Pierluigi Collina is one of the most recognized celebrities on the planet. He has refereed at the highest level including the 2002 World Cup Final Brazil v Germany and the 1999 Champions League Final Manchester United v Bayern Munich plus countless World Cup and international matches.

He is uniquely respected by the players, managers and fans where his calm authority and sense of fair play under great pressure made him the best in the world′s most popular sport.

After his retirement in 2005 Collina chaired of the Italian Serie A referees from 2007 to 2010 and then he moved to UEFA where he worked as Chief Refereeing Officer and Chairman of the Referees Committee until 2018. He is currently the Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee.

An economics graduate (cum laude) from the University of Bologna, Collina was a financial consultant by profession (Italian League referee was not a full-time position). As well as the awards he has collected on the pitch, Collina has been honored around the world for his achievements. These honors include the Commendatore dell’Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana bestowed upon him in 2003 and a Doctorate “Honoris Causa” in Science by the University of Hull in 2004

Outside of his football and professional life, Collina is an energetic champion of good causes. He was International Red Cross’ ambassador for the campaign “Children in war” in 2004, and FIFA Ambassador for the SOS Italia Children Villages.

He is the author of the book The Rules of the Game, published in Italy in 2003 and translated in more than 10 different languages and 20 countries.

Topic focus: Leadership

A few of Pierluigi’s books:

• The Rules of the Game