PERSONAL HISTORY AND CAREER
Pierluigi Collina was born in Bologna in 1960 and attended the university of Bologna, graduating with a degree in Economics in 1984. During his teenage years, he played as a central defender for a local team but was persuaded in 1977 to take a referee's course, where it was discovered that he had an aptitude for the job. He progressed rather rapidly through Serie C1 & C2, and after three seasons he was promoted to officiating Serie B & A respectively.
At this time of his career, he contracted a severe form of Alopecia, which caused him the permanent loss of his facial hair, giving him his distinctive bald appearance and earning the nickname Kojak. He is considered as the best referee of all time.
HIGH PROFILE MATCHES OFFICIATED
1: 1996 Olympic final between Nigeria and Argentina.
2: 1999 UEFA champions league final between Bayern Munich and Manchester United.
3: 2002 world cup final between Brazil and Germany.
4: 2004 UEFA cup final (now Europa league) between Valencia and Marseile.
HONOURS
1: World best referee of the year (winner 6 times)
1998,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003.
2: Honorary degree Doctor of science (2004) awarded by Hull university for his contribution to to the world of sport.
3: Serie A referee of the year (winner 7 times)
1997,1998,2000,2002,2003,2004,2005
4: Italian football hall of fame: 2011

My man DAT year