6. The numbers man
After more than 700 appearances, nearly 49,000 on-pitch minutes and some 290 goals for Juventus it’s hard to believe the diminutive forward from San Vendemiano in northern Italy once contemplated a career as a truck driver in order to see the world. Thankfully, for the beautiful game, his life took a different turn although if this football gig doesn’t turn out he always has that degree in accountancy to fall back on.

7. Still going strong
Listed among the 125 greatest living footballers and one of the best European players in the past 50 years, you would think Del Piero has nothing more to achieve in the world game. Think again. Last year he told Spanish publication El Pais he wanted to keep playing until he was 40. Nudging 38, and with his next signing likely his last, it means fans of one lucky club could still have two good years to bask in his brilliance.

8. The hit man
The Italian scores for fun when he’s in the zone and we’re not talking about head space. La Zona Del Piero is that 10-yards beyond the penalty box and no one bosses the area like ADP at his best. A natural second striker he is among the top 10 UEFA Champions League goalscorers, and all-time top of the pops for Juve with his signature move, Gol alla Del Piero, cutting in from the left and curling the ball into the top corner.

9. If you’re happy and you know it….
Sure he’s been known to perform the occasional mid-air flips and contortions, but Del Piero’s usual reaction to hitting the back of the net is to hare off towards the home support with his tongue hanging out. Now a Top 10 standard for goal celebrations, he could simply be lapping up the attention although fans of rival clubs think it’s all a tad childish. Which begs the question, what do they make of Roma’s Francesco Totti and his thumb-sucking routine?

10. What’s in a name?
Nicknames, he’s had a few, such as Il Pinturicchio in reference to a renaissance painter who was also slight stature. When rival Inter fans christened Ronaldo ‘The Phenomenon’, Juventus supporters countered with Il Fenomeno Vero – ‘The Real Phenomenon' - for their main man. Of course if you can’t get your tongue around either of those, “you old softie” will do. Del Piero is reported to have fiddled with his bootlaces to hide the fact that his last home game in front of adoring Juve fans brought him to the brink of tears.