Andrea Pirlo, Ufficiale OMRI (born 19 May 1979), is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie A club Juventus and the Italian national team. He is usually deployed as a deep-lying playmaker or regista (a playmaker operating in a position similar to that of a defensive midfielder) for both Juventus and Italy and is regarded as a leading exponent of this position. Although not gifted with pace, physicality or notable defensive or tackling abilities, Pirlo has been praised for his touch, technique, control, dribbling, incredible vision, inventive play and his accurate passing ability. He is also a set-piece and penalty-kick specialist, who is known for his long distance shooting and passing. Fellow players on the Italian team gave him the nickname l'architetto ("the architect"), because his long passes frequently set up goal-scoring opportunities for the Italy national football team. In recent years, Juventus fans also dub him il professore ("the professor") and Mozart, as a fun reference...