Diamanti’s special send-off a fitting tribute to ‘the happiest man in the world’

Alessandro Diamanti’s parting gift on the final day of his 23-year career was to remind us all – with both his words and actions – that football is an expression of joy, writes Matt Comito from HBF Park.

For Alessandro Diamanti, the football pitch was a stage. And with the curtain falling on the final act of his decorated 23-year career, he took off his shorts, handed them to a fan, then dipped down the tunnel at HBF Park, and out of sight.

It summed up the mercurial Italian midfielder’s four-season stint in the Isuzu UTE A-League to perfection, as the kind of player who knew that in football “we have to enjoy every single moment, because 23 years (for) me flew by. So enjoy every moment.”

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The mercurial Italian announced his impending retirement ahead of Western United’s final game of the 2022-23 Isuzu UTE A-League season against Perth Glory.

He played from the start in a 2-1 win, capping off a memorable spell in Australia that began with his arrival at Western in mid-2019, ahead of the club’s inaugural season.

“Honestly, I’m the happiest man in the world at the moment,” Diamanti told Paramount+ at full-time. “The last week I got a lot of love, from everyone. Italy, here, every part of the world. I’m just happy.

“Tonight, it’s 23 years having fun. So why not tonight? It’s my last (game). I just play football, it’s fun… I’m 100% happy.

“The last four years was phenomenal. I love Australia. I love A-League… but look, honestly I’m very happy to finish, I’m very excited to start my new chapter.”

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A crowd of just over 5,000 arrived at HBF Park to watch two sides out of finals contention lock horns in a game that had the energy sapped out of it by Wellington Phoenix’s win over Macarthur just hours prior, which ended Perth’s slim hopes of breaking into the top six.

But at full-time, despite the defeat, the locals lingered to see the former Italian international off in style.

Diamanti was chaired off the pitch to hearty applause, with players from both Western and Glory forming a guard of honour to see the 39-year-old off in the last game of a career that has spanned more than 550 professional appearances.

Western head coach John Aloisi said the reception from the Perth players and crowd showed the esteemed regard in which the 2020 Johnny Warren Medalist is held in Australian football.

“I don’t think it’s too often you get a standing ovation from opposition fans when you retire,” Aloisis told reporters post-match. “He was able to do that. And he was able to go out on a high, winning, because he deserves that.”

Diamanti’s career is celebrated at HBF Park.

“He’s been here since day one,” Aloisi added. “Four seasons at the club. He had a pretty serious injury toward the end of last season that kept him out for quite a bit. He just worked, and worked, and worked, to get his body to a level (where) he could play minutes. At 40 years old, he was still able to put on a performance like that.

“An unbelievable career. 23 years, an Italian international, we’re lucky we had him in Australia. He showed some glimpses tonight what he can do with that left foot.”

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Diamanti made just two starts in his final season in green and black, with the second coming on Saturday at HBF Park.

His role on the night can be loosely defined as the most attack-minded player in a midfield three – but in truth Diamanti was popping up all over the park. He was shooting at will through his 64 minutes of game time, threatening to score one final collector’s item with a dinked attempt from a tight angle which drifted just wide of the top corner.

Keegan Jelacic was the scorer for Perth, but Ben Garuccio and Noah Botic did the damage for Western United with goals on either side of half-time.

When Diamanti’s number 23 flashed red on the fourth official’s board, the crowd rose to its feet. His Western teammates came from all corners to engulf their club captain in warm embraces.

He walked off the pitch as a bona fide A-League Men legend, and an unequivocal example of the competition’s international marquee recruitment at its best.

“It can be great,” said Aloisi of A-League Men clubs targeting overseas marquees. “Especially that first season when he won the Johnny Warren Medal; he really lit up the league. It’s been unfortunate for him, the last season he got injured quite early and didn’t play from the start a lot of times this year.

“But he still gave us some glimpses. Probably one of the best goals I’ve seen while coaching: that goal against Sydney he scored from around the halfway line. He’s special.