Gianluca Pessotto

Gianluca Pessotto (born 11 August 1970 in Latisana, Province of Udine) is a retired football player. A former Italian international, he spent the majority of his club career with Juventus F.C., where he won several domestic and international trophies, and is now head of its youth system. He represented his country at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and at UEFA Euro 2000, reaching the final of the latter tournament. Despite not being the most technically gifted footballer, Pessotto was a correct, hard-working, tactically intelligent, and versatile player, who was able to play as a full-back or wing-back, or also as a central or wide midfielder on either flank; despite being right-footed, he usually preferred to play on the left side of the pitch. He was also used as a centre-back on occasion, due to his consistency, awareness, and man-marking ability.
After his retirement in 2006, Pessotto remained at Juventus as a member of the coaching staff. He is currently the Sporting Director (Direttore Sportivo) of the youth academy.
Pessotto was given the nickname "Il Professorino" ("The Professor") by the fans, due to his glasses, his interest in literature, and as he was able to obtain a law degree during his career. His stamina and ability to run very quickly - indeed he was often described as almost "flying" on field - also earned him the nickname "Passerotto" ("Little Sparrow").

Milan

Born in Latisana, in the province of Udine, Pessotto started his career in the A.C. Milan youth system. However, he was instantly sold to A.S. Varese 1910 in 1989. He never made a professional appearance for Milan.

Varese

After joining Varese in 1989, Pessotto officially began his professional career. In two full season s with the club, he tallied an impressive 64 appearances, also finding the back of the net on a solo occasion.

Massese

In August 1991, Pessotto transferred to U.S. Massese 1919, although he only remained at the club for one season. in his lone season, he appeared 23 times in the league, netting one goal.

Bologna

Following impressive spells with both A.S. Varese 1910 and U.S. Massese 1919, he transferred to, then, Serie B club Bologna F.C. 1909 in the summer of 1992. Despite being a highly anticipated transfer, Pessotto made just 21 league appearances, and was sold at the conclusion of the season. He also scored one goal for the Bolognese club.

Verona

After a season with Bologna in Serie B, Pessotto transferred to fellow Serie B club, Hellas Verona F.C. in 1993. Pessotto was an undisputed starter for much of the season, impressing greatly. He made 34 league appearances with a seasonal career high of 3 goals.

Torino

After impressing in the second division of Italian football, Pessotto transferred to Torino F.C. in 1994. In his first season in the Serie A, Pessotto racked up a starting position along with 32 league appearances and his first Serie A goal. After greatly impressing in his debut Serie A season, Pessotto moved to city rivals and European giants Juventus FC, in 1995, in what was a very highly regarded transfer.

Juventus

After joining Juventus in 1995, he instantly became a key part of the first team and help Juventus form what was considered as the best defence in the world at this time, and teams strongly regretted ever going down a goal to the club, as they knew how hard it would be to score one back for themselves. Pessotto formed impressive defensive partnerships with the likes of Ciro Ferrara, Moreno Torricelli, Paolo Montero, Mark Iuliano, Lilian Thuram, Alessandro Birindelli, Igor Tudor, Gianluca Zambrotta, Nicola Legrottaglie, Fabio Cannavaro, Jonathan Zebina, and Giorgio Chiellini during his lengthy 12-year tenure with the club. He was one of many experienced players who had been at Juventus for a lengthy period of time. Injuries and other issues in the closing stages of his career limited his first-team opportunities to mainly being used a substitute to Jonathan Zebina or Lilian Thuram. Pessotto retired at the end of the 2005–2006 Serie A season, after back to back Scudetti. With Juventus he managed well over 250 total appearances scoring 2 league goals in the process. Among his achievements as a Juventus player, Pessotto won the UEFA Champions League in 1996, playing in 4 Champions League Finals, the UEFA Super Cup in 1996, the Intercontinental Cup in 1996, 1 UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2000, 4 Scudetti (1997, 1998, 2002, 2003) 4 Supercoppa Italiana (1997, 1998, 2002, 2003), and 1 Coppa Italia in 1995.

In total, Pessotto was capped 22 times for Italy between 1996 and 2002, under managers Arrigo Sacchi (1996), Cesare Maldini (1996–98), Dino Zoff (1998–2000), and Giovanni Trapattoni (2000–2002). He played for his country at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, where Italy were eliminated by hosts and eventual champions France on penalties in the quarter finals, and at Euro 2000. At Euro 2000, Pessotto scored a penalty in the semi-final shootout win over co-hosts the Netherlands, which sent Italy into the final against France. In the final, Pessotto would set up Delvecchio's goal; however, he only picked up a runners-up medal, as Italy lost to France for the second consecutive tournament, after conceding a last minute equaliser, and then subsequently conceding a David Trézéguet golden goal. Trezeguet ironically became his Juventus teammate the following season. He was unable to take part at the 2002 World Cup with Italy due to injury.

Following his retirement, Pessotto was successively appointed as the new Juventus team manager. Weeks after his retirement as a footballer, he survived a 15-metre fall from a fourth storey window at the headquarters of Juventus, on 27 June 2006. As he was holding a rosary, it is believed that he was attempting suicide in the wake of the Calciopoli scandal which led his club to be stripped of two Serie A titles and relegated in Serie B for their first time in history. He suffered multiple fractures and internal bleeding from the fall. On 17 July 2006, medical staff declared him out of danger and stated that he would not have long-term mental damage or physical paralysis.

After recovering Pessotto resumed his managerial duties. In the summer of 2009 he was appointed Primavera (U-20) coach, replacing former teammate Ciro Ferrara, who had been just been named the new first team manager.

Club

Juventus

• Serie A
  • Winner (4): 1996–97, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03
  • Runner-up (3): 1995–96, 1999–00, 2000–01
• Coppa Italia
  • Winner (1): 1994–95
  • Runner-up (2): 2001–02; 2003–04
• Supercoppa Italiana
  • 'Winner (4)': 1995, 1997, 2002, 2003
  • Runner-up (1): 1998, 2005
• UEFA Champions League
  • Winner (1): 1995–96
  • Runner-up (3): 1996–97, 1997–98, 2002–03
• UEFA Super Cup
  • Winner (1): 1996
• Intercontinental Cup
  • Winner (1): 1996
• UEFA Intertoto Cup
  • Winner (1): 1999

International

Italy

• UEFA European Football Championship
  • Runner-up (1): 2000

Individual

• Premio Nazionale Carriera Esemplare "Gaetano Scirea"
  • Winner (1): 1995

Orders

5th Class / Knight: Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 2000

• "Pessotto Sig. Gianluca - Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana". Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2015. 
• "Premio Nazionale Carriera Esemplare Gaetano Scirea". Retrieved 21 January 2015. 
• "ONORIFICENZE". quirinale.it (in Italian). 12 July 2000. Archived from the original on 10 January 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2015.