My Christmas - Pierluigi Collina

By Mark Chaplin

The weather may be getting colder across Europe, but however low the temperature dips, Italian referee Pierluigi Collina will have memories of the summer of 2002 to keep him warm.

World Cup final
The world's most famous official reached the summit of his profession in Korea/Japan when he was chosen by world football's governing body to take charge of the FIFA World Cup final between Brazil and Germany in Yokohama.

Entitled to relax
The 42-year-old had long since scaled the European peak, officiating at the unforgettable 1999 UEFA Champions League final between Manchester United FC and FC Bayern München in Barcelona. After all he has achieved this year, he is entitled to put his feet up this Christmas and take it easy with his family and friends.

Particular period
"Christmas is a very particular period, the atmosphere is a very special one," said Collina. "I remember Christmases when I was a boy, sometimes I received new football boots. In Italy, Christmas is a time for the family to come together and celebrate a religious event. People have dinner and go to church. I'll be spending time with my family, and then we'll spend some days away where the weather is warm."

Preparing properly
To be a top referee nowadays means watching your waistline to keep up with the hectic pace of the modern day game. At this time of the year, it means paying attention to what you eat at the Christmas dinner table and how many glasses of wine you drink. "Fortunately, I'm not a big eater," Collina said. "I eat to live, rather than the other way around, so it's not a problem for me. This year, we have three weeks off instead of two, so I'll use the period to prepare properly for the restart of the season."

Don't wait to change
Collina is not someone who makes promises or resolutions for the new year. "No, I don't believe that you should wait until the first day of the year to think about changing your life," he said. "If you want to change something, then do it as soon as possible."

Distinctive figure
Nevertheless, the man who cuts such a distinctive figure among the stars on the world's football fields hopes that he, and other people involved in football, will stay healthy amid all their hard work. "As for me, I hope to continue to be as lucky as I have been in football and with my family - I pray for that."