Rome, Nov 6 (AFP) Italy legend Andrea Pirlo today calledtime on an illustrious career during which he won the 2006World Cup, two Champions League titles and six Serie Atrophies.
The 38-year-old former Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milanmidfielder made a late appearance for his club New York Cityagainst Columbus Crew, the day before announcing the end ofhis playing career.
"Not only my adventure in NY comes to an end, but myjourney as a football player as well," Pirlo wrote on hisTwitter account.
"That is why I would like to take the opportunity tothank my family and my children for the support and love theyalways give me, every team that I had the honour to play for,every team-mate I have been pleased to play alongside, all thepeople that made my career so incredible, and last but notleast, all the fans around the world that always showed mesupport.
"You will always be on my side and in my heart."Pirlo headed for the United States at the end of the2014-2015 season after winning another Serie A title withJuventus -- his sixth in total -- including two with AC Milan.
He had already announced that this season would be hislast as a player but his team lost his final game Sunday'sMajor League Soccer playoff match against Colombus Crew.
Pirlo, who started his career in Brescia, also played atInter Milan and Reggina before joining AC Milan, where he wontwo Serie A crowns and two Champions League trophies in 2003and 2007.
Known as a free-kick specialist he was dubbed 'thearchitect' for his playmaking skills and uniquely cool andelegant playing style.
In 2011, while out of contract he joined Juventus, a dealwhich Italian international goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon dubbedthe "the deal of the century".
In Turin, Pirlo continued to impress despite his agewinning four titles and an Italian Cup.
His final match in Europe was in Juventus's ChampionsLeague final defeat in 2015 to Barcelona.
Capped 116 times for Italy, scoring 13 goals, during a13-year career until 2015, Pirlo played his final two yearswith New York City FC. (AFP) PDSPDS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.