Paulo Cesare Maldini - Retires this Sunday

[Golden_Boy™]

He will play his last ever game for AC Milan this Sunday against Roma in the San Siro.

Just a few days ago, he played his 900th game for the club, having made his debut for them in 1985.

He has played in well over 1,000 senior games (all at a pretty decent level to be fair).

Truely one of the greatest EVER.


25 year career at Milan has yielded:

* Serie A (7)
o Winner: 1987-88, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1998-99, 2003-04
o Runner-up: 1989-90, 1990-91
* Coppa Italia (1)
o Winner: 2002-03
o Runner-up: 1984-85, 1989-90, 1997-98
* Supercoppa Italiana (5)
o Winner: 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2004
o Runner-up: 1996, 1999, 2003
* UEFA Champions League (5)
o Winner: 1988-89, 1989-90, 1993-94, 2002-03, 2006-07
o Runner-up: 1992-93, 1994-95, 2004-05
* UEFA Super Cup (5)
o Winner: 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007
o Runner-up: 1993
* Intercontinental Cup (2)
o Winner: 1989, 1990
o Runner-up: 1993, 1994, 2003
* FIFA Club World Cup (1)
o Winner: 2007

National team

* FIFA World Cup 1990: 3rd Place
* FIFA World Cup 1994: Runner-up
* UEFA Euro 1988: 3rd Place
* UEFA Euro 2000: Runner-up

Individual

* Under-21 European Footballer of the Year: 1989
* FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament: 1994
* UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1996, 2000
* UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match: 2003
* Serie A Defender of the Year: 2004
* FIFA 100
* UEFA Team of the Year: 2003, 2005
* FIFPro World XI: 2005
* UEFA Champions League Best Defender: 2007
* Italy captain: 1994-2002
* Italy all-time caps: 126

"Milan plans to retire his number 3 shirt, but it will be bequeathed to one of his sons if one makes the club's senior side. His eldest son, Christian, currently plays for the Milan youth squad."

[El Morto La Hoja!]

never 'eard of him

[MagicalUnited]

May 22, 2009 12:23:25 GMT -1 El Morto La Hoja! said:

never 'eard of him

A Poor Mans Morgan

[Golden_Boy™]

Milan Ultras Leave Black Mark On Maldini Celebrations

During his final salute to the Milan faithful, the Rossoneri Ultras revealed an undeserved stain of contempt towards their most loyal servant…

After Roma had refused to follow the script by running out 3-2 winners on Maldini’s final day out at the San Siro, came another twist in the party celebrations, as the Curva Sud displayed a banner that was sure to spark controversy.

As the legendary captain did a final lap of honour after the game, the Milan Ultras displayed a large banner directed towards another legendary captain, Franco Baresi. Under a large number 6, the words “there is only one captain” were there for all to see.

At the same time, there were even some whistles from the same section of the stands in a display of unbelievable disrespect for a captain who has given a life of service to the Rossoneri.

Despite the disrespect of the Curva, the remainder of the stadium gave a prolonged standing ovation to Maldini, who was quite obviously moved by their display of affection.

---

Shameful behaviour, the majority gave him a good send off though!

[MagicalUnited]

idiots

[GresleyRam©®™]

He was no Darren Moore!

[derbiean]

He's a legend ;D

[Golden_Boy™]

Guardiola Dedicates Champions League Victory To Milan Captain Maldini

Pep is certainly pleased to have won Europe's top club prize and has made an unexpected dedication to Calcio...

Barcelona defeated Manchester United 2-0 in the Champions League final in Rome on Wednesday. After the match, Blaugrana boss Pep Guardiola spoke about his delight at winning the trophy.

One of the first things he mentioned was the host city and a specific issue affecting Italian football at the moment; the retirement of defender Paolo Maldini.

"I dedicate this to Italian football and Paolo Maldini, who need not worry because he has the admiration of all of Europe," the victorious boss told RAI Sport.

The Milan captain was insulted by some Rossoneri fans during his final match at San Siro this past weekend, something that reportedly angered the former Italian international, who is on the verge of ending his 24 year career.

Guardiola knows Maldini from his playing days in Italy, where he had stints with both Brescia and Roma in the early part of the decade.

"I'm experiencing a great joy, it's been a pleasure to win it in Roma, a hug to all Italians," he added.

Meanwhile, in his extended post-match reaction to uefa.com, he elaborated, "I'm leaving straight away tomorrow. I can't do anything else to top this.

"We're aware that we've done something magnificent. I'd like to congratulate the whole club and the fans. We're not the best team in Barca history but we've played the best season.

"We've won three titles but it's also about how we've won them. As a player, it was great to win this trophy for the first time. Now, we have won three which isn't as many as other clubs but we're getting closer to a select group of mythical teams," he beamed.

Finally, he gave a brief assessment of how his Catalan superstars managed to overcome the Red Devils.

"We scored with our first chance and after that, we just tried to move the ball inside," he divulged.

"We noticed that in the semi-final last year, Messi had problems with [Patrice] Evra, so we decided to move Leo from out wide to have one more player in midfield.

"He's the best right now and he has written his name on the Ballon d'Or. Messi has real talent and will never hide. When the going gets tough, he really starts moving," he concluded.

[MRMILLWALL]

May 26, 2009 16:42:56 GMT -1 GresleyRam©®™ said:

He was no Darren Moore!

Moore was no Bubba Gump.

[GresleyRam©®™]

May 28, 2009 3:30:39 GMT -1 MRMILLWALL said:

May 26, 2009 16:42:56 GMT -1 GresleyRam©®™ said:

He was no Darren Moore!

Moore was no Bubba Gump.

Bubba Gump was no Claude Davis

[MRMILLWALL]

May 28, 2009 19:36:34 GMT -1 GresleyRam©®™ said:

May 28, 2009 3:30:39 GMT -1 MRMILLWALL said:

Moore was no Bubba Gump.

Bubba Gump was no Claude Davis

Claude Davis was no Kevin Francis