He assisted once, but Italy were knocked out in the round of 16.
The elimination was surrounded by controversy as Italy were knocked out by Korea. The referee made some shocking decisions during the match, with many people believing their was foul play involved.51
2002/03 – Panini Calciatori #199
Played a total of 38 appearances (24 in the league), scoring 23 and assisting 15.2
Juventus began the 2002–03 season by winning the 2002 Supercoppa Italiana over Parma, with Del Piero scoring two goals,23 and Juventus were also able to successfully defend their Serie A title.
Del Piero had a staring role in Juventus’ Champions League run. They made it to the final but lost to rivals, AC Milan, on a penalty shoot-out.
This season was a real return to form for Del Piero, showing the kind of performances prior to his horrific knee injury.
2003/04 – Panini Calciatori #166
Played a total of 31 appearances (22 in the league), scoring 14 and assisting 3.2
Juventus won the 2003 Supercoppa Italiana over Milan on penalties, although Juventus were knocked out in the round of 16 in the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League, and finished the 2003–04 Serie A season in a disappointing third place.
The club did manage to reach the 2004 Coppa Italia Final, only to be defeated by Lazio.
International – Euros 2004 – Panini #236
Del Piero featured 3 times failing to score or assist. Like Euro 96, Italy were underwhelming and failed to qualify from their group.4
In total, a disappointing tournament for Del Piero.
2004/05 – Calciatori #189
Played a total of 41 appearances (30 in the league), scoring 17 and assisting 6.2
New coach, Capello, was not convinced of Del Piero’s fitness levels, and frequently benched him in favour of the younger, new offensive signing Zlatan Ibrahimović.24
Despite his limited playing time, Del Piero still managed to score 14 goals, as Juventus won their 28th league title.
Del Piero also helped Juventus to reach the quarter finals of the 2004–05 UEFA Champions League, only losing out to eventual champions Liverpool.25
2005/06 – Panini Calciatori #166
Played a total of 45 appearances (33 in the league), scoring 20 and assisting 5.2
Del Piero was in scintillating for this season, helping Juventus to defend the Serie A title.
On 10 January 2006, Del Piero became the all-time leading goalscorer for Juventus when he scored three times in a Coppa Italia match against Fiorentina, taking his total goal tally for the club to 185. The previous record holder was Giampiero Boniperti, with 182 goals.26
Del Piero also finished at the top of the Coppa Italia scoring chart, with 5 goals.
Juventus were forcibly relegated due to the Calciopoli scandal, also having their two most recent Serie A titles revoked.27
International – World Cup 2006 – Panini #335
Featured 5 times for Italy scoring a famous stoppage time goal to defeat Germany in the Semi-Final.5
Italy would go on to win the World Cup final and Del Piero’s not so impressive international career is looking a lot more impressive!
Del Piero expressed that winning the World Cup was his childhood dream.52 Which isn’t an amazing revelation as I am sure it’s a dream of all players!
2006/07 – Panini Calciatori #599
Played a total of 37 appearances (35 in the league), scoring 23 and assisting 14.2
After Juventus were demoted to Serie B and their two most recent scudetti were revoked, Del Piero pledged that he would stay to captain the team.
As Juventus played in the Serie B for the 2006–07 season, the Coppa Italia campaign became increasingly important for the club in order to achieve a UEFA Cup spot. Juventus and Cesena were locked on 1–1 when Del Piero entered in the 74th minute and after nine seconds, he scored the winning goal for Juventus.28 Del Piero then came on as a substitute in the 61st minute during Juventus’s next Coppa Italia match on 27 August, against Napoli. Once again Juventus came from behind, as Del Piero scored twice to give his team the lead. The match eventually went to penalties. Unfortunately, Napoli were triumphant.29
Despite starting the season with a nine-point penalty from the match-fixing scandal, Juventus gained promotion to Serie A as Serie B champions;30 Del Piero finished the league campaign as the top scorer of the 2006–07 Serie B season, with 20 goals.31
During the season, Del Piero also managed his 200th goal with Juventus on 21 October 2006, in a 1–0 league victory over Frosinone.32
2007/08 – Panini Calciatori #189
Played a total of 41 appearances (37 in the league), scoring 24 and assisting 10.2
Del Piero set a new appearance record for Juventus, overtaking Gaetano Scirea’s previous tally of 552 matches in all competitions.33
Additionally, he won the Capocannonieri prize in Serie A for the first time career. He became only the second Italian ever to win consecutive Capocannoniere titles in two different leagues – former Juventus hero, Paolo Rossi being the other.
On 26 July, Del Piero was awarded the Scirea Award.34 Juventus finished the 2007–08 Serie A season in third place, which allowed them to qualify for the UEFA Champions League the following season.
International – Euros 2008 – Panini UEFA Euro Austria-Switzerland #303
Del Piero’s last international tournament and he featured 3 times failing to register a goal or assist.4
Italy were knocked out by the soon to be champions, Spain, in the quarter final.
