This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/apr/29/alessandro-del-piero-leaves-sydney-fc

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Did the A-League get value for money from Alessandro Del Piero? Did the A-League get value for money from Alessandro Del Piero?
(4 months later)
The odyssey is over. The latest marker in the growth of Australian The odyssey is over. The latest marker in the growth of Australian football has come to an end with Alessandro Del Piero announcing his time at Sydney FC is up. Undoubtedly the most accomplished player to feature in Australian football on a permanent basis, Del Piero’s two-year stint was yet another metaphor for the growth of the local game.
football has come to an end with Alessandro Del Piero announcing his time at The Juventus icon and Italian 2006 World Cup-winner was perhaps a gamble by Sydney FC when they signed him to a multi-million dollar two-year deal in 2012. It is one thing having an impressive resume but, as evidenced by numerous headline-grabbing recruits over the years – Nicola Berti and Mario Jardel readily spring to mind – attitude and passion are sometimes the hardest qualities for star-hunger clubs to quantify. In that sense Del Piero delivered in spades. An enormous rock star welcome at Sydney Airport gave a no doubt bemused Del Piero an immediate insight into his new environment.
Sydney FC is up. Undoubtedly the most The Sydney Morning Herald got into the spirit with a back-page entirely in Italian printed on pink paper made famous by iconic Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport. It was yet another remarkable moment for fans who grew up scouring the depths of Australian newspapers in search of local football news.
accomplished player to feature in Australian football on a permanent basis, Del Suddenly Sydney FC had to employ security for training sessions. All around the country there was significant extra interest, reflected in swollen crowds and media attention. Nor did the interest purely come from third generation Juve or Azzurri fans, as would have largely been the case prior to Australian football’s new dawn. And Del Piero readily responded interacting with fans at every opportunity. Significantly, such interaction is something that Serie A players are largely shielded from, yet Del Piero rarely faltered.
Piero’s two-year stint was yet another metaphor for the growth of the local Del Piero, it seems, privately relished his Beckham-esque role of promoting his “passion” in football’s New World. So too, Del Piero, returned the love to his new home stating in his autobiography “Australia isn't just a place; it's a state of mind.”
game. Perhaps it should be little surprise that Del Piero was the right fit for such a multi-faceted role. Eschewing the A-list lifestyle, Del Piero was in many ways the polar-opposite of the modern footballer. His marriage in 2007 to a shop assistant, included just 12 guests. Del Piero is rightly eulogised by Juventus fans. He was nicknamed Il Pinturicchio by Fiat magnate and former Juventus president Gianni Agnelli, in reference to the renaissance painter of the same name. Significantly Agnelli used the name of a classic but relatively little-known artist.
The Juventus icon and Italian 2006 World Cup-winner was perhaps a Others may have hogged global headlines over the past two decades, but Del Piero’s consistency and longevity are matched by few, and he’s firmly in Serie A’s top 10 all-time goalscorers. Spending 19 years at one club, as Del Piero did with Juve is one of numerous testaments to Del Piero’s old-fashioned values.
gamble by Sydney FC when they signed him to a multi-million dollar two-year Though now 39, Del Piero delivered on the field in the spades for Sydney FC. He scored 24 times in 48 appearances – the leading goal-scorer for the club in each of his seasons – as well as contributing numerous assists.
deal in 2012. It is one thing having an impressive resume but, as evidenced by His first home match will long be remembered as a landmark moment for the A-League. In front a Sydney FC record 35,000 spectators, Del Piero delivered when the spotlight was on, scoring with a long-distance free-kick. Appropriately enough it was a trademark strike – a Gol alla Del Piero (Del Piero zone) – scored from outside the left side of the penalty area. There were to be numerous other moments of rare skill for inclusion on the highlights reel. While many of Sydney’s famed theatregoers didn’t return in such numbers as they did on that memorable afternoon in October 2012, the off-field effect was nevertheless significant.
numerous headline-grabbing recruits over the years – Nicola Berti and Mario Whether Sydney FC received appropriate return for their $8m investment in pure financial terms is unclear amid the management spin, but the goodwill and associated spin-offs for the club, and indeed Australian football, are inestimable. Sydney FC cracked 10,000 members for the first time and merchandise sales enjoyed a significant upswing. The timing for the Sky Blues was also noteworthy given the massive impact of Western Sydney Wanderers into the Harbour City’s sporting landscape.
Jardel readily spring to mind – attitude and passion are sometimes the hardest Unfortunately for Del Piero and Sydney FC fans, the Italian’s tenure came during one of the club’s increasingly familiar dysfunctional periods. Over the last nine years the Sky Blues have either been pushing for the title, or struggling in mid-table. Sydney missed last season’s finals before narrowly scraping through this term, though their place was in doubt until the final minutes of the season. In some ways Del Piero’s recruitment was symbolic of Australia club football’s maturity. The A-League’s international recruitment has improved markedly as evidenced by Shinji Ono, and to a lesser extent, Emile Heskey.
qualities for star-hunger clubs to quantify. In that sense Del Piero delivered So what now for Del Piero? Former Juventus team-mate Angelo Di Livio has suggested Japan as a possible destination, while it is hard to imagine that big-spending Guangzhou Evergrande will not make enquiries, dangling a reunion with World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi as an inducement.
