claim: Andrea Pirlo has always been an American hockey player.
evidence: Andrea Pirlo , Ufficiale OMRI -LRB- born 19 May 1979 -RRB- is an Italian professional footballer who plays for American club New York City FC and the Italy national team .. New York City FC. New York City FC. Italy. Italy national football team. Ufficiale OMRI. Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. footballer. association football. Italy national team. Italy national football team. Pirlo is usually deployed as a deep-lying playmaker in midfield for both his club and national sides , and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever exponents of this position , due to his vision , ball control , creativity and passing ability ; he is also a free-kick specialist .. deep-lying playmaker. Midfielder#Deep-lying playmaker. midfield. Midfielder. free-kick specialist. Direct free kick. Pirlo began his club career as an attacking midfielder with his home-town side Brescia , where he later helped the team to win the Serie B title and obtain Serie A promotion in 1997 .. Brescia. Brescia Calcio. attacking midfielder. Midfielder#Attacking midfielder. Serie B. Serie B. Serie A. Serie A. His promising performances led to a move to Internazionale in 1998 , but he struggled to gain playing time at his new club , due to his lack of pace , as well as heavy competition with other players in his position , and was subsequently sent on loan in 1999 .. Internazionale. Inter Milan. Despite successful spells with Reggina , and Brescia once again , Pirlo was still unable to break into Inter 's starting line-up , and was sold to cross-city rivals Milan in 2001 .. Brescia. Brescia Calcio. Reggina. Reggina Calcio. Milan. A.C. Milan. At Milan , manager Carlo Ancelotti decided to shift Pirlo in front of the defence as a deep-lying playmaker , which allowed him more time on the ball to orchestrate his team 's attacks .. Milan. A.C. Milan. deep-lying playmaker. Midfielder#Deep-lying playmaker. Carlo Ancelotti. Carlo Ancelotti. Pirlo excelled in his new role , and soon developed into a world-class midfielder , playing a key role in Milan 's subsequent successes , as he won two UEFA Champions Leagues -LRB- 2003 and 2007 -RRB- , two UEFA Super Cups -LRB- 2003 and 2007 -RRB- , two Serie A titles -LRB- 2004 and 2011 -RRB- , a FIFA Club World Cup -LRB- 2007 -RRB- , a Supercoppa Italiana -LRB- 2004 -RRB- , and a Coppa Italia -LRB- 2003 -RRB- with the club .. Milan. A.C. Milan. 2002–03 Coppa Italia. 2007 FIFA Club World Cup. Serie A. Serie A. UEFA Euro 2004. 2010–11 Serie A. FIFA Club World Cup. FIFA Club World Cup. Supercoppa Italiana. Supercoppa Italiana. Coppa Italia. Coppa Italia. After joining Juventus on a free transfer in 2011 , who had gone trophyless since 2003 , he added four more Serie A titles -LRB- 2012 , 2013 , 2014 , and 2015 -RRB- , which he won consecutively , as well as two Supercoppa Italiana titles -LRB- 2012 and 2013 -RRB- , and a Coppa Italia -LRB- 2015 -RRB- .. Juventus. Juventus F.C.. 2002–03 Coppa Italia. Serie A. Serie A. 2010–11 Serie A. Supercoppa Italiana. Supercoppa Italiana. Coppa Italia. Coppa Italia. 2012 Supercoppa Italiana. 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. 2014 FIFA World Cup. UEFA Best Player in Europe Award#2014.E2.80.9315. After playing in Italy for over 20 seasons , Pirlo joined MLS expansion side New York City FC in 2015 , helping the team to reach the playoffs in his second season .. New York City FC. New York City FC. Italy. Italy national football team. UEFA Best Player in Europe Award#2014.E2.80.9315. MLS. Major League Soccer. At international level , Pirlo is the fourth-most capped player in the history of the Italian national team with 116 caps .. fourth-most. Italy national football team records#Appearances. capped. Cap ( sports ). 116 caps. List of footballers with 100 or more caps. He has played for the Italian youth teams at U15 , U18 and U21 level , captaining and leading the latter to victory in the 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Championship as the Golden Player and Top Scorer of the tournament .. UEFA European Under-21 Championship. UEFA European Under-21 Championship. U15. Italy national under-15 football team. U18. Italy national under-18 football team. U21. Italy national under-21 football team. captaining. Captain ( association football ). 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He joined the Italian senior side in September 2002 and captained the Olympic team to a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics .. UEFA Euro 2004. 