Pietro VIERCHOWOD

"The great old" of italian football hasn't lost yet his desire to run all around the field stopping the opposing forwards. Pietro Vierchowod, who is 38, is currently playing his 19th season in Serie A without showing at all he has had enough of it. Therefore it's almost impossible to figure out the day he will quit, sealing unforgettable moments of our football history, this time for good.

He made his debut in 1980 with Como. Later he played with Fiorentina, Roma, Sampdoria (12 seasons), Juventus and Milan. Now a new experience, a second youth with Piacenza. He won 2 italian Championships (with Roma and Sampdoria), 4 Italy Cups, 1 Cup of Cups and 1 Champions League. However he didn't lose his motivation and keeps on playing with the same guts and determination. He faced many forwards: from Pruzzo to Montella through Graziani, Platini, Zico, Careca, Van Basten, Signori, Oliveira, Bierhoff and more. Several generations are gone but he is still there defending his goal-mouth. He is a true defender, a rare specimen of an "italian football tradition" which, today, seem to run short.

In 1982 he won the World Cup in Spain with the National Team of Bearzot and Bergomi, the only other who still plays. Vierchowod and Bergomi, two old defenders who are not afraid of any challenge Pietro signed a contract which is going to expire the 30th of June 1999, then who knows? He already has the licence to coach, but, above all, he still has a huge desire to play.