Paolo Maldini Paolo Ale

As a tribute, some Milan fans came together and put up this site where you could leave comments.

http://www.paolomaldini3.com

Honours

AC Milan

Serie A (7)
Winner: 1987-88, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1998-99, 2003-04
Runner-up: 1989-90, 1990-91

Coppa Italia (1)
Winner: 2002-03
Runner-up: 1984-85, 1989-90, 1997-98

Supercoppa Italiana (5)
Winner: 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2004
Runner-up: 1996, 1999, 2003

UEFA Champions League (5)
Winner: 1988-89, 1989-90, 1993-94, 2002-03, 2006-07
Runner-up: 1992-93, 1994-95, 2004-05

UEFA Super Cup (5)
Winner: 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007
Runner-up: 1993

Intercontinental Cup (2)
Winner: 1989, 1990
Runner-up: 1993, 1994, 2003

FIFA Club World Cup (1)
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

Great honor list and all, but a telling statistic that can only be told is the story of his last season. Not the best of farewells at the San Siro, and the club also failed to win anything for him. Yet, this is how I believe he would've liked it. Because behind all the trophies, behind all the success, he's always been a loyal servant. In a season where you'd expect him to come in as a late sub now and then, he's probably played the most minutes of all our center backs. Why? Because he simply was the best available.

And if you consider, until before the last Roma game, that Milan had the best home defensive record in Serie A, then that should tell you the level of his performance. Certainly not great by his standards, but world class.

In response to the protests that were made last weekend, he has accepted that he may have overreacted initially - he left the pitch earlier than planned and said that he was happy to not be one of "them" - and has also said that the best player that he has ever played with in his entire illustrious career was none other than ... Franco Baresi. Such is the class of the man.

This is a telling moment in the history of the club. A legacy of tradition and destiny seems to have come to an abrupt end. I, as a Milan fan, fear an irreplaceable element has been lost.

A friend of mine on another board put it clearly. The story of Milan isn't Kaka', Shevchenko, Boban, Savicevic, MVB, Gullit, etc. Its not even Berlusconi. We know its humble beginnings over a 100 years ago, but the legacy I'm talking about begins with Paolo's father, Cesare Maldini. The first Milan player and Captain to lift "big ears." While he was captain, a certain Gianni Rivera was in the squad, and eventually succeeded him, also serving one club.

While he was captain, a certain Franco Baresi was also in the squad, and he eventually carried this tradition ... a tradition that is still alive today thanks to Paolo Maldini. As he gloriously leaves the game, I am left looking for a player worthy enough to carry this tradition ... and I unfortunately do not see anyone.

Hopefully, his children will have this tradition instilled in them. Ambrosini seems to hold the club close to heart, but he is also getting on a bit, and really isn't in the same caliber as the aforementioned.

To conclude, I believe he is perhaps the greatest sportsman I've seen in my lifetime. A model professional for all upcoming and current footballers. Grazie Paolo.

Grande Paolo!

Although there may have been some sentiment attached to presenting Paolo the best defender award, that with his fifth European Champion's Cup - as many as Liverpool - and a living example as to what an almost perfect footballer should be off the pitch - an ambassador of football if I may, he did play an important role in the eventual winner's path to victory. Missing only one game in the knockout stages, he was also the man behind Pippo's opener (assist) against AEK that kick-started Milan's campaign.

He deserved it in every sense of the word.

But unfortunately, time does move on and a worthy replacement beckons. Younger players that come to mind are Mexes and Kolo Toure - with Darmain reportedly impressive in the Primavera squad. A few seasons alongside the classy Nesta may deem them capable to cover the Rossoneri backline until a new chapter is opened in the Maldini legacy.