His goal against Lecce today matched Giampiero Boniperti's record 178 Serie A goals in a Juventus jersey

Del Piero now has 278 goals in 646 appearances overall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlRnZLVYXO4

so those hundred more goals consist of Serie B, Coppa Italia and European goals

Serie A: 178
Serie B: 20
Coppa Italia: 23
Super Coppa Italiana: 3
European Cup/CL: 44
UEFA Cup/EL: 5
Intertoto: 1
European Supercup: 2
Intercontinental Cup: 1

That's 277 for Juventus. There is a discrepancy with the 1 which is taken from an official tournament when he was a young player and it is basically given as his 278th goal, he also had 1 as a Padova player in B.

Boniperti begrudgingly gives up record



Juventus legend Giampiero Boniperti has written an open letter to Alessandro Del Piero jokingly begrudging him the equaling of his goalscoring record.

Del Piero scored for the 178th time in Serie A yesterday, once again putting his name in Juventus' history books alongside that of Boniperti.

“Dear Del Piero, you didn't even give us five minutes against Lecce: you came on and you scored. Well done,” Boniperti wrote in La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“With that wonderful goal you reached me on 178 goals in Serie A with the Juventus shirt, but you won't stop here.

“I am not a liar and I will tell you straight away that it annoys me a little, but the fact that it was you and that I have known you since you were a little lad and that I brought you to Juve, well, it gives me satisfaction.

“Sooner or later it had to happen also because I retired from football when I wasn't even 33, while I see that you, a step from your 36th birthday, still have a lot of desire to train.

“Carry on this way,” Boniperti added. “Teach your young teammates what Juventus is. Explain to them the pride of wearing this shirt and what being hungry for victory is.”

Totti congratulates Del Piero



Roma captain Francesco Totti has been one of the first to congratulate Ale Del Piero on equaling Giampiero Boniperti's goalscoring record for Juventus in Serie A.

Del Piero found the net for the 178th time against Lecce yesterday afternoon, ensuring his place in the club's record books again.

Writing in his blog, Totti had a special message for his friend who he respects as another one-club man.

“Precise control, ball from right to left sending the defender out of time and then an unstoppable shot.

“Today's goal from Del Piero, which allowed him to reach Boniperti with 178 goals was very beautiful!!!

“Grande Ale. You're a real talisman and a symbol of your team. I send you my best wishes for this new achievement.”

Del Piero on brink of record
(PA) Thursday 21 October 2010

Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero has an added motivation to find the back of the net at Bologna on Sunday.

Del Piero is one goal shy of becoming Juve's all-time top Serie A scorer. The former Italian international struck in last weekend's 4-0 win over Lecce to match the record of 178 league goals for the club set by legend Giampiero Boniperti.

"Boniperti has always said that he would be happy if I was the one to break his record," said Del Piero. "I will call him back and and ask him if that is the case, but I'm certain that his joy is genuine."

Del Piero says there is only one secret to his achievement. "One always has to have aims," he said. "You have to work with passion and enthusiasm in order to enjoy this career. I've always done that and will continue to do so." Del Piero and Juve go into the contest fifth in the standings.

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfoot...ro+brink+record

A legend

Juve rule out Del Piero exit



Juventus have laughed off speculation that Alessandro Del Piero could end his career with rivals Milan.

Rossoneri owner Silvio Berlusconi this week invited the Italian legend to join the San Siro outfit before he retired.

“Del Piero to Milan? I don’t think so,” explained Bianconeri transfer guru Beppe Marotta.

“The fact that Berlusconi rates him so much is a testament to the player, but Del Piero won’t play in a Milan shirt.”

The almost 36-year-old has less than a year left on his current deal and he recently admitted that he would remain in Turin or move abroad.

“His [agent] brother has said that Alex is and will be a Juventus player,” Marotta continued. “There will soon be a meeting around a table with President Andrea Agnelli.