in spades. An enormous rock star welcome at Sydney Airport gave a no doubt Del Piero clearly enjoyed his time in Australia saying he will be “sempre un po' australiano” (always a little bit Australian). And he remains, somewhat curiously, an ambassador for next January’s Asian Cup. Sydney FC, meanwhile, were vague with yesterday’s farewell, opening the door to an ongoing relationship with Del Piero. The vacant coaching role at the Sky Blues will undoubtedly lead to further conjecture.
bemused Del Piero an immediate insight into his new environment. It is a shame that Sydney fans didn’t have the opportunity to farewell Del Piero in much the same they did for retiring club stalwart Terry McFlynn. Perhaps though an even more suitable swansong looms with Del Piero chalked down to line-up in August’s A-League All-Stars match against, of all teams, Juventus. One thing is certain. The bar has indeed been set high for the A-League’s next top level marquee recruit.
The Sydney Morning Herald got into the spirit with a back-page
entirely in Italian printed on pink paper made famous by iconic Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport. It was yet another remarkable
moment for fans who grew up scouring the depths of Australian newspapers in
search of local football news.
Suddenly Sydney FC had to employ security for training sessions. All
around the country there was significant extra interest, reflected in swollen
crowds and media attention. Nor did the interest purely come from third
generation Juve or Azzurri fans, as
would have largely been the case prior to Australian football’s new dawn. And
Del Piero readily responded interacting with fans at every opportunity.
Significantly, such interaction is something that Serie A players are largely
shielded from, yet Del Piero rarely faltered.
Del Piero, it seems, privately relished his Beckham-esque role of promoting
his “passion” in football’s New World. So too, Del Piero, returned the love to
his new home stating in his autobiography “Australia isn't just a place; it's a
state of mind.”
Perhaps it should be little surprise that Del Piero was the right
fit for such a multi-faceted role. Eschewing the A-list lifestyle, Del Piero
was in many ways the polar-opposite of the modern footballer. His marriage in
2007 to a shop
assistant, included just 12 guests. Del Piero is rightly eulogised by
Juventus fans. He was nicknamed Il
Pinturicchio by Fiat magnate and former Juventus president Gianni Agnelli, in
reference to the
renaissance painter of the same name. Significantly Agnelli used the name
of a classic but relatively little-known artist.
Others may have hogged global headlines over the past two decades,
but Del Piero’s consistency and longevity are matched by few, and he’s firmly
in Serie A’s top 10 all-time goalscorers. Spending 19 years at one club, as Del
Piero did with Juve is one of numerous testaments to Del Piero’s old-fashioned
values.
Though now 39, Del Piero delivered on the field in the spades for
Sydney FC. He scored 24 times in 48
appearances – the leading goal-scorer for the club in each of his seasons – as
well as contributing numerous assists.
His first home match will long be remembered as a landmark moment
for the A-League. In front a Sydney FC record 35,000 spectators, Del Piero
delivered when the spotlight was on, scoring with a long-distance
free-kick. Appropriately enough it was a trademark strike – a Gol alla Del Piero (Del Piero zone) – scored
from outside the left side of the penalty area. There were to be numerous other moments of rare skill for inclusion on
the highlights reel. While many of Sydney’s famed theatregoers didn’t return in
such numbers as they did on that memorable afternoon in October 2012, the
off-field effect was nevertheless significant.
Whether Sydney FC received appropriate return for their $8m investment
in pure financial terms is unclear amid the management spin, but the goodwill
and associated spin-offs for the club, and indeed Australian football, are
inestimable. Sydney FC cracked 10,000 members for the first time and
merchandise sales enjoyed a significant upswing. The timing for the Sky Blues
was also noteworthy given the massive impact of Western Sydney Wanderers into
the Harbour City’s sporting landscape.
Unfortunately for Del Piero and Sydney FC fans, the Italian’s tenure
came during one of the club’s increasingly familiar dysfunctional periods. Over the last nine years the Sky Blues have either been pushing for the title, or struggling
in mid-table. Sydney missed last season’s finals before narrowly scraping
through this term, though their place was in doubt until the final minutes of
the season. In some ways Del Piero’s
recruitment was symbolic of Australia club football’s maturity. The A-League’s
international recruitment has improved markedly as evidenced by Shinji Ono, and
to a lesser extent, Emile Heskey.
So what now for Del Piero? Former Juventus team-mate Angelo Di
Livio has suggested Japan as a possible destination, while it is hard to
imagine that big-spending Guangzhou Evergrande will not make enquiries,
dangling a reunion with World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi as an
inducement.
Del Piero clearly enjoyed his time in Australia saying he will be “sempre
un po' australiano” (always a little bit Australian). And he remains, somewhat
curiously, an ambassador for next January’s Asian Cup. Sydney FC, meanwhile, were
vague with yesterday’s farewell, opening the door to an ongoing
relationship with Del Piero. The vacant coaching role at the Sky Blues will
undoubtedly lead to further conjecture.
It is a shame that Sydney fans didn’t have the opportunity to
farewell Del Piero in much the same they did for retiring club stalwart Terry
McFlynn. Perhaps though an even more suitable swansong looms with Del Piero
chalked down to line-up in August’s A-League All-Stars match against, of all
teams, Juventus. One thing is certain. The bar has indeed been set high for the
A-League’s next top level marquee recruit.