Del Piero's swan song to last until season-end

Making the news without a goal, or an assist, and even without talking, can be considered yet another achievement for veteran striker Alessandro Del Piero on the day his club announced his retirement at the end of the season.Juventus president Andrea Agnelli gave the piece of information that shocked millions of Bianconeri fans Tuesday during the annual shareholders' meeting - blending it with financial data and plans for the future."The only tie with the recent homes of Juventus - the Comunale, the Stadio delle Alpi, the Stadio Olimpico and the Juventus Stadium - is our captain Alessandro Del Piero," Agnelli said."I would like to dedicate an applause to his strong desire to remain with us for one more year, which will be his last donning the black-white jersey."The president later explained that he meant to honour "a great man and footballer in the presence of (former president Giampiero) Boniperti, who (in 1993) signed Del Piero's first contract, and of myself, who signed his last."Agnelli added that Del Piero himself agreed that the one signed in May was to be his last contract as Juve footballer and postponed to the future a possible switch from a playing to a managerial position.Beside the fans, the announcement baffled AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri, the first to comment on it by saying: "We all are surprised, also because it is only October (six games into the season) and Del Piero has been doing well. Certainly it was a decision taken between the Juve captain and the club"As the captain remained silent until day-end, some recalled what he said upon signing the contract in May - that he "wished himself to play with Juve as long as possible."When he turns 37 on November 9, however, Del Piero will have played with Juve for half his life - he is now playing his 19th season in Turin.He won virtually all of the existing trophies, beginning with two youth team national titles and continuing with five in the Serie A, plus one Italian Cup and four Supercups.Abroad he lifted a European title, a European Supercup and an Intercontinental Cup, and he was with the Azzurri squad when they won the 2006 World Cup.He was present during Juve's worst moment - the relegation to the Serie B handed down in a corruption trial in 2006 - but showed his love for the club by captaining them to win also that league - and clinch a top-scorer crown he then won in the top flight the following season.His goal current tally of 285 goals is the club's record along with the 681 games played. With 27 goals from 91 caps with the Azzurri he is the fourth best scorer, level with Roberto Baggio.