“The new stadium will be ready next season and if Del Piero hopes to play there then there will be no problems.”

http://www.football-italia.net/nov05a.html

--------------------

Berlusconi really is a muppet.

"Here is my secret. It is very simple: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye."

Happy 36th birthday Alex, still going strong and important

First goal, first interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GMa4pHFpYc

He should sign with the Vancouver Whitecaps, Vancouver is a great city, like Torino also hosted the Winter Olympics, so it'd be like he didn't move.

happy birthday Ale, legend.

oooooooo i want that cake!!!!!!

All Del Piero's goals with Italy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIIKLnGQeac

Beautiful.

Sonia gave birth to their third child this morning, a baby boy who they have named Sasha, a brother for Tobias and Dorotea.

Congratulations to them

5 Maggio 2002

Del Piero is due to sign a new one year deal maybe today, for around €1m.

Official, new contract until 2012

Ale's initiative Ale10friends for Japan raised $303,880 to go towards relief efforts in coastal areas of Japan affected by the March 2011 tsunami.

Del Piero to leave Juve in 2012

Juventus President Andrea Agnelli has confirmed that this will be Alessandro Del Piero’s final season at the club.

Speaking at a shareholders meeting on Tuesday, the Signora chief admitted that the No 10’s playing career with the outfit will end in the summer.

“Our captain Alessandro Del Piero really wanted to stay with us for what will be his final year in Bianconero,” Agnelli noted.

“Let’s dedicate a massive round of applause to him.”

There has yet to be a comment from the Del Piero camp, but it was widely accepted before today’s announcement that the Italian would leave in 2012 at the end of his contract.

The veteran, who signed a new 12-month deal earlier in the year, will celebrate his 37th birthday in November.

The Azzurri international joined the Turin giants in 1993 from Serie B side Padova and he’s gone on to break numerous club records.

He’s also won just about every major trophy with the side, as well as staying loyal to the Old Lady following their demotion to Serie B in 2006.

It’s unclear whether Del Piero will retire from the game next year or go and play his football in a foreign country.

He’s already underlined that he wouldn’t play for another Italian team after Juve.

-----------------------------

It'll be an extremely sad moment, Juventus just won't be the same without him.

The term legend is overused these days, but when it comes to Juventus Alessandro Del Piero is a living legend. Let's enjoy his last season and let him go out with a bang

Hoping that he will join a MLS side.

It's quite possible.

True club legend.

Funny side story about him. The sister of an old friend of mine from back home was studying in Turin in the late 90's. She had a flat in the same complex as ADP. As she is a beautiful blond he tried to get her to go out with him for a few months, she rejected him time and time again without having a clue who it was. A few of us was watching a CL game with Juve a few years later when she came in the room and saw him on the tv, 'I know that guy' she said and told us the story. Massive fail on her behalf...

Unlucky. He started going out with (probably knew way before) Sonia Amoruso in 1999, sister of ex-Juve striker Nicola.

He's a great guy as well, biased or not. Everywhere he goes he has time for people, speaks decent English, accepts pretty much every photo and autograph request. That's one reason why he is always clapped off by home fans wherever in the world Juve travel, several times with standing ovations.

I can't think of any footballer as nice yet as driven as Ale.

I remember watching these Japanese VCDs of him showing off his freekick skills, he was such an icon in Asia back in the day when I was young, nowadays kids look up to cunts like Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

The only player to have scored at all four of Juventus' stadiums:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=playe...p;v=Lr6Dlfrb47M



Stadio Comunale
Stadio Delle Alpi
Stadio Olimpico di Torino
Juventus Stadium

It's always a special moment to see Del Piero score, we might not have many left.

Alex with his son Tobias after the game:

What a photo.

Del Piero has just done an interview with Vanity Fair where he speaks about the future, pretty sad stuff to read, but also gives us a lot of pride.

