Football God Del Piero Chooses India, Joins Delhi Dynamos

Football God Del Piero Chooses India, Joins Delhi Dynamos

MUMBAI: Delhi Dynamos FC, the national capital’s Football Team for the Hero Indian Super League, has signed up Italian football superstar Alessandro del Piero as its marquee player.

The 39-year-old Italian who has won almost every tournament he has played in for club and country, needs no introduction. Some of his top achievements over 2 illustrious decades include:

• Won 8 Serie A titles, the Champions League & Intercontinental Cup with Juventus; he played for Juventus since 1993 and was captain from 2001 until 2012.

• Led Italy to their FIFA World Cup win in 2006, scoring in the semifinal, and then in the penalty shootout in the final

• Golden Boot (top scorer): UEFA Champions League (1995-96, 1997-98), Serie A (2007-08)

• 2nd player to participate in 7 major tournaments for Italy (EURO 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and World Cup 1998, 2002, 2006)

• Won 2 European Championships as part of Italy’s U-21squad

• Won a total of 23 trophies

Alessandro del Piero, also nicknamed "Il Fenomeno Vero" or The Real Phenomenon, is the 10thAll-time Top Scorer in the Champions League and been featured in FIFA 100, a list of the top greatest living footballers compiled by Pele. Having played alongside some great teammates like Gianluigi Buffon & Zinedine Zidane, del Piero has always managed to stand out. Footballing legend Maradona once said, "He (del Peiro) is different to Zinedine Zidane. He likes to play, he feels it in his soul. Between him and the Frenchman, I choose him"

The Italian great played for Sydney FC for the last two seasons and is credited for putting the A-league (theAustralian League) onto the world stage and inspiring a new generation of football players in that country. The Free-kick King won Sydney FC Player of the Year Award &Sydney FC Golden Boot in 2013 and also scored the A-League goal of the season for 2012–2013.

After del Piero entered the A-league, there was an immediate positive impact on attendance, membership, TV ratings and corporate support for the club and the league. With Alessandro del Piero’s induction into Delhi Dynamos FC, the club representing India’s national capital is hoping for an encore and expects his presence to galvanize football fans across the country and put a nationwide spotlight on Indian domestic football.

Commenting on his move to Delhi Dynamos, Alessandro del Piero said, “It’s really exciting to be coming to India and playing for the capital of the country. I am thoroughly looking forward to training with my teammates and work together with the coach and the club and I hope to encourage the people of Delhi to follow our games! My passion has always been to play good football and I think I can definitely identify with my team’s philosophy of playing an attacking & attractive game. It is always amazing to visit new countries but I have a feeling India is going to be a really special part of my journey. See you soon, India…Thok Denge!”

Sameer Manchanda, Passionate Football Fan, Chairman & Managing Director of DEN Networks, said: “We are very excited with the signing of Alessandro del Piero, a true football legend and a giant of the game. His coming to India is a path breaking moment for football in the country. Alessandro has been an inspirational member in every team that he has played for and his presence in the Delhi Dynamos will drive the entire squad to strive for even greater glory. We are sure that he will fire up the imagination of millions of Indian kids and make football a religion in India”