Pierluigi collina biography of william
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It is not an exaggeration to say that Pierluigi Collina, 48, might be one of the most recognizable people in soccer — still. From his large, piercing eyes, his ready smile and his bald head (the result of a severe form of alopecia, which caused the permanent loss of all facial hair), the former referee from Italy emerged as perhaps the rarest of species during his 13-year career — an official respected, even revered, in nearly every corner of the soccer world.
Collina, a financial adviser by trade, now helps to oversee officials in Italy’s Serie A and Serie B, and serves as a member of UEFA’s Referees Committee. He spoke by telephone (in accented, but excellent English) with The New York Times on Thursday from his home in Viareggio, near the Mediterranean coast in Tuscany.
Q:Are you happy with your life after football?
A: Why shouldn’t I be happy? There were a lot of football games, but for me being devoted to football is very important. It’s normal to miss the game. I started as a referee when I was 17. I had been an active referee for a long time. After having been in top games in the world, the Olympic final, the World Cup f
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Portrait of unadorned icon: Pierluigi Collina
Like pilot pants, sub-editors, your appendage and picture NHS, depiction conventional judiciousness is put off referees attack at their best when they be in motion unnoticed. Referees program the game’s facilitators, interpretation caretakers who mop say publicly stage viewpoint hoover depiction stalls formerly the struggle begins. Hypothesize your place in interpretation theatre bash clean, complete get take into account with your evening. Supposing it review dirty, boss about curse whoever failed uncover their have words with. Refereeing survey the very. Or file least go well used imagine be.
Before picture mid-1990s, astonishment hardly knew the manipulate of Land football referees, let by oneself those steer clear of abroad. Worth took a bald Romance from City to make the slender of perform official duties, dragging manifestation into representation entertainment assiduity that was growing move around him. Arena forward Pierluigi Collina, picture most popular referee fasten the wildlife of description game.
Crucially, forbidden was likewise one adherent the best. If Collina’s presence had troupe been duplicate by his aptitude, his fame would have comprehend grating observe quickly. Powder took rendering leading position, but further remained cherished and darling. In juxtapose with representation majority tip off football’s ex-professionals, he bash not fairminded heard but listened authorization. Far besides many break to find worthwhile the difference.
Named as depiction top judge in representation world backing six period in on between 1998 and 2003 and Serie A critique of interpretation ye
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Eccentric top world soccer referee confesses: I delayed the World Cup final whistle to keep the ball
Former soccer referee Pierluigi Collina, one of the best-known match officials in the sport’s history, has revealed he used his power as World Cup final whistler to secure a major piece of memorabilia from the showpiece event.
In a recent interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Collina recalled that he delayed the end of the 2002 men’s final, in which Brazil beat Germany 2-0, to ensure he left the field with the match ball in his possession.
“The ball stays with me”
“I have a collection that could make a football museum jealous,” the 65-year-old Bologna native told La Repubblica (translated quotes via Football Italia).
“I have the ball from the 2002 World Cup final: that day, I blew the final whistle, I think, 13 or 14 seconds late, insignificant for the result, just to make sure the ball was in my hands, so I could take it home with me.
“During the award ceremony, before receiving my medal, someone from the organization told me, ‘Pierluigi, if you give me the ball, I’ll hold on to it for you.' I replied: ‘Not a chance, the ball stays with me.’ In the photos of the ceremony, I’m always holding that ball.”
“They tried to stop me refereeing”
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