--------------------------------------------------------------------



Del Piero to Vanity Fair: “This has been the most complicated season of my career.”

Del Piero: “I dreamed of ending my career at Juventus. Things, however, have changed.”

Del Piero on Andrea Agnelli’s announcement in October that the No 10 would be leaving in June: “I was surprised.”

Del Piero: “I’ll be without a contract from June 30. I’m a bit scared. It’s like leaving home for the second time.”

------------------

More to follow.

Alessandro Del Piero has reflected on the ‘most difficult’ season of his career and admits that leaving Juventus this summer is a daunting prospect.

The Bianconeri’s record appearance holder and all-time top goalscorer, who has won 15 major honours with the Turin outfit since joining the club in 1993, is set to depart this summer when his contract comes to an end.

The 37-year-old forward, who has previously hinted that he intends to play on until he is 40, has admitted this week that he had hoped to be staying with the Old Lady to the end of his playing career.

“It was what I had dreamed,” he said in an interview with the Italian edition of Vanity Fair magazine, which is set to be published tomorrow.

“These 20 years have been full of emotions, with some extraordinary moments and others hard - I have felt the thrill of writing almost all the Bianconeri’s records. But now things have changed.

“[This season] has been the most difficult of my life, because I was faced with a reality that I had never known - that of someone who plays little or not at all.

“Nobody thinks they deserve exclusion, and although I have always thought that if another is playing ahead of you then they deserve it, it does not mean giving up fighting for that place.”

The captain was asked of his reaction to Andrea Agnelli’s announcement at a club shareholders meeting in October that this would be the No 10’s last term with the club.

“It surprised me. But a captain should never forget his duties and what he represents. Juventus has taken the utmost to try to win the League and Coppa Italia.

“We do not need controversy, which, moreover, has never been a part of my career.

“From June 30 I will be without a contract. I cannot imagine my future, it is a huge change and it scares me a little, because it will be like leaving home again.

“But I live life as I did when I was a kid, like a video game - there will be another level to overcome.”

goodbye ADP.

I suppose we'll see him next in the Bruce Springsteen Biopic.

Del Piero: 'I am so proud'



Alessandro Del Piero said his farewell was “an incredible moment, as my ties to the fans go beyond anything. I am happy and proud.”

The Juventus captain played his final Serie A match today, scoring a goal in the 3-1 victory over Atalanta and lifting the Scudetto trophy.

“It was an incredible moment,” he said of his lap of honour as tears flooded from people in the stands.

“My ties to the fans go beyond anything and I want to thank them. I am happy and proud today. It is an incredibly wonderful day.

“Of course there is also sadness, but it’s a moment to treasure, because I celebrated with the fans on the field and I cannot add anything more. I am truly proud.

“I am focusing on this because I don’t want to feel that sadness and I have to prepare for Sunday’s Coppa Italia Final against Napoli.”

Del Piero has stated he will not be retiring just yet, so could be heading to the American MLS or the English Premier League.

“There’s a lifetime ahead of me to work as a director. I am in good shape, I was born to play football and as long as I can do that, I’m happy.

“Would I like to play in England? I’ve always said you experience football in a fantastic way there. However, I haven’t discussed a transfer for 19 years, so I’m a bit out of the loop on what to do!”

Alessandro Del Piero, Addio:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=playe...p;v=1DhR5Z2vrkM

So difficult to watch that video and not be emotional, so much pride and sadness.

Balotelli: "If Del Piero came to Man City, me, Dzeko, Aguero and Tevez will all sit on the bench."

Last Juventus game for Alex tonight, I don't think it will sink in for a while yet

I would love to see him go out with one last trophy.

I can't believe I'll not see him in la maglia bianconera again

Such a shame he had to go out with a runners up medal, but this season's finale summed up the career of a living legend. Beautiful victories, bitter defeats, on a personal and collective level. This is football, but Del Piero stood out above all that.

