FIFA World Cup™ Germany 2006 player's profile

Midfield dynamo Andrea Pirlo has matured into one of AC Milan and Italy’s most important players.
Comfortable in either a defensive, controlling midfield role or in a more advanced position, Pirlo came to the fore after his move to AC Milan. He had a difficult spell at Milan’s city rivals Inter earlier in his career, but with the Rossoneri he has won the UEFA Champions League in 2003 and the league title in 2004.

Creative, with excellent passing ability and capable of producing brilliant free-kicks, Pirlo won a gold medal at the UEFA European U-21Championship in 2000. He then played at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games, winning bronze in Athens, and also featured at UEFA EURO 2004.

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UEFA Champions League 2005-06 player's profile

Italians have a word for a player like Andrea Pirlo: 'fantasista'. He may look languid, but his vision, passing and set-piece skills have drawn comparisons with the great Roberto Baggio.

National team
His first career highlight came when Italy won the 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, as he scored twice in the final against the Czech Republic. Pirlo made his Azzurri debut against Azerbaijan in September 2002 and replaced the suspended Francesco Totti at UEFA EURO 2004™, starting against Sweden and Bulgaria as Italy were eliminated despite remaining unbeaten. Under new coach Marcello Lippi, Pirlo became a key player.

Club
Pirlo first played in Serie A in May 1995 for his hometown club, Brescia Calcio, but did not feature the following term after relegation. A season on he helped lead the club back into the Italian élite, earning himself a move to FC Internazionale Milano.

1998: Inter found it difficult to accommodate him and were unable to make best use of his talents; in fact, it was only when they loaned him to Reggina Calcio in his second term at the San Siro that he hit form. Pirlo then moved to Brescia on loan in 2000/01 before a surprise cross-city switch to AC Milan at the season's end.

2001: Pirlo came to the fore as Milan secured a double of UEFA Champions League and Coppa Italia in 2003 and was then outstanding in a roaming role in front of the defence as Milan stormed to the 2003/04 Serie A title.

2004/05: Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti described Pirlo as "irreplaceable" when injury forced his absence for several key games in which the team dropped points that ultimately cost them their league crown. He played 12 of Milan's 13 games in the Champions League, scoring against Celtic FC, but missed a penalty in the final shoot-out defeat by Liverpool FC.

Did you know?
Team-mate Gennaro Gattuso once said: "When I see what Andrea can do with the ball I have to ask myself whether I am a footballer."

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UEFA EURO 2004™ player's profile

Italians have a word for a player like Andrea Pirlo: 'fantasista'. He may look languid, but his vision, passing and set-piece skills have drawn comparisons with the great Roberto Baggio.

National team
His first career highlight came when Italy won the 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, as he scored twice in the final against the Czech Republic. After missing out on selection for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Pirlo made his Azzurri debut against Azerbaijan in September 2002. Although he did not hold on to a starting place in UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying, he was in the squad for Portugal and was drafted in when Francesco Totti was suspended. However, although Pirlo started the draw with Sweden and victory against Bulgaria, unbeaten Italy were eliminated.

Club
Pirlo first played in Serie A in May 1995 for his hometown club, Brescia Calcio, but did not feature the following term after relegation. A season on he helped lead the club back into the Italian élite, where four goals in 29 matches prompted a move to Internazionale FC.

1998: Neither striker nor midfield player, Inter found it difficult to accommodate him and were unable to make best use of his talents; in fact, it was only when they loaned him to Reggina Calcio in his second term at the San Siro that he hit form. Pirlo then moved to Brescia on loan in 2000/01 before a surprise cross-city switch to AC Milan at the season's end.

2001: After making 18 appearances in his first full season for the Rossoneri, Pirlo came to the fore as Milan secured a double of UEFA Champions League and Coppa Italia in 2003. In total he played more than 40 times.

2003/04: Missed just two of Milan's matches as they won Serie A at a canter. Pirlo was outstanding in a roaming role in front of the defence, scoring six times - three from the spot - in his 32 appearances.

Did you know?
Team-mate Gennaro Gattuso once said: "When I see what Andrea can do with the ball I have to ask myself whether I am a footballer."

©uefa.com 1998-2006. All rights reserved.

BBC's UEFA EURO 2004 player's profile

Originally considered an attacking midfielder in the Francesco Totti mould, Andrea Pirlo has been successfully converted by Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti into a deep-lying playmaker.

Pirlo came through the youth set-up at Brescia and starred for Italy's Under-21 side but his career stalled after a move to Internazionale.

But after joining rivals AC Milan in 2001, Pirlo proved himself as a world-class performer, winning both the Champions League and Coppa Italia in 2003.

Though a little lightweight for the anchor role, Pirlo is a wonderful passer and is capable of delivering dangerous set-pieces.

Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni has been reluctant to play Pirlo as a defensive midfielder, claiming "it would be like having Zico just in front of the defence".

After watching Pirlo orchestrate Milan's romp to the Serie A title this season, 'Trap' must be tempted to throw caution to the wind and find room for the talented 25-year-old.

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