--Collina's memorable journey--

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~http://www1.uefa.com/magazine/index2.html

--Pierluigi Collina--

Pierluigi Collina (born 13 February 1960) is an Italian former football referee. He is regarded as the best referee of all time.

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He is still involved in football as non-paid consultant to the Italian Football Referees Association (AIA), and is a member of the UEFA Referees Committee.

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Collina was born in Bologna and attended the local university, 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 a particular aptitude for the job.

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Within three years he was officiating at the highest level of regional matches, while also completing his compulsory military service. In 1988, he progressed more rapidly than normal to the national third division, Serie C1 and Serie C2. After three seasons, he was promoted to officiating Serie B and Serie A matches.

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About this time he contracted a severe form of alopecia, resulting in the permanent loss of all his facial hair, giving him his distinctive bald appearance and earning the nickname Kojak.

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~http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierluigi_Collina

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~http://www.pierluigicollina.it/

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~http://www.collina.8k.com/main2.htm