Paolo Maldini (56) is considered one of the greatest defenders of all time. Captain of AC Milan and the Italian national team for many years, he was nicknamed “Il Capitano”. He began his incredible career almost exactly 40 years ago today.
The beginnings of a future legend
On January 20, 1985, theAC Milan plays a Serie A match against Udinese. At half time, Udinese led 1-0 and the defender of AC Milan Sergio Battistini could not continue due to injury.
For the second half, Battistini was replaced by a young player of 16 years old, Paolo Maldini. L’AC Milan then equalizes and the match ends with a score of 1-1. This is how Paolo Maldini tastes high-level Football for the first time.
From the following season, 1985/86, he became a permanent member of the team Rossoneri. This is how it remained for a quarter of a century, until 2009, when Maldini ends his career at the age of 41.
One club man
Maldini spent all 25 seasons of his career in Serie A with l’AC Milan. He is one of the “men of one club” the best known in world football. Besides Maldinithe most famous men from one club are Ryan Giggs (Manchester United, 963 matches) et Francesco Totti (AS Roma, 786 matches).
Of the 902 matches of Paolo Maldini with the Rossoneri647 were contested in the Italian championship. He held the record for appearances in Serie A until it was overtaken by Gianluigi Buffon in 2020. Maldini is also one of the players having played the greatest number of matches with Italy (126), preceded only by Gianluigi Buffon (176) et Fabio Cannavaro (136).
Maldini did not win any major trophies under the azure blue jersey of theItaly (he was no longer part of the Italian squad for the victorious 2006 World Cup), but he won many trophies with the Milan. He has won a total of 26 trophies (including five Champions League/European Cups, seven Serie A titles and one Club World Cup).
What style of play did he use to achieve this longevity and success?
A model for all defenders
Maldini was renowned for his speed, endurance, sliding tackles and aerial skills. He was also an excellent striker who scored many goals (40).
-Although he played as a left back for most of his career, Maldini is right-handed and started playing for l’AC Milan as a right back. He was moved to left-back by the manager Arrigo Sacchi because Mauro Tassotti occupied the right side of the Milan defense.
In the later years of his career, he lost speed and was moved to center back, where he excelled by relying on his experience, sense of anticipation, aerial prowess and tackling. to stop opposing attackers.
Football royalty
Maldini is neither the first nor the last member of his family to have played for l’AC Milan or the Italian national team. His father, Cesare Maldiniwas also a legend of Rossoneri and an Italian national team player.
Family successors Maldini are the sons of Paolo, Christian (born in 1996) and Daniel (born in 2001). They both played on the youth teams of l’AC Milan. Later, Christian evolved at a lower level, while Daniel remained at l’AC Milan a little longer.
In October 2024, Daniel is called up for the national team for the first time from Italy and made his debut with the Azzurri.
AC Milan and tennis
After ending his football career, Maldini continued to play sports. He even started playing tennis at a professional level. He also remained in the world of football, as an administrator.
In addition, he returned to his favorite club, l’AC Milan. As of 2018, Maldini worked as a sports director and in 2019 he was promoted to technical director. In 2022, he helped the club win its first Scudetto (Serie A title) in 11 years.
Maldini then left the management of l’AC Milan in 2023. However, it is certain that the departure of Paolo and the subsequent transfer of his son Daniel has Monza are not the last stories written by the Maldini at AC Milan.
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