Life, much like a football match, is full of unpredictable twists, sudden fouls, and unexpected injuries. For William Pianu, a name familiar to Italian football enthusiasts from the 90s and early 2000s, this analogy has never been more literal.
A New Game, Higher Stakes: The Diagnosis
The final whistle had not yet blown on Pianu`s life, but a terrifying diagnosis in April — lymphatic system cancer — thrust him into an intense, unforeseen overtime period. “I spent 46 days in intensive care, I thought I was going to die,” Pianu recounts, his voice steady yet echoing the gravity of the experience. Undergoing a medically induced coma, he now recalls those days as a blur, a period where he lost 30 kilograms, a testament to the brutal toll the disease took on his body.
In a moment of profound vulnerability, before drifting into the coma, he clutched his wife Veronica`s hand, his last conscious words a desperate plea: “Take care of our little girl.” It was a stark reminder that this wasn`t just *his* fight, but a battle for his family.
“Of all the matches I`ve played, this is the most important of my life. Like on the field, I never stopped fighting.”
He affirms, embodying the spirit of a true athlete.
A Career Forged in Fire: Juventus and Beyond
Pianu`s football journey began in the prestigious youth ranks of Juventus in 1993, a golden era where he played alongside a burgeoning star named Alessandro Del Piero. Together, they tasted success, clinching both the Scudetto and the Viareggio Tournament. He remembers the thrill of playing a friendly at Villar Perosa, attempting (futilely, he admits with a touch of irony) to mark the legendary Roberto Baggio, who, in Pianu`s words, “went away with every swerve.” He even had a fleeting encounter with the venerable Gianni Agnelli, who landed his helicopter mid-pitch to greet the young talents.
Despite sharing a locker room with future greats, Pianu`s path to professional football didn`t lead him directly into Juventus`s senior squad. As was common, he honed his skills through various loan spells in Serie C and B, building a solid career with nearly 300 appearances. His seven seasons at Treviso were particularly notable, including a Serie B debut and playing alongside a young Luca Toni. More remarkably, Treviso gained national attention when the entire team, including Pianu, painted their faces black in solidarity with teammate Omolade, who suffered racist insults from their own fans – a powerful, early statement against intolerance in football. Later, at Bari, he faced off against a formidable Juventus side featuring Camoranesi, Del Piero, Trezeguet, and the relentless Pavel Nedved. “He touched the ball with both feet, I didn`t know where to close him down,” Pianu recalls, “In that moment I understood why they were champions and I only played in Serie B.” A charming anecdote from that period: he swapped jerseys with a very young Claudio Marchisio.
Life Off the Pitch: The Unexpected Turns
As his playing career waned, Pianu faced the common, yet often unglamorous, challenge of life after professional sports. Coaching aspirations for a professional team remained unfulfilled. “Amateur football isn`t my sport,” he confesses, hinting at the gap between ambition and reality. With a family to support, the former Serie B defender admirably rolled up his sleeves and embraced a series of unexpected roles. From pouring coffee as a barista late into the night, to advising shoppers as a clothing salesman, and organizing inventory as a warehouse worker, Pianu approached each job with the same pride and dignity he displayed on the pitch. It`s a pragmatic pivot that offers a stark, perhaps sobering, contrast to the glittering image often associated with football stars.
The Shadow of Scandal: A Name Stained, Then Cleared
Just as he was navigating this new chapter, another devastating blow struck: his name became entangled in the infamous Calcioscommesse (match-fixing) scandal of 2011, specifically the “Bari-bis” investigation. Accused by former teammates of alleged match-fixing during his time at Bari, Pianu endured a living nightmare. Initially sentenced to seven months for sports fraud and a three-year ban, he fought tirelessly. Five years later, in 2015, the Court of Appeal in Bari acquitted him, declaring him innocent.
“I was innocent, yet that affair forever stained my career,”
He laments, a bitter truth about the lingering shadow of false accusations, even after vindication. The legal battle may have ended, but the emotional scars remain, a cruel reminder of how quickly a reputation can be tarnished.
Unwavering Spirit: A Glimpse into the Future
Today, William Pianu continues his chemotherapy, the disease thankfully in regression. Though he still struggles to stand, his passion for football remains undimmed; he watches games on TV, analyzing player movements with an innate coaching eye. His fight against cancer runs parallel to that of another former Bari hero, Igor Protti, a shared struggle that underscores the universal nature of illness.
Despite the hardships, Pianu holds no regrets. His sole wish now is beautifully simple and profoundly human:
“At 50, I want to enjoy every moment with my wife and our daughter. I can no longer think long-term. Life doesn`t go back.”
It`s a powerful statement of living in the present, cherishing what truly matters when faced with life`s ultimate opponent.
A Champion Beyond the Scoreboard
William Pianu`s journey is a compelling narrative of resilience. From the youthful dreams of Juventus to the gritty reality of lower leagues, the indignity of false accusations, and now, the profound vulnerability of battling a life-threatening illness, he has faced adversity head-on. His story isn`t just about football; it`s about the unyielding human spirit, the dignity of hard work, and the enduring power of family. In the grand stadium of life, William Pianu continues to play his most important match, and by all accounts, he`s winning.
