January 20 – An Ode To Paolo Maldini
WHEN I grow up (because here at OTFD, we don’t count being a grown up until at least until you hit 40) I want to be Paolo Maldini. He’s got it all – more medals than you can shake a stick at, a fortune in the bank, a model wife, and he’s one of the most respected and liked footballers ever. Basically, he’s perfect, and it all began today in 1985 when he pulled on the Milan shirt for the first time as a fresh-faced sixteen year-old against Udinese.
An injury crisis at the San Siro meant that Milan were pushed into naming the youngster on the bench and he got his chance at half-time when defender Sergio Battistini had to come off injured. One of the crocked Milan defenders at that time was English brawler Ray Wilkins, so at a push you could say he’s responsible for breakthrough of the greatest defender of all-time. Maybe.
Showing the kind of loyalty that would make Nicolas Anelka blush, Maldini is the ultimate one-club man. He joined the club aged ten, following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Cesare, who spend twelve years marshalling the Milanese midfield. In the twenty-three years since his debut he’s been a part of some truly great sides, such as the late ’80s/early ’90s all conquering ‘Dream Team’ under Arrigo Sacchi and Don Fabio Capello.
Along the way he’s broken all manner of records by notching up over 850 games for the club and winning ever trophy under the sun for Milan. His trophy cabinet reads as follows (deep breath): 7 Serie A titles, 1 Coppa Italia, 5 Italian Super Cups, 5 Champions Leagues, 5 European Super Cups, 2 Intercontinental Cups and a FIFA Club World Cup. Not too shabby, you’ll agree.
He’s also Italy’s most capped player, having represented the Azzurri 126 times. The only blotch on his career is a lack of an international title, as Italy suffered a series of near misses during Maldini’s time and he had called it a day before their 2006 World Cup triumph.
Maldini owes much of his success to his clean-living lifestyle. He has opened his own night-club in Milan, the upmarket ‘Hollywood’, but you’re more likely to find him behind the decks DJing, rather than chasing totty (and that’s not Francesco) on the dancefloor after 13 Bacardi Breezers. He’s also got a clothing line with his mate Christian Vieri, a modelling contract with H&M and runs a footballing school for children. See, he’s perfect.
However, as a wise man once said (Chaucer to be specific – don’t say we never teach anything at OTFD), all good things must come to an end, and Paolo announced after Milan’s victory over Boca Juniors in the FIFA Club World Cup last month that this would be his last season. Fear not though Maldini fans, there’s another one! Following the footsteps of Poppa and Gramps Maldini, 12-year old Chrisitan is making waves in the Milan youth squad. Are we going to see a third great Milanese Maldini, as they play out their own version of the Generation Game? Unfortunately we can’t tell you that at OTFD, but what we can do is bring you some more footballing titbits from days gone by tomorrow, so do what Paolo would do and get an early night and come back for that tomorrow. Here’s a video spanning the ages of one of our favourite players to tide you over in the meantime .
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