The man was graceful from the beginning to end, humble in victory and congratulatory in defeat. Forget his wonderful talent for a few moments. On a personal level the man is an absolute gentleman, quite literally the nicest man in calcio and surely up there with those in the game itself. Everywhere he went, every stadium or event, big or small, he was the first to greet the fans and the last one to leave. He was applauded in many of these stadiums for not only his skills on the pitch but for how we went out of his way to connect with people who could only dream of being in his position. The sickly child turned footballing prodigy, who went on to become one of the finest of his generation.



I remember his first Juve goal, a ball over the top against Reggiana, his typically cool stroked finish with his left foot. Alex was known for his wonderful curlers from the 'Zona Del Piero', but he was just as good at stroking it past the keep with either foot, almost as if it was close enough for the keeper to save, but not quite. He scored a hat trick in his first full start. We could see he was predestined.



After that he was a fantastic 'second striker', often in the wide left area with Vialli and Ravanelli. A complimentary three if ever there was. A Champions League win in 1996 against Ajax. Then heartbreak in the consecutive finals in 1997 and 1998. In the 1997-98 season he was simply amazing, at his peak, maybe the best in the world at that time. He scored 21 goals in 32 games in the toughest league in the world, and continued with 10 in 10 in the Champions League. Only Ronaldo at Barcelona came close. As it was it was a World Cup year. Zidane did it in the final and won the Ballon D'Or. He was a great player at the time, but not even the best at Juventus then. Del Piero didn't even make the top three.



The following season was extremely tough on him, in October he suffered a serious knee injury against Udinese and was out for the rest of the season. The player we had seen in 1997-98 was ultimately gone forever, little did we know, but Alex never gave in and came back. He came back strong, playing almost the entire season in 1999-00, he wasn't quite the same in terms of his impish movements, but the skills were there, the twists, the turns, the curling and clipped shots. He continued on a steady path for these next couple of years. Juventus competed until the end but were not quite there, Alex was not quite there.



Euro 2000. Sheesh, I don't even want to talk about this. Italy should have that trophy. Those misses. They weren't easy chances but Del Piero at his best would not have missed both, no way. He was the scapegoat, all in Italy slaughtered him. We stood by him. They expected the best from a champion, but he was not quite there.



In 2001-02 it all changed. His partnership with new goal machine and David Trezeguet provided 40 goals, with Alex scoring 16 of them. He was back towards his best form. It's a season I will never forget, a day I won't, our second most beautiful scudetto after this season. Going into the final round Inter only needed to win at Lazio to win their first scudetto since 1989. They choked hard. Juventus kept playing. Alex was in full flow, he looked the part again. He opened the scoring as Juventus won 2-0 at Udinese to clinch the scudetto once again.

That season for me was a breakthrough for both Del Piero and the team. We went onto better things. Another scudetto, number 27, and a Champions League final. Again we just fell short in the final, losing on penalties. Without the drive of Nedved the team were not quite the same. It was to be the last chance Alex would have to lift the trophy again in a Juventus shirt.



Over the next few years Juventus went about building a domestic dynasty, with 4 scudetti in 5 seasons. Those latter two were difficult times for Alex. Under Capello he was not seen as first choice. He preferred the power and speed of Ibrahimovic. Alex responded with a goal ever two games when given the chance. Ibrahimovic scored less in 2005-06 as first choice. Capello never relented, he had a super sub who deserved more. But, as is typical of Alex, he sat quietly and did his part for the team. He didn't like it, of course. We found out some years later that he had even contemplated leaving if Capello remained, but he never went through with it, Del Piero would outlast Ibrahimovic and Capello in any scenario. But he probably didn't expect it to be in the way it turned out. Something was rumbling in the background.



