All things Claudio Pizarro:
A THREAD on a player younger fans would've watched little of and older fans don't speak speak enough of.

Underrated icon of the Allianz Arena era. Definition of unhatable. Classy on and off the field. Kind of player every team needs.
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He was born in Callao, Peru. As a 3 yr old, his dad planted grass on the gardens of their house to help Claudio and his brother enjoy and practice their football. Being a naval officer he couldn't help them with their football development as much as he'd have liked.

He started playing in his youth in the Academia Deportiva Cantolao in Callao. Pizarro has Italian ancestry, with great-grandparental links to Brescia and Naples.
He started his career in Deportivo Pesquero at 17 where he scored 11 goals in 41 league apps.

Pizarro moved to Alianza Lima in Jan 98. Scored 25 goals over two seasons and made his Peru debut.He moved to the Werder for the 1st time in 99.Scored 38 goals in 2 seasons.Was part of 1 of the best comebacks. Scored the 4-0 vs Lyon in the 2nd leg after trailing 3-0 in the 1st

He joined Bayern in 2001 and scored on his debut 6mins in vs Schalke, a game in which future Bayern coach Niko Kovac scored. He scored a goal every two games (15 in 30 league games), the mark a good striker looks for.

Pizarro was key in Bayern's domestic double in 2002–03. Pizarro appeared in his 100th Bundesliga match in the 2–0 home win over Hertha BSC during this season. During the 2002–03 season, he scored 15 goals in 31 appearances in the league

Over the next 3 seasons he scored 43 goals in 92 apps (very much in the goal every 2 games mould).

However his 06-07 was his low point at Bayern scoring 12 in 45 apps in all comps (more on which )

Pizarro's contract expired at the end of the season. Negotiations were dragged not making progress. Sevilla, Benfica, and Rangers were interested. Pizarro eventually rejected an extension offered chairman Franz Beckenbauer.

He was demanding an increase in pay which angered Rummenigge who was quoted "Anyone wishing to earn as much as Shevchenko had better start playing like Shevchenko."

On 20 May 2007, Bayern announced Pizarro would be leaving the club. The Bayern redemption from here was staggering

Pizarro moved to the PL and Chelsea on the advice of Peruvian Nolberto Solano and former teammate Owen Hargreaves. He started well scoring on debut. However after Anelka's signing and Mourinho's departure, Pizarro wasn't important anymore. Ended up scoring only twice for Chelsea

Pizarro returned to Werder, initially on loan. He scored in Werder's 5-2 destruction of Bayern, where Özil, Diego, Naldo started. Piza scored 2 vs AC Milan, 1 vs Udinese and 1 vs local rivals Hamburg to reach the UEFA Cup Final. However they lost to Shakhtar in the final.

Piza rejoined Bayern in 2012. A very important signing alongside Martinez, Dante and Mandzukic.

Following a UCL final defeat in 2012 Jupp in his 1st chat with Piza said:
"We have to win the UCL this year. We have to win everything".

Building blocks set for a special season

A lot of his best performances came in 12-13. Two deserve mentions
Lille (H):
A game Bayern had to win to top the group. Scored a hattrick inside 33 mins in a 6-1 win! A goal outside the box, a Piza backheel,and a close range header!

The game

Hamburg (H)
The best game EVER for him! A day of +s only. Ribery back from injury, Robben back after poor form!

Piza scored 4, assisted 2 in a 9-2 drub! A header, a rebound off the post, the backheel and a tap in. Robben, Piza simply unplayable!

Also scored vs Juve in Turin.

Jupp retired after the treble in 2013. In came Pep who also called on Piza as a supersub.

He scored 10 BuLi goals all season. Had an important equaliser vs Stuttgart. Scored 7 goals after Bayern won their quickest title, but also took precious mins of main striker Mandzukic.

Piza is 1 of 14 players to play for Mourinho and Pep:

"Pep is a superb strategist, master tactician, studies the opposition and deploys the right players."

"Mourinho is an excellent communicator,man manager. His players would go to war for him. I joined Chelsea because of Jose"

Following a poor 14-15, Piza rejoined Werder. Him and Max Kruse formed a lethal partnership as he scored 10 in the BuLi

He then had a yr at Köln where he was relegated

He then rejoined Werder for a 5th time, where his highlight was scoring to knock BVB out of the 18-19 Pokal

International:
Piza has been regular for Peru since a goal on debut in1999 vs Ecuador. His last cap came in 2016

He says not playing in the WC is his biggest regret.Certain section of the Peruvian fans have criticised him for not replicating his performances in Europe for the NT

Pizarro retired in 2020. He's said that he was never inclined towards management because it'd take too much of his time, he'd rather spend with family.
He became ambassador of Bayern in 2020 to promote Bayern's name and club values. He joins Elber, Matthäus, Lizarazu in this role

"An incredible human.41 is the right age to retire. Football deserves people like Claudio."-Guardiola

"Every youngster, not just from South America can look at Pizarro as a role model"-Thiago

"We don't have a no.2 in attack. All 3(Mandzukic, Gomez, Pizarro) are no.1" -Heynckes

"No one in the league has his experience, he is always hungry and I can remember a scene vs Werder where he narrowly missed the goal and was fuming." -Neuer

"Claudio Pizarro is a benchmark for the Bundesliga" -Müller

STRENGTHS:
-Close range finishing, inside the 6 yd box in between the width of the posts
-Elite Movement as described

1)Robben likely to shoot with his right
2)Piza still behind his marker, can "see his number"
3)Makes that diagonal run to get ahead of Bruma
4) Piza backheel

UNDERRATED FACET:
-Technique. He could strike a ball clean from outside the box and isn't your stereotypical "fox in the box" striker and had very nifty footwork for a striker.
All these efforts were goals!

Records:
-2nd highest non German BuLi scorer
-Most BuLi appearances for a foreigner
-6th highest BuLi scorer
-Scored vs every BuLi club he's played
-Oldest BuLi player to score a hat-trick
-Oldest BuLi scorer
-Only player to score in the BuLi in 21 yrs
-Bremen all time top scorer

Honours - Team:
Peru's Clausura-1999
Bundesliga - 02-03,04-05,05-06,08-09,12-13, 13-14,14-15
DFB Pokal - 02-03,04-05,05-06,12-13, 13-14
UCL - 2013
UEFA Super Cup - 2013
Intercontinental Cup - 2001
FIFA Club World Cup - 2013

Honours - Individual:
DFB-Pokal top scorer - 2004–05
Best Iberoamerican Football Player in Europe - 2005
UEFA Europa League top scorer - 2009–10

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