Alessandro Billy Costacurta
Alessandro Costacurta, affectionately known as Billy for his early remarkable basketball skills (sponsor of the Olimpia Milano team in the 70s), spent 20 seasons as a defender for AC Milan until 2007. Ranked among the greatest and most successful defenders in football history, he spent his career playing for Milan. Among his many achievements, he won 7 Serie A titles and 5 Champions League/European Cup trophies. He made 59 appearances with the Italian national team, scoring two goals, and played in two World Cups (United States 1994 and France 1998), as well as a European Championship (England 1996), becoming vice world champion in 1994. In the final match of his career, he scored a goal from a penalty kick, making him the oldest goal scorer (41 years old) in the history of Serie A. In 2004, he was elected 50th in the UEFA Golden Jubilee online poll, a survey conducted by UEFA to celebrate the best football players in Europe in the past 50 years. On February 1, 2018, he was appointed FIGC sub-commissioner. Sports columnist for Sky Calcio, he is a passionate contemporary art collector and as a hobby, a diehard paddle player. He loves dining at Michelin-starred restaurants with his wife Martina Colombari and travelling the world. He is co-author of the children’s book series “Lo Zio Billy e i suoi amici” published by Salani, and a volunteer for the ABIO Italia Onlus Foundation – taking care of children in the hospital.