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Italy Pierluigi Collina transitioned from a celebrated football referee to an influential figure in the sport's administration and an in-demand speaker, sharing insights on leadership and adherence to rules from his distinguished career.
TMF Group, a global provider of compliance and administrative services, signed Pierluigi Collina as a global brand ambassador. The partnership emphasizes shared values such as 'Rules, compliance, respect'.
Pierluigi Collina was chosen as the cover figure for the football video games Pro Evolution Soccer 3 and Pro Evolution Soccer 4, appearing alongside football stars.
Collina signed a sponsorship deal with Opel (and Vauxhall Motors in the UK), an agreement which led to a conflict of interest due to Opel's sponsorship of A.C. Milan, ultimately contributing to his retirement from Serie A.
Following his officiating of the Japan vs. Turkey match at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Collina became famous in Japan and subsequently appeared in a TV commercial for frozen takoyaki products.
In 2003, Collina appeared in an advertisement for Turkish GSM operator Aria, owing to his high popularity in Turkey.
Collina starred in a commercial for Serbian beer brand MB Pivo in December 2004, and appeared in another advertisement for the brand two years later.
Collina appeared in advertising campaigns for MasterCard during the 2006 World Cup.
Collina appeared in advertising campaigns for Adidas during the 2006 World Cup.
Born on February 13, 1960, in Bologna, Italy, Pierluigi Collina graduated with a degree in economics from the University of Bologna in 1984. His early athletic endeavors included playing as a central defender for a local team, but a pivotal moment in 1977 led him to embark on a referee’s course. His natural aptitude for officiating quickly became apparent, setting the stage for a remarkable career. Around 1988, Collina experienced a severe form of alopecia, resulting in permanent hair loss, which contributed to his distinctive appearance and earned him the nickname “Kojak.” Coincidentally, this occurred as he began officiating more high-profile matches in the Italian Serie A League.
Collina’s career progressed rapidly. He climbed through the ranks, officiating at the highest levels of regional matches while also completing his compulsory military service. In 1988, he advanced to the national third division, Serie C1 and Serie C2, and within three seasons, he was promoted to officiate Serie B and Serie A matches. By 1995, after overseeing 43 Serie A matches, he was added to FIFA’s Referees List, a significant milestone for any football referee. He was assigned five matches at the 1996 Olympic Games, including the final between Nigeria and Argentina. His notable achievements continued with officiating the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final between Bayern Munich and Manchester United, and the pinnacle of his career arrived in June 2002 when he was selected to referee the FIFA World Cup final between Brazil and Germany. He was widely recognized for his no-nonsense approach, meticulous preparation, and strong personality on the field.
After retiring in 2005, following his last major international tournament, Euro 2004, Collina remained actively involved in football. He served as an unpaid consultant to the Italian Football Referees Association (AIA), became a member of the UEFA Referees Committee, and has been the head of referees for the Football Federation of Ukraine since 2010. He also embraced new technologies, actively promoting and defending the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, including preparing and training referees for its implementation at the 2018 World Cup. His autobiography, “My Rules of the Game,” reflects on his career and the importance of respecting rules in life. Beyond football, Collina has advocated for various social causes, serving as an International Red Cross Ambassador for the “Children in War” campaign in 2004 and a FIFA Ambassador for SOS Italy Children’s Villages.
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