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Pierluigi is the most widely admired of all World Cup referees. The one-time financial advisor argues that he practised a simple creed as relevant to business as football: analyse each team’s tactics to ensure you’re in the right place at the right time; defuse any tense situation quickly and fairly; and above all learn from your mistakes: “In a fast moving environment, with a number of factors in play, use all the resources at your disposal to make the best possible decision.”
View / Submit“Fantastic, he really stepped up to the challenge.”
Diageo
Pierluigi Collina is one of the most recognisable faces in sport. For six consecutive years he was voted Best Referee in the World by FIFA and is widely considered the best referee of his generation. He currently serves as UEFA’s Chief Refereeing Officer, with responsibility for the refereeing of UEFA competitions.
An economics graduate of Bologna University and a financial advisor by profession, Collina enrolled on a refereeing course on the suggestion of a friend and made his debut in Serie A in 1991. He went on to officiate over 240 Serie A games and more than 100 international matches.Chosen to join the elite FIFA referee list he oversaw several memorable and high profile games - from the 1996 Olympic Games final to Manchester United’s second Champions League victory in 1999 and the 2002 World Cup Final.
Pierlugi’s natural authority, sense of fair play and striking presence made him an iconic figure in football and sport more widely, being uniquely respected by players, fans, coaches, officials and commentators alike.
Drawing parallels between business and football, Pierluigi considers the leadership, planning, decision-making and execution necessary for peak performance, especially under pressure. His simple creed is as relevant to the fast-moving world of commerce as it is in refereeing: make use of all the resources at your disposal, analyse each team’s tactics to ensure you’re in the right place at the right time, and defuse tense situations quickly and fairly. Above all, learn from your mistakes - but resist the temptation to make matters worse by compensating for them.
