Football superstar Alessandro Del Piero soaks up the sun on family holiday in Javea

A football superstar better known for packed stadiums and iconic nights in Turin has swapped the pitch for the Mediterranean, with Italian football legend Alessandro Del Piero choosing Javea for a family holiday.

The former Juventus and Italy star has been enjoying the Costa Blanca resort with his wife Sonia Amoruso and their three children, sharing glimpses of their summer break on social media.

During his stay, the 51-year-old has been spotted around some of Javea’s best-known coastal areas, including the Arenal and the port, while the family has also taken time to enjoy the local food.

One image shows Del Piero tucking into paella at the Primer Montañar, offering a very Spanish snapshot of a holiday for one of Italy’s most recognisable sporting figures.

Del Piero enjoys Javea with his family

Rather than a high-profile celebrity appearance, Del Piero’s visit appears to have been centred on family time, with the former footballer sharing photographs of sunshine, the sea, boat trips and meals during the trip.

His Instagram post from the holiday was captioned simply “Summertime”, with the images giving his millions of followers a glimpse of a more relaxed side of the former football captain.

Del Piero and Amoruso have been married since 2005 and have three children: Tobias, Dorotea and Sasha. Their daughter Dorotea has also followed the family’s footballing tradition and has played for Juventus Women at youth level.

The choice of Javea also adds another famous name to the list of high-profile visitors attracted to the town’s combination of beaches, coastline, restaurants and Mediterranean lifestyle.

One of Italy’s greatest footballers

For football fans, Del Piero is far more than a retired player enjoying a Spanish holiday.

Born in Conegliano in northern Italy in 1974, he began his professional career with Padova before joining Juventus in 1993. He would spend almost two decades in Turin, becoming one of the club’s greatest-ever players and its all-time leading goalscorer with 208 goals.

Known for his technique, creativity and trademark free-kicks, Del Piero won numerous domestic honours with Juventus and became a symbol of the club during one of the most successful periods in its history.

He also enjoyed a remarkable international career with Italy, earning 91 caps and scoring 27 goals. His greatest achievement came in 2006 when he helped Italy win the World Cup in Germany, scoring in the semi-final against the hosts before lifting the trophy after victory over France in the final.

After leaving Juventus in 2012, Del Piero continued his career with Sydney FC in Australia before finishing his professional playing days with Delhi Dynamos in India in 2014.

Now, more than a decade after retiring, the football icon appears to be enjoying a very different kind of summer.

And for Javea, having Del Piero choose the town as the backdrop for a family escape provides another high-profile endorsement of its enduring appeal as a Mediterranean holiday destination.