2008/09 – Panini Calciatori #214
2009/10 – Panini Calciatori #236
Played a total of 29 appearances (23 in the league), scoring 11 and assisting 4.2
On 14 February 2010, Del Piero marked his 445th Serie A appearance, breaking the all-time club record previously held by Boniperti, with a brace in a 3–2 win against Genoa.35
Del Piero recorded his 300th and 301st career goals during a 3–3 draw with Siena, with the first two goals coming in the second and seventh minutes.36
Overall, Juventus has a poor season, finishing 7th.
2010/11 – Panini Calciatori #261
2011/12 – Panini Calciatori #237
Played a total of 28 appearances (23 in the league), scoring 5 and assisting 2.2
Juventus confirmed on 18 October 2011 that the 2011–12 Serie A would be Del Piero’s last season with the club.38
1 April, Del Piero made his 700th appearance for Juventus and then went on to score from a free kick to earn his side a 2–1 victory; the result also enabled Juventus to return to the top of the Serie A table.39
On 13 May, Del Piero started Juventus’s final league game of the season against Atalanta, marking the occasion and the victory of their 28th Serie A title by scoring a goal. He was substituted off after 59 minutes to an emotional response from both sets of players and supporters, as he made a lap of honour around the pitch. This was Alessandro Del Piero’s final Serie A appearance for Juventus.40
Del Piero’s final match for Juventus was in the Coppa Italia Final on 20 May against Napoli, which ended in a 2–0 victory to the Neapolitans. Del Piero was substituted in the 67th minute as his Juventus career came to an end; he received a standing ovation from both the Juventus and Napoli fans.41
In total, Del Piero made a club record of 705 appearances for Juventus across all competitions, scoring a record 290 goals, and providing 134 assists in all competitions throughout his career with the club; he also scored 188 goals and provided 105 assists in 478 Serie A appearances with the Turin club.42
In addition to these records, Del Piero is also Juventus’s top scorer and second highest appearance holder in the UEFA Champions League, behind only Buffon, with 44 goals in 92 appearances; he is also the top scorer and appearance holder for Juventus in European Competitions, with 50 goals in 125 appearances, in International competitions, with 54 goals in 131 appearances, and in the Supercoppa Italiana, with 3 goals in 6 appearances. He is the club’s top-scorer in Serie B, with 21 goals, and the club’s second highest scorer in the Coppa Italia, with 25 goals.43
Del Piero refused the board’s offer to retire the No. 10 shirt in his honour, saying: “I’ve really had so much that I would never want it to be retired, this way, every child can dream one day of wearing it.”44
Del Piero wrote an open letter to the Juventus fans thanking them for almost two decades of support, stating: “Above all what remains is the fans, you who are Juventus. That jersey that I loved and will always love, that I desired and respected … From tomorrow I will no longer be a Juventus player, but I will always be one of you. Now a new adventure begins and I am as fired up as I was 19 summers ago.”45
2012/13 – Futera World Football UNIQUE 2013 #MEM31 – Card
Played a total of 24 appearances (all in the league), scoring 14 and assisting 5.3
On 5 September 2012, Del Piero signed a two-year deal with Sydney FC.
Upon signing for Sydney FC, Del Piero said: “It’s a special day for me. I am happy to announce that I just signed for two years for Sydney FC. This is a very big moment for me because I want to continue my career in a new part of the world where I can make a major contribution and help grow the game I love.”46
Despite his record-breaking tally of 14 goals in 24 appearances, Del Piero was unable to help Sydney qualify for the play-offs at the end of the season.47
2013/14 – SE Products Australian A-League 2013-2014 #73 – Card
Played a total of 24 appearances (23 in the league), scoring 10 and assisting 6.3
Del Piero was named Sydney’s captain for their 2013–14 season.47 He helped the club qualify for the finals series, setting up both of his team’s goals in the final match of the regular season on 13 April 2014, a 2–1 home win over Perth Glory, before being released.48
His final match with Sydney came in a 2–1 loss to Melbourne Victory in an Elimination final.49
Del Piero ended his career in the Indian Super League for the Delhi Dynamos with a total of 10 appearances (all in the league), scoring 1 and assisting 1.50
He announced his retirement after his small stint in India, ending a legendary career.
Final Word
Del Piero is definitely one of the all-time greats! In my opinion, he has had a better career than Roberto Baggio!
He potentially the greatest ever Juventus player. But one thing is for sure, he is loved by all Italians! His international career was a bit underwhelming for Del Piero’s high standards. I think lifting the World Cup was well deserved for a career such as Del Piero’s.
Even with his legendary career, there is still an element of “what if”. Prior to his injury in the 98/99 season, he was pretty much unstoppable. He won the Serie A player of the year, ahead of a prime Ronaldo (R9). I think that gives us an insight to how good Del Piero was and could have been! After the injury, Del Piero was still one of the best in the world, but never reached the level he had when he was a lot quicker and more agile. Ironically, very similar to the circumstances that Ronaldo faced in his career. A shame that us fans were robbed of what these two players could have been!
Del Piero’s rookie sticker from Padova is a super sticker! Already very expensive with raw stickers going for around the $300 USD mark. Expect this sticker and his rookie cards to drastically increase in price in the coming years. Juventus is one of the world’s most supported clubs and all supporters will be needing these items in their collection.
I thoroughly enjoy writing this piece. Sourcing all the stickers and cards was not easy!
I hope you enjoyed reading, let me know your thoughts below.
References
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