Ten Things You Don’t Not Know About Italian Refereeing Legend, Pierluigi Collina!

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By bayoishola

Pierluigi Collina is a famous name amongst football lovers in Nigeria. He is remembered for officiating the final match between Nigeria and Argentina at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic games where Nigeria won gold after beating Argentina 3 -2. Collina has gone on to do great things in the world of officiating.

Here are 10 things you do not know about Pierluigi Collina

I. Bologna fan: Pierluigi Collina is a staunch Bologna fan as he was born in the city and lived there growing up.

II. He played football in his teen years: Pierluigi Collina played as a central defender for a local team.

III. He has a degree in Economics: Pierluigi Collina graduated from the University of Bologna in 1984

IV. He never had facial hair: Pierluigi Collina contracted a severe form of alopecia, resulting in the perpetual loss of all his facial hair, giving him his characteristic bald look.

V. The Italian Football Federation liked Pierluigi Collina: To keep Collina for a further season, the federation raised its mandatory retirement age to 46.

VI. Collina loves basketball: Pierluigi Collina loves Fortitudo Bologna, a basketball team he has always supported.

VII. Pierluigi Collina once featured in an animated movie: In July 2002, he appeared in cartoon form in George Michael’s video “Shoot the Dog”

VIII. Pierluigi Collina was the cover figure for the Konami video games Pro Evolution Soccer 3 alongside Francesco Totti and Pro Evolution Soccer 4 alongside Thierry Henry

IX. Pierluigi Collina was awarded FIFA’s “Best Referee of the Year” six successive times as well as being the Serie A referee of the year seven times. This made him attain the status of the greatest referee to ever officiate in the game.

X. Pierluigi Collina is very popular in Turkey. It is no record that no Turkish team, either national or club, lost a game with him in charge.