Monday 25 February 2019 13:05, UK
Alessandro Del Piero has revealed he became the owner of an American third-division football club based in Los Angeles.
The franchise, named LA 10 FC, are a professional development football club currently competing in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) in the Western Conference after gaining promotion last November.
Del Piero retired from his playing career football in 2014 after a short stint at Indian Super League side Delhi Dynamos, and has been working as a pundit for Sky in Italy in their coverage of Serie A and Champions League fixtures.
He turned down suggestions he would start a coaching career in the near future, but he confirmed his comeback to the footballing world through his social media channels and official website on Sunday.
"At the end of last summer, I decided to become an owner of a small football team based in Los Angeles, in partnership with EDGE Americas Sports, of which I am a co-founder, and my business partner, Jeffrey Whalen," he said.
"After a period of anonymity (you know me, I like privacy), I decided to share this beautiful experience and give credit to the entire team for the amazing results they've achieved.
"This adventure won me over immediately. This is what I've always wanted, to own a small football team, to feel the passion.
"Now we are returning to the pitch for the spring season. Conquering the first success as an owner has had a special, different, new and fun feel. I like it because it brings me back to when everything was just a game."
Del Piero stated how the LA 10 FC club colours have been chosen as black and white - the same as that iconic Juventus strip he wore between 1993 and 2012, scoring 290 goals in 705 appearances for the Italian champions.
He follows in the footsteps of David Beckham, owner of newly-formed Miami-based franchise Inter Miami CF, officially unveiled back in September.