But before that, Italy had a World Cup to play. By now Alex was not a starting player for La Nazionale, but he is in the squad on merit - he's one of the best Italian forwards around, the best on paper. Lippi knew all about him. He came off the bench in the group games, then started in the knockout game with Australia. But Del Piero's shining moment in the tournament came in extra time of the semi final with Germany. Italy had taken the lead through Grosso, and the Germans were piling forward for the equaliser. The majestic Cannavaro dismantled the German offense on his own. The ball made its way to Gilardino, who held the ball up well and played a nice pass outside to Del Piero. Alex was never going to do anything but score. He shifted his body to the left and just curled a stroked short into Lehmann's top left corner. You almost felt sorry for the German, no one could stop it. When Del Piero is in that position you hope and pray that he slips or has a complete mental block, because it's a goal otherwise. He didn't. Euro 2000 partially erased. I remember it so well, celebrating with family, I threw my 21 year old sister up in the air so high she bumped her hear on a light fitting. This was how Il Pinturrichio was supposed to end his final international tournament. Of course it got so much better, Italy eventually beat the French in the final on penalties. Alex was brought on later in the game and as expected took one. He didn't miss.



Calciopoli arrived before and during the World Cup, or Farsopoli, as it later turned out to be. Juventus were sent to play in Serie B. Imagine it, one of the strongest sides in the world, full of players who had just returned with winners and runners up medals from the World Cup. Some of the rats scattered the sinking ship, some wanted to leave. Del Piero didn't have any thoughts other than staying. Eventually he was joined by a band of champions who came around to the idea of one season in B; Buffon, Nedved, Trezeguet and Camoranesi. It was only going to be one season, this is Juventus. They started on -9 points, and finished 6 points clear at the top. Alex was far too good for this division, scoring 20 goals at a canter. At the time Calciopoli seemed almost valid, he remarked how we had done our time, enough was enough. Now back to where we belong.



We returned to Serie A with a real sense of bitterness and injustice in our hearts, and Alex seemed to feel it even more. He was incredible in this season, scoring 21 league goals and finishing up with his first Capocannoniere title. To me he looked so close to that sensational best from a decade earlier. His speed returned, he twisted and turned, curled shots in from every angle, on both feet. His partnership with now long term partner and friend Trezeguet provided 41 goals, beating the total of 2001-02.



Juventus would finish in a respectable third place, and then better that with a 2nd place finish in 2008-09. But this allowed the club to return to the Champions League. I will never forget his brace against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu. His turn and left foot shot, his freekick over the wall, the standing ovation he received from the Madrid crowd. Special treatment for a special player. I won't forget his other brilliant goals at home to Madrid or Maccabi, the games against Chelsea. One wonders what might have been in the Capello years, had Alex set foot on the pitch more often in those big Champions League knock out games.



Crazy market moves from the club brought about the two worst seasons in living Juventus history. The club finishing 7th in consecutive seasons. But the craziest thing about this was how despite the money spent Del Piero still looked a class apart. He dragged the team along. Whether starting or coming off the bench it was always a vital goal. He couldn't save us, time catches up with every man, but I have rarely seen such a decisive player for someone of that age. Injuries niggled him, coaches chopped and changed, but Alex stayed as the glue in the dressing room.



This season has been bittersweet in so many ways. The wonderful scudetto triumph masterminded by our previous Capitano, Antonio Conte. Conte knew when he passed the armband on to Del Piero it was in safe hands, but the omission of our great champion this season has been hard. We know he can't do it for 30 plus games anymore, but when he comes on, even in this title winning team, you see the difference in class. The touch, control, flick pass, one-two, come inside and curler. You wish you could clone Del Piero, he is football. Everything he did with the ball was perfect.

The Coppa Italia defeat in his last game is hard to take, but Alex has never been one to shirk losses. He had it hard from an early age, but shone through. I could sit here all day and write about Del Piero but never feel like I've done him justice. It's hard for me to finish writing this, I don't get emotional about stuff like this but he is the exception. He's most of the Juventus I have ever known and find it hard to accept I won't see him again.

Thank you Alex, for everything.