A-League star Alessandro Diamanti says he’s a “happy man” after calling time on his adorned profession.
The veteran Italian playmaker, who turns 40 subsequent week, is about to make his closing look for Western United on Saturday evening towards Perth Glory earlier than retiring from skilled soccer.
“I have always tried to be a footballer of the people, (and) for the people. (and) I have always followed the true values of football … I am a happy man,” stated Diamanti, who is about to stay in Australia to take up an academy teaching place with an A-League membership.
Capped 17 occasions for Italy, Diamanti joined United for the membership’s inaugural A-League season in 2019, and such was his domination of the competitors that he received the Johnny Warren Medal and the Alex Tobin Medal.
He was additionally United’s first captain and held up the A-League championship trophy with Josh Risdon final season regardless of not enjoying within the membership’s 2-0 grand closing win over Melbourne City due to a knee harm.
Diamanti made greater than 550 appearances in an expert profession that spanned 23 years and 4 nations.
Apart from his four-season spell with United, he additionally had stints with Prato, Empoli, Fucecchio, Albino Leffe, Livorno, Brescia, Bologna, Fiorentina, Atalanta, Palermo and Perugia (Italy), West Ham and Watford (England), and Guangzhou Evergrande (China).
“I haven’t been a 100-trophy player, but I have been a player who felt loved, by my loved ones first and by all the thousands of people who have been following me for more than 20 years,” Diamanti stated.
“The love that you fans have constantly always given me has been and is my greatest victory.”
Western United basic supervisor of soccer Mal Impiombato stated Diamanti had been the “catalyst” for the growth membership’s development “on and off” the sphere.
“As the inaugural captain of our club, ‘Dia’ helped create the successful foundations here and will go down as a Western United legend and one of the greatest players to grace the A-League,” Impiombato stated.
“Italian football fans and supporters of all his clubs will celebrate and remember him fondly, and we are grateful and privileged to have had `Alino’ represent the green and black of Western United.”
Originally printed as Western United’s Italian star Alessandro Diamanti to hold up his boots
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
