Top 10 Andrea Pirlo moments for AC Milan

Goal.com recalls some of the Italian international's best moments in a red and black kit

May 19, 2011 9:30:00 AM

By Adam Scime

More On :  AC Milan, Andrea Pirlo
After 10 long years, Andrea Pirlo announced on Wednesday that he is leaving AC Milan, signaling an end of an era for the Serie A giants.

The 'metronome' in the midfield had finally outstayed his welcome, despite being a crucial and pivotal player for so long under former coach Carlo Ancelotti and continuing to offer great service under Leonardo and Massimiliano Allegri. However, as the saying goes 'all good things must come to an end', and that even applies to Pirlo and the Rossoneri, despite them having collected two Scudetti, two Champions Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups and a FIFA Club World Cup among other accolades in their 10 years together.

Nonetheless, Pirlo leaves behind plenty of great memories and a decade of success with Milan and Goal.com count down his top 10 moments, on the player's 32nd birthday no less, with this year's Scudetto winners.


 10. Arriving from rivals Inter

Being drowned out of the team by a number of talented midfielders on the blue side of San Siro, despite his success at under-21 level, Pirlo moved to the cross-city rivals in a deal worth a reported €18 million in 2001. It seemed the Nerazzurri misjudged his potential, as we are well aware he thrived in red and black.


9. A landmark 400th appearance

From his first moment with Milan, to one of his last. Players who stick in one place are hardly a dime a dozen these days, but after a decade, Pirlo recently racked up his 400th game for the club as they lost in the Coppa Italia semi-finals to Palermo. After donning his boots so many times for the club, he should be given a hero's goodbye.

8. Lifting his first Scudetto

Rewind to 2004, Milan's previous Serie A triumph before claiming this year's title, when they won the league by 11 points over Roma with Pirlo making 32 of a possible 34 appearances and also adding six goals, three of them proving to be game winners. He completed every Italian player's dream - to win the Scudetto - and wrote his name in Italian football history.

7. Thriving in a new role - the modern regista

Pirlo is best-known for his role as deep-lying playmaker, but this in fact was not always his forte. Originally an attacking player, Carlo Ancelotti began utilising Pirlo at the base of the midfield, where he flourished into arguably the world's best in his position, becoming such an integral and important part of the team that they relied on having him in the line-up, never making less than 42 appearances in a campaign between 2002 and 2008.

6. Set-piece special leads Milan into knockouts

Like Juninho, Pirlo is heralded for his technique and breathtaking effectiveness from dead-ball situations. This was exemplified perfectly during the Champions League group stage of 2005-06, when he fired an unstoppable missile over the wall and into the top corner versus Schalke. Combined with Kaka's brace for a 3-2 victory in a must-win situation, Milan were able to qualify for the knockout round.

5. Head and shoulders above Bayern

Pirlo is not one of your most regular goal-scorers, but his rare header versus Bayern lives long in the memory. Latching on to Massimo Oddo's cross behind the defence, the midfielder intelligently looped the ball over Rensing in a 2-2 draw in the first-leg of the Champions League quarter-finals and continued his immaculate form on the way to lifting the prestigious trophy in 2007.

4. Belter at the Bernabeu

Never afraid to test goalkeepers from long range, Pirlo caught one of the world's best in Iker Casillas by surprise as the Italians claimed a historic 3-2 victory over Real Madrid. Coming off the left flank and well outside the area, Pirlo's dipping shot kissed the near post to equalise against the Spanish giants in the Champions League group stages of 2009-10.

3. The screamer that brought down Parma's house

The veteran may have missed half of this season through injury, but he was a vital part of Milan's positive results early on in the campaign. His screamer at Parma, from all of 40 yards, was not only a spectacular goal, but also gave Milan their first away victory in Serie A and sent them on the right track towards the Scudetto. The whole stadium gasped and even his team-mates looked at him with astonishment and praise.

2. Nominated for FIFA World Player of the Year

In arguably the best season of his career, Pirlo was nominated as one of the best footballers on the planet. He may not be a household name like eventual winner and then team-mate Kaka, but the acknowledgment was a testament to his abilities and performances in 2006 and 2007. He finished seventh in the final voting.

1. Setting up Inzaghi's opener vs Liverpool

It may seem a bit contrived that Pirlo's most important contribution was actually converted by another player. Given a set-piece on the edge of the area, the midfielder's whipped effort skipped off the chest of Filippo Inzaghi as Milan opened the scoring in the 2007 Champions League final. The Rossoneri beat the Reds 2-1 to avenge their 2005 defeat. It was simply a timely reminder that Pirlo was the platform for Milan's success, even if the glory often went to others.

There you have it. Disagree with our selection? Let us know when Pirlo impressed you in a Milan shirt. As ever, we’re open to your suggestions and musings.

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