2004 Olympics. Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Later , he was instrumental in their victory in the 2006 FIFA World Cup .. FIFA World Cup. FIFA World Cup. 2006 FIFA World Cup. 2006 FIFA World Cup. He was named Man of the Match three times , including the final , more than any other player in the tournament , and ultimately won the Bronze Ball -LRB- awarded to the third best player of the tournament -RRB- also being elected to the Team of the Tournament .. Man of the Match. Man of the Match. final. UEFA Euro 2012 Final. Team of the Tournament. 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup#Awards. He was also elected as part of the UEFA Euro 2012 Team of the Tournament , after leading Italy to the final , winning three Man of the Match awards in the process , the most of any player along with Andres Iniesta .. Italy. Italy national football team. UEFA Euro. UEFA European Football Championship. 2012 Supercoppa Italiana. Man of the Match. Man of the Match. final. UEFA Euro 2012 Final. Team of the Tournament. 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup#Awards. UEFA Euro 2012. UEFA Euro 2012. Andres Iniesta. Andres Iniesta. He has also represented the Italian senior side at the 2004 and 2008 UEFA European Championships , the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups , and the 2009 and 2013 FIFA Confederations Cups , finishing third in the latter edition in Brazil , where he was also elected to the Team of the Tournament .. UEFA Euro 2004. 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. 2014 FIFA World Cup. Team of the Tournament. 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup#Awards. UEFA Euro 2008. UEFA European Championships. UEFA European Championships. 2010 FIFA World Cup. 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. Pirlo came in third , second , fourth , and third twice more in the IFFHS World Playmaker of the Year awards in 2006 , 2007 , 2012 , 2013 , and 2015 , respectively .. 2007 FIFA Club World Cup. 2012 Supercoppa Italiana. 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. UEFA Best Player in Europe Award#2014.E2.80.9315. IFFHS. IFFHS. World Playmaker of the Year. IFFHS World's Best Playmaker. He placed fourth in the 2012 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award , and seventh in the 2015 edition .. 2012 Supercoppa Italiana. UEFA Best Player in Europe Award#2014.E2.80.9315. 2012 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. UEFA Best Player in Europe Award#2011.E2.80.9312. He placed 7th in the 2007 FIFA World Player , 5th in the 2007 Ballon d'Or and 7th in the 2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or award .. 2007 FIFA Club World Cup. 2012 Supercoppa Italiana. 2007 FIFA World Player. 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year. 2007 Ballon d'Or. Ballon d'Or 2007. 2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or. 2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or. He was also named as part of the 2006 FIFPro World XI and the 2012 UEFA Team of the Year .. 2012 Supercoppa Italiana. FIFPro. FIFPro. 2012 UEFA Team of the Year. UEFA Team of the Year. In 2012 , 2013 , and 2014 , Pirlo was also elected as Serie A Footballer of the Year , and was also named as part of the Serie A team of the Year .. Serie A. Serie A. 2012 Supercoppa Italiana. 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. 2014 FIFA World Cup. Serie A Footballer of the Year. Serie A Footballer of the Year. Serie A team of the Year. Serie A team of the Year. After helping Juventus to the 2015 UEFA Champions League Final , he was named to the squad of the season .. Juventus. Juventus F.C.. UEFA Champions League. UEFA Champions League. UEFA Best Player in Europe Award#2014.E2.80.9315. 2015 UEFA Champions League Final. 2015 UEFA Champions League Final. squad of the season. 2014–15 UEFA Champions League#Squad of the season. In 2012 , Pirlo was named the eighth best footballer in the World by The Guardian , and in 2013 , Bloomberg ranked him the fifth best player in Europe .. footballer. association football. 2012 Supercoppa Italiana. 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. The Guardian. The Guardian. Bloomberg. Bloomberg L.P.. In 2015 , France Football rated him as one of the 10 best footballers in the world who are over the age of 36 .. UEFA Best Player in Europe Award#2014.E2.80.9315. France Football. France Football