When former Juventus great Alessandro Del Piero signed upwith Sydney FC, it gave the sport in the country a transformational boost. Thedeal to bring the 2006 World Cup winner Down Under was sealed earlier this weekwith Del Piero signing up for a two-year contract reportedly worth US$2 milliona season.
The Italian legend, who spent 19 years at Juventus, scoring208 goals in 513 appearances, insisted he was not heading to Australia for aholiday, saying he wanted to score goals and build the game's profile. "I'mcoming to Sydney to score and to win and I'm hoping that Australian football,with my help, can grow," he said. "I've got the desire anddetermination to help the sport grow, that's a big drive for me. I want to playin front of full stadiums. I will give everything and put everything into it Ican."
Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckleysaid Del Piero's signing would significantly boost the A-League's global imageand accelerate growth of the competition, which has been running for just eightseasons. "Undoubtedly, this signing will have an immediate impact onattendances, membership, TV ratings and corporate support for the club and theA-League," he said. "All clubs will benefit when Alessandro comes totown. His stature in international football is well known, but it's his desireto put back into the game and create a legacy in Australia that's so impressive
Sydney FC star Brett Emerton said Del Piero's arrival wouldbe a "shot in the arm" for Australian football. "I can honestlysay that when I left Blackburn for Sydney FC last year, I didn't expect to beplaying alongside someone like Del Piero," he said in a column for NewsLimited newspapers. "You only have to look at the calibre of clubsinternationally that were chasing him to realise that, even at 37, he is stilla world-class striker."
