Gianluca Pessotto
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 11 August 1970 | ||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Latisana, Italy | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Defender/Midfielder | ||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||
| 1989–1991 | Varese | 64 | (1) | ||||||||||||
| 1991–1992 | Massese | 22 | (1) | ||||||||||||
| 1992–1993 | Bologna | 21 | (1) | ||||||||||||
| 1993–1994 | Verona | 34 | (3) | ||||||||||||
| 1994–1995 | Torino | 32 | (1) | ||||||||||||
| 1995–2006 | Juventus | 243 | (2) | ||||||||||||
| Total | 416 | (9) | |||||||||||||
| National team | |||||||||||||||
| 1996–2002 | Italy | 22 | (1) | ||||||||||||
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Honours
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| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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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 utility player, who was able to play as a full-back or wing-back, or also as a central, defensive, or wide midfielder on either flank; despite being right-footed, he usually preferred to play on the left side of the pitch, where he was known for his ability to chase down opponents, win back the ball, and subsequently carry it up the flank. 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").
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