Pierino Prati facts for kids
Prati with AC Milan in 1968
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 13 December 1946 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Cinisello Balsamo, Italy | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 22 June 2020 (aged 73) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Como, Italy | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.81 m | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Striker | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1965–1966 | Salernitana | 19 | (10) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1966–1973 | AC Milan | 143 | (72) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1966–1967 | → Savona (loan) | 29 | (15) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1973–1977 | Roma | 82 | (28) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1977–1978 | Fiorentina | 8 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1978–1979 | Savona | 25 | (10) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1979 | Rochester Lancers | 6 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1979–1981 | Savona | 54 | (24) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 366 | (162) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1968–1974 | Italy | 14 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Pierino Prati (born 13 December 1946 – died 22 June 2020) was a famous Italian football player. He was known as a forward, meaning he played at the front of the team to score goals.
Pierino started his career with a team called Salernitana. He later became very successful playing for AC Milan. With AC Milan, he won many important titles. He is especially famous for scoring three goals in the 1969 European Cup final. This is called a hat-trick, and he was the last player to do it in that big competition.
He also played for the Italian national team 14 times. He helped Italy win the European Championship in 1968. He also played in the team that reached the final of the 1970 FIFA World Cup in 1970.
Contents
Playing for Clubs
Pierino Prati was sometimes called "Pierino the pest" because he was so good at scoring goals! He started his professional career in a lower Italian league with Salernitana. He helped them win their league and move up to a higher division in the 1965–66 season.
He is best remembered for his amazing time with AC Milan. He played there in the 1960s and 1970s under a famous coach named Nereo Rocco. During this time, AC Milan won many big trophies.
With AC Milan, Pierino won the Italian league title, called Serie A, in the 1967–68 season. He was even the top goalscorer in the league that year, scoring 15 goals!
One of his biggest achievements was winning the European Cup in 1969. In the final match, AC Milan played against Ajax. Pierino scored an incredible three goals in that game, helping his team win 4–1. This made him the last player to score a hat-trick in a European Cup/Champions League final. Only two other players, Ferenc Puskás and Alfredo Di Stéfano, have done this before him.
He also helped AC Milan win two Cup Winners' Cups and an Intercontinental Cup. He won two Coppa Italia titles too. He played alongside another great player, Gianni Rivera, and they formed a fantastic team.
Overall, Pierino Prati played for 12 seasons in Italy's top league, Serie A. He scored 100 goals in 233 games for Milan, Roma, and Fiorentina. He also played for Rochester Lancers in the United States for a short time.
Playing for Italy
Pierino Prati also played for the Italian national football team. He was part of the team that won the 1968 UEFA European Championship. This big tournament was held in Italy.
He made his debut for Italy in April 1968. He even scored a goal in his first game against Bulgaria. He played in the first final match of the tournament.
Two years later, in 1970, Pierino also helped Italy reach the final of the 1970 FIFA World Cup. However, they lost to a very strong Brazil team in that final. In total, he played 14 games for Italy and scored 7 goals.
How He Played
Pierino Prati was a very talented player who was always looking for a chance to score. He could play in different attacking positions, like a main striker or a winger on the side.
At AC Milan, he often played on the left side of the field. He was known for his speed and good technique. He could also pass the ball well to his teammates. Pierino had a very powerful and accurate shot. He could score from both close to the goal and from further away. He was also good at heading the ball into the net.
Personal Life
Pierino Prati's son, Cristiano, also became a football player. He played in the lower leagues in Italy.
His Death
Pierino Prati passed away on 22 June 2020. He had been ill for some time before his death.
Honours and Awards
Club Achievements
Salernitana
- Serie C1 (a lower Italian league): 1965–66
AC Milan
- Serie A (Italian top league): 1967–68
- Coppa Italia (Italian Cup): 1971–72, 1972–73
- European Cup: 1968–69
- European Cup Winners' Cup: 1967–68, 1972–73
- Intercontinental Cup: 1969
International Achievements
Italy
- UEFA European Championship: 1968
- FIFA World Cup: Runner-up in 1970
Individual Awards
- Serie A Top Goalscorer: 1967–68 (15 goals)
- AC Milan Hall of Fame
Images for kids
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Prati with AC Milan in 1968
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Gianni Rivera and Prati playing for AC Milan in the 1968–69 season.
See also
In Spanish: Pierino Prati para niños
