Biography
Who is David Pizarro?
Early life and career beginnings
David Pizarro was born in Valparaíso, Chile, on September 11, 1979. His professional career began in his hometown with the club Santiago Wanderers, where he moved to the first-adult team in 1997. After gaining experience in the Chilean league, he made the move to Europe, joining Udinese in the Italian Serie A to compete at a higher level. During this period, he also spent time on loan back in Chile with Universidad de Chile in 2001 to further develop his skills before returning to the Italian league.
His father, David Pizarro Inostroza, was also involved in the sport as an amateur midfielder for Caupolicán, a club based in Caleta El Membrillo, Valparaíso. This is where David Marcelo Pizarro Cortez first started playing the game himself. His early exposure to the sport within his family environment provided a foundation for the lengthy professional career that would follow in both South America and Europe.
Success in Italian football
In 2005, David joined Inter Milan on a four-year contract. During his time there, he helped the squad secure the 2005–06 Serie A title, the Coppa Italia, and the Supercoppa Italiana. Following his spell at Inter, he moved to AS Roma in 2006. He quickly integrated into the team, scoring his first competitive goal for the club in a Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk in September 2006. He remained a key midfield figure for Roma for several seasons, winning two additional Coppa Italia titles and a Supercoppa Italiana with the club.
His tactical role often involved operating as a central midfielder, though he was versatile enough to work in a holding position or as a deep-lying playmaker. Known for his passing range and vision, he earned the nickname Pek, a diminutive of the Spanish word for small, reflecting his stature of 1.68 metres. In 2012, he transferred to Fiorentina, where he played 83 times over the course of his contract, scoring four goals before eventually returning to Chile.
International play and later career
David represented the Chile national team at both youth and senior levels. He debuted for the senior squad in 1999, playing in that year's Copa América tournament. A major highlight of his international career was winning a bronze medal with the Chile under-23 team at the 2000 Summer Olympics. He also participated in two World Cup qualification cycles. After an eight-year absence, he returned to the national team in 2013 under coach Jorge Sampaoli and was part of the squad that won the 2015 Copa América.
In early 2012, he had a brief stint in England, playing on loan for Manchester City. He made his debut for the club in February 2012 and was part of the squad that won the Premier League title that season. After retiring from professional football in 2018, he transitioned into coaching, graduating as a football manager in Italy in 2021. More recently, in January 2025, he joined the Kings League Italia club Boomers.
Birthday and age
David Pizarro was born on September 11, 1979, which makes David 47 years old today. That birthday falls under the Virgo sign. David shares the date with 52 other famous people.
Explore more
