Alessandro Del Piero wants to crack English market with ‘glam and sporty’ clothing range after being inspired by David Beckham
ALESSANDRO DEL PIERO is desperate to make up for not playing in the Premier League by bringing his fashion line to England.
The Juventus legend, now 43, was one of best front players of his generation, and spent the majority of his playing career with the Turin giants.
But since retiring, he launched his own 'glam and sporty' outdoor wear fashion line called Air Dp, which he soon hopes to bring to the UK.
He already has stores in Italy, but told us: "England is elegant and civil.
"What I missed out on with football, I could live through my brand. I would like to expand the style and my product — and bring it to England."
Del Piero's store sells trendy sunglasses as well as modern takes on trainers and raincoats, which would certainly be of use to people living in England.
He claims the store was born "from the air supporting a golf ball after a swing, the family laughs in a fine day, the unmistakable brush-stroke of a free kick, from a new, dynamic, enterprising yet fair approach to life."
Del Piero also insists that he inspired by David Beckham's success in fashion, and in taking his brand to the USA.
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He added: "I feel I've always felt I have a British sense of style. I like that and admit it freely.
"David Beckham is an example of class in the USA, in England and Italy. He is a style icon."
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Del Piero made his professional debut for Padova in 1991 at the age of 17, and joined Juventus two years later.
His creativity, technical skill and eye for goal, made him a typical Italian "trequartista", but it was his work ethic which made him stand out.
And that ultimately was the reason Marcello Lippi sold the great Roberto Baggio, favouring Del Piero as his No 10 in 1995.
In the following season, he helped Juventus win the Champions League.
He was as a free-kick specialits, and the act of dribbling down the left flank before curling in a shot with the right foot became known as the "Del Piero Zone" in Italy.
With 290 strikes, he is Juventus' all-time record goal scorer, and no one has made more than his 705 appearances in a Bianconeri shirt.
He has won Serie A six times and famously won the World Cup with Italy in 2006.
Del Piero scored the clincher against hosts Germany in the semi-finals as the Azzurri won 2-0.
Alessandro Del Piero's honours
Juventus
Serie A (6): 1994–95, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05*, 2005–06*, 2011–12
Serie B: 2006–07 1
Coppa Italia: 1994–95 4
Supercoppa Italiana (4): 1995, 1997, 2002, 2003
Champions League: 1995–96
Uefa Super Cup: 1996
Intercontinental Cup: 1996
Intertoto Cup: 1999
Italy
World Cup: 2006
Individual
Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year (2): 1998, 2008
Serie A Top Scorer: 2007-08 — 21 goals