ANDREA PIRLO the metronome

Andrea Pirlo is an Italian professional football player, a key figure in the country’s successful 2006 World Cup campaign. A set piece and penalty-kick specialist, he is widely considered as one of the greatest deep-lying playmakers in midfield of all time. He started his club career as an attacking midfielder but often failed to make the starting XI in various clubs he played for, primarily due to his lack of pace. During his time at Brescia, manager Carlo Mazzone took the innovative decision of utilizing Pirlo as a deep-lying playmaker. He thrived in the new position. His outstanding, almost supernatural skill at passing was on full display as he was instrumental in his future team A.C. Milan dominating both the Italian domestic football and the European circuit. After becoming a free agent in 2011, he signed to Juventus and had an equally efficacious run with them. As a member of the Italian national team, he is the fourth-most capped player with 116 appearances. He was the captain of the bronze-medal-winning Italian contingent at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He currently plays for ‘New York City FC’ in the US.