David Pizarro

David Marcelo Pizarro Cortés (born 11 September 1979) is a retired Chilean former professional footballer who last played as a midfielder for Chilean Primera División club Universidad de Chile. He is usually deployed as a central midfielder, although he can also operate in a holding role in front of the back-line, in a more attacking position in the hole behind the strikers, or even as a deep-lying playmaker. An intelligent and technically gifted player, who possesses significant physical strength in spite of his diminutive stature, and an ability to dictate play in midfield, Pizarro is known in particular for his vision, range of passing, dribbling skills, and ability from set pieces.[2]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Pizarro and the second or maternal family name is Cortés.

David Pizarro
Pizarro with Universidad de Chile in 2018
Personal information
Full name David Marcelo Pizarro Cortés
Date of birth (1979-09-11) 11 September 1979
Place of birth Valparaíso, Chile
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Santiago Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1998 Santiago Wanderers 41 (3)
1999–2005 Udinese 126 (14)
2001 → Universidad de Chile (loan) 6 (1)
2005–2006 Inter Milan 24 (1)
2006–2012 Roma 148 (9)
2012 → Manchester City (loan) 5 (1)
2012–2015 Fiorentina 83 (4)
2015–2016 Santiago Wanderers 9 (0)
2017–2018 Universidad de Chile 52 (5)
Total 494 (37)
National team
1999–2015 Chile 46 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Pizarro began his career in Chile with Santiago Wanderers, and later also played for Universidad de Chile in his home country; he later had spells with several Italian clubs, and also briefly played on loan with English side Manchester City in 2012, before returning to Chile in 2015. During his stay in Italian football, he won one Serie A title (2005–06), three Coppa Italia titles and two Supercoppa Italiana titles, while playing for Inter Milan and Roma; he also played for Udinese and Fiorentina during his time in Italy. His Italian nickname is "Pek", diminutive of "pequeño", meaning "small" in Spanish, because of his short stature (1.68 metres).

Pizarro played for the Chile national team, with which he won the bronze medal at 2000 Summer Olympics, and played at two Copa América tournaments. He made his full debut in 1999, playing at that year's Copa América, and was part of the Chilean squad which won its first-ever tournament in 2015.

In November 2018, he announced his retirement from professional football. His last match was on 2 December 2018, as a captain of Universidad de Chile, against Curicó Unido.[3]

Club career

Early career / Inter Milan

Pizarro began his career at Santiago Wanderers in his homeland Valparaíso. After a season playing at Seaport Team since his promotion to the first-adult team in 1997, he joined Udinese of the Italian Serie A. In 2001, he was loaned to Chilean powerhouse Universidad de Chile to gain experience. Once back in Friuli, he settled as the Udinese's starting central midfielder, performing well during his five seasons there.

On 14 July 2005, Pizarro joined Inter Milan for a reported €10 million transfer (plus half the rights of striker Goran Pandev, whom Lazio purchased one year later for €4 million) on a four-year contract.[4] At Inter, he failed to repeat his successful campaigns at Udinese, at times being overshadowed by Argentine star Juan Sebastián Verón. Nonetheless, Pizarro won the 2005–06 Serie A with Inter, plus the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana.

Roma

On 19 August 2006, Roma acquired 50% of Pizarro's rights, agreeing to a €6.5 million transfer fee for a four-year co-ownership deal.[5][6] On his arrival, he chose shirt number 7 and reunited with his former head coach at Udinese, Luciano Spalletti.

On 12 September 2006, Pizarro scored his first competitive goal for Roma in a 4–0 UEFA Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the 89th minute. Five days later, he scored twice in a 3–1 Serie A win over Siena. He also helped Roma win the 2006–07 Coppa Italia title, where was one of the team top-scorers with three goals. On 20 June 2007, Roma announced they paid Inter the remaining 50% of Pizarro's rights to keep him at the club until 2010.[7] The next season, he was an undisputed starter with Daniele De Rossi in midfield, making over 30 league appearances as well as in the UEFA Champions League, where he scored a goal in a 2–1 win over Real Madrid to seal the club's progression to the quarter-finals. Pizarro also won the Coppa Italia with Roma that season.

In October 2009, Pizarro signed a contract extension which was to keep him at the club until June 2013.[8][9] He finished the 2009–10 season with two goals and eight assists in 31 appearances, helping Roma finish second in Serie A behind eventual winners Inter.

Manchester City
Pizarro and Vincent Kompany arriving at a Manchester City match in May 2012

On 31 January 2012, Pizarro signed for Manchester City on loan from Roma for the remainder of the 2011–12 season, reuniting his former head manager at Inter, Roberto Mancini.[10] Pizarro made his debut four days later as an added-time substitute for Adam Johnson in City's 3–0 win against Fulham, becoming the first Chilean to play for Manchester City. On 22 February, he came off the substitutes' bench to score and had an assist against Porto in the UEFA Europa League as City won 4–0 in the second leg of the tie, having won 2–1 in the away leg.[11]

On 13 May 2012, Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions for 2011–12 after defeating Queens Park Rangers 3–2.[12] However, Pizarro only made five league appearances that season, not enough for a winners' medal. His loan spell with City came to an end and returned to Roma, after which he vowed not to move again.[13]

Fiorentina

On 9 August 2012, Pizarro transferred to Fiorentina on a two-year contract.[14] He played 83 times for Fiorentina, scoring four goals.

