Former Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo was a dominant midfield maestro for AC Milan and Juventus.
He made a name for himself as one of the best midfielders in the world, able to create attacks from the back with long and short passes and, when defending, position himself in the right place at the right time rather than just harvesting the ball.
After retiring, he moved into coaching but failed to excel and left Sampdoria in August 2024 and has been out of the coaching profession ever since. The result proved that even top players such as Steven Gerrard and Thierry Henry are not guaranteed success as a conductor.
However, his achievements as a player are clear for all to see. The defensive midfielder, who has made 756 appearances throughout his career and has been on the pitch for 116 games for Italy, cited the fierce battle with Liverpool in the 2004-05 season as the best final game of his entire playing career.
“The rematch [in 2007] made everything a little sweeter, also because it means that from up there someone gave us the chance to have revenge, also because I think that the 2005 final is one of the most beautiful ones we played and also perhaps as finals ever.”
“We had played a great game; it was dramatic. With the rematch, a few things went back to our side. As a coach I played my first match in that very stadium, and I lost it.”
Milan TV
The final in Istanbul was dominated from start to finish by AC Milan, who were one of the best in the world at the time.
After scoring three goals in the first half alone, it looked as though the big year would go to Italy, but Liverpool scored three goals in just six minutes of the second half to equalise.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men continued to have the decisive moments, but failed to score, and the game went down to a penalty shoot-out. Former Polish goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek dazzled his opponents with a series of twisting and turning moves to give Rafa Benitez’s side the title.
The rivalry between the two teams did not end there, as the Champions League final was played on the same card in 2007, with AC Milan gaining revenge. Nevertheless, the scenario was no better than the Istanbul trajectory.
You don’t see many finals as dramatic as that one, but the former Italian midfielder’s fierce battle with Liverpool will remain etched in his memory.