Gunslingers have long appealed to people from young to old.
Particularly as a part of Western lore, they are in everything from cartoons to
movies, and children all over the world have grown up pretending to be them. Milan
have a new gunslinger in Krzysztof Piatek. And though his trademark celebration
is inspired by the popularity of gunslingers in his homeland, it has also
quickly become quite popular amongst football fans worldwide. Particularly
since it always follows a goal. So in Italy, he is called the Gunslinger, or “il
Pistolero.”
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| One of the good guys |
Not even Cinderella could have dreamed Piatek’s story.
Literally a year ago, he was still playing in the Polish League as a relatively
unknown young striker outside of his home country. Having grown up in Poland, He
debuted for Lechia Dzierzoniow’s first team at the age of 17, making six
appearances for the club. At 18, he made his debut in the Ekstraklasa, the top
Polish league, for Zaglebie Lubin.
After a couple of years there, he made the move to Cracovia.
This is where he started turning heads, scoring 32 goals in his 65 appearances
for the club over two years’ time. Still, having scored 21 of those goals
during his second season in Krakow, he was only the third best scorer in the Ekstraklasa.
That earned him a provisional callup to the Polish National Team for World Cup
2018, however he was amongst those cut from the squad before they went to
Russia.
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| A meteoric rise to fame began at Genoa |
Someone at Genoa had the good sense to scout and find him,
and even more good sense to sign him for their team. He paid dividends
immediately, scoring a hat trick in their Coppa Italia match vs. Lecce upon his
arrival. He scored again in his debut in Serie A, then a brace in the next
match. He couldn’t seem to stop scoring, smashing Serie A scoring records left
and right by unknowns like Shevchenko and Batistuta. Oh, and getting regular
callups to the Polish National Team, too.
Genoa certainly cashed in on their dream signing. Having
paid Cracovia about €4.5 million, they got €35 million for him from Milan in
January. While that seems like a tasty piece of business, and is apparently also
a record transfer fee for a Genoa player, Milan will reap far more than that in
his goals alone. Not to mention shirt sales and other marketing devices.
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| Ask not what Milan has done for you, but what you have done for Milan |
Not just any player could make the jump from the Polish
Ekstraklasa to one of the top European teams in just six months. At 23, the man
simply scores goal after goal after goal, and is actually in the race for capocannoniere
with some of the top strikers in the world. Think about that. Serie A is one of
the most difficult leagues in which strikers have to acclimate, especially with
all of the intense tactics and excellent defense that isn’t as strong in other
leagues.
Piatek has a focus and drive that is rare. As Gattuso points
out, he is very serious. He asks about his opponents ahead of each game and
clearly prepares for each match as if it’s personal. His technique is
fantastic, and he is blessed with a radar for the back of the net that makes it
all look effortless. He works hard, and even in Gattuso’s service-starved,
defensive team, has still managed to score eight goals since January, something
that older, more experienced strikers have been unable to do.
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| A model athlete |
His fan appeal was instantaneous. With his trademark “pistolero”
celebration, the Curva Sud instantly came up with their “pum pum pum”
chant, and people of all ages now emulate his celebration with glee. Not just
because it’s awesome, either, although that helps. But as mentioned earlier, it
always follows a goal, which makes it all that much more fun to do.
But in addition to being a model athlete on the pitch, he is
so humble. He came to Milan and was just so honored and in awe to be in such amazing
training facilities. He was grateful his fairy godmother had somehow summoned
him to a club he supported even as a child. He asked all about the pictures and
facilities of Milanello, quietly taking in what it meant to be Milan. He humbly
accepted the number 19 jersey, being told he would have to earn his favorite
number nine, and gratefully accepted the challenge.
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| Yes, that is a young Piatek with his Milan towel |
The fact that he replaced the struggling and want-away,
older Higuain, whose salary of €9 million was cumbersome in comparison to
Piatek’s meager €2 million in wages was not lost on the fans. And who could
blame them? A younger, better striker with an insanely better form for much
smaller wages? What’s not to love? Oh, and hey, he has possibly the best
celebration of anyone in recent years, too.
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| Seriously, what's not to love? |
It is all of these things and more that has given Piatek
instant fame at Milan. He has been turning heads all over Europe with his
amazing stats, and is now not only playing for the Polish National Team, but
scoring for them, too. As much as his dreams have suddenly come true in less
than a year, he is making our dreams come true, too. A world class young
striker with an identity but also humility. He is “il Pistolero.”
This post inspired by the music of the
Sex Pistols