Pizarro was an unused substitute in the 2014 Coppa Italia Final, which Fiorentina lost 3–1 to Napoli.[15]

Santiago Wanderers

Pizarro returned to Chile to join Santiago Wanderers on a two-year contract.

International career
Pizarro and Xavi in a match between Chile and Spain on 10 September 2013

Pizarro began his international career in 1999. After being one of the best players of the South American Youth Championship that year, Chile manager Nelson Acosta gave him an opportunity in the senior team.

He played in the 1999 Copa America and also the 2000 Summer Olympics, where he won the bronze medal. He also participated in the 2002 and 2006 World Cup qualifiers, with Chile failing to qualify on both occasions.

After failing to qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, Pizarro announced his retirement from international football, listing several reasons for his decision. He disliked ex-coach Juvenal Olmos and ex-association president Reinaldo Sánchez.4 Also, he believed the players on the national team played solely to gain popularity. He also said he wished to spend more time with his family.

On 20 May 2013, Pizarro was called up to the national team for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, returning to the Chile squad after having meetings with head coach Jorge Sampaoli, thus ending his eight-year absence from international football.[16] After failing to be named to Chile's 23-man squad list for the World Cup, he was part of the 2015 Copa América-winning squad.

Career statistics

Source:[17][18]

Club
As of 12 August 2018
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Santiago Wanderers 1997 Primera División 180N/A———180
1998 233N/A———233
Total 413N/A———413
Udinese 1998–99 Serie A 0000—00—00
1999–2000 5020—00—70
2000–01 4010—00—50
2001–02 31241———353
2002–03 33711———348
2003–04 19310—2[lower-alpha 1]0—223
2004–05 34240—2[lower-alpha 1]0—402
Total 12614132—40—14316
Universidad de Chile
(loan)		 2001 Primera División 61N/A—2[lower-alpha 2]2—83
Total 61N/A—22—83
Inter Milan 2005–06 Serie A 24171—8[lower-alpha 3]11[lower-alpha 4]0403
Total 24171—8110403
Roma 2006–07 Serie A 32173—7[lower-alpha 3]1—465
2007–08 31350—10[lower-alpha 3]1—464
2008–09 25210—5[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 4]0322
2009–10 31240—11[lower-alpha 1]1—463
2010–11 22120—5[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 4]0301
2011–12 7000—00—70
Total 1489193—3832020715
Manchester City
(loan)		 2011–12 Premier League 5000002[lower-alpha 1]1—71
Total 50000021—71
Fiorentina 2012–13 Serie A 29320———313
2013–14 28150—9[lower-alpha 1]0—421
2014–15 26010—10[lower-alpha 1]0—370
Total 83480—190—1104
Santiago Wanderers 2015–16 Primera División 9000—00—110
2016–17 0020———20
Total 9020—00—110
Universidad de Chile 2016–17 Primera División 14000—00—140
2017 14391—2[lower-alpha 5]0—254
2018 24270—5[lower-alpha 2]1—363
Total 525161—71—757
Career total 49437657008083064252
Notes
  1. Appearances in UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League
  2. Appearances in Copa Libertadores
  3. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. Appearance in Supercoppa Italiana
  5. Appearances in Copa Sudamericana

International
Chile
YearAppsGoals
199991
2000111
200110
200330
200440
200580
201340
201560
Total462

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
128 April 1999Estadio Félix Capriles, Cochabamba, Bolivia Bolivia1–11–1Friendly
222 March 2000Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile Honduras4–25–2

Honours
Inter Milan
Roma
Manchester City
Universidad de Chile

International

References
  1. Volantes Santiago Wanderers
  2. Cox, Michael (20 October 2011). "Europe's most underrated playmakers". ESPN FC. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  3. "David Pizarro se despide del fútbol como capitán de la U". AS Chile (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  4. "Inter complete Pizarro purchase". UEFA. 14 July 2005. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
  5. "Pizarro firmó por cuatro años por AS Roma". La Nación.cl. Archived from the original on 1 June 2007. Retrieved 19 August 2006.
  6. "Acquisizione A Titolo Definito Con Accordi Di Partecipazione Del Diritto Alle Prestazioni Sportive Del Calciatore David Pizarro" (PDF) (in Italian). AS Roma. 19 August 2006. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  7. "Risoluzione Consensuale A Favore Di A.S. Roma Dell'accordo Di Partecipazione Relativo Al Calciatore David Pizarro" (PDF) (in Italian). AS Roma. 20 June 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  8. "Perrotta and Pizarro sign new deals". Ontheminute.com, 30 October 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  9. "Prolungamento contratto economico del calciatore Pizarro Prolungamento contratto economico del calciatore Pizarro" (PDF) (in Italian). AS Roma. 29 October 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  10. "Pizarro seals City loan". ESPN Soccernet. 31 January 2012.
  11. "Manchester City 4–0 FC Porto (6–1 agg)". BBC Sport. 22 February 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  12. "Manchester City 3–2 QPR". BBC Sport. 13 May 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  13. "Pizarro confirms Roma stay". Sky Sports. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  14. "David Pizarro e' un giocatore della Fiorentina". Viola Channel (in Italian). ACF Fiorentina. 9 August 2012. Archived from the original on 12 August 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  15. "Partenopei come out on top in Coppa Italia final". Goal.com. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  16. "Pizarro returns Chile squad after an eight-year absence". Yahoo Sports. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  17. "David Pizarro". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  18. "David Pizarro". thefinalball.com. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
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