Franco Baresi
Encyclopedia
Franco Baresi is an Italian football
youth team coach and former player. He played as a sweeper and spent his entire career with Serie A
club AC Milan
, acknowledged as one of the greatest defenders ever to play the game. Baresi was nicknamed "Piscinin", Milanese
for "Little one". In 1999, Baresi was voted AC Milan Player of the Century.
He is also the younger brother of Internazionale
assistant manager Giuseppe Baresi
. Hoping Franco could play with him in the Nerazzurri, Giuseppe brought him for a trial in Inter's youth team, but Franco was rejected. Despite this setback, he didn't give up and decided to try out for arch-rivals AC Milan, where he was accepted.
, Alessandro Costacurta
and Mauro Tassotti
. He is also one of the few players who spent his entire career at one club, AC Milan
, for whom he played 719 games, scoring 33 goals. He made his name as an adventerous defender, who built attacks from the back and surged forward whenever the opportunity presented itself.
With Milan, Baresi won six scudetti (Serie A
league titles) and three European Cups
– though he did not take part in the last win, his club's 1994 Champions League victory, through suspension. He mentored defensive partner Paolo Maldini
in his later years, whose career subsequently followed a similar path.
After 20 years with Milan, he announced his retirement as a player on 24 June 1997.
His number 6 shirt was retired by the club, a rarity for Italian football.
, in 1982
, 1990
and 1994
. Baresi was part of the 1982 World Cup squad in Spain aged 22 as understudy to Gaetano Scirea
, but didn't play, just like in the 1980 European Football Championship, where he was called up along with his brother Giuseppe
.
His international debut came later in 1982 in a match against Romania
. He missed the 1986 tournament, coach Enzo Bearzot
preferring Juventus centre-halves Cabrini and Gentile, with Scirea in Baresi's position of libero
.
Baresi was unfortunate that his early international career coincided with the peak of Gaetano Scirea's stint as Italy's first choice sweeper, and Baresi was continually left out in the cold, much to his frustration, and he refused to play for the national side while Bearzot was in charge (thus explaining Baresi's relative lack of caps before the 1990 tournament). When the Azzuri crashed out to France in the 1986 tournament and Scirea retired, the mantle was passed to Baresi who returned to the side, a responsibility that become more poignant when Scirea was killed in a car accident aged 36, only months before Italy was to host the World Cup. So Baresi made his World Cup debut in 1990. The Azzurri
lost to Argentina
in the semi-finals, but went on to beat England
in the third place play off.
In the 1994 World Cup
he came one step closer to lifting the trophy as Italy finished runners-up. Baresi injured himself early in the tournament in the group match against Norway
, and after emergency surgery, was able to return for the final against Brazil
. Baresi suffered cramp in extra time as the patched-up Italians defended against a tired Brazil to a 0–0 score after 120 minutes, Romário
later attributing his quiet performance to "The most ruthless monitoring of my entire career". Baresi missed the first penalty in the shootout and Italy went on to lose the first World Cup Final to be decided on penalties. Baresi is one of six players to have won all three types of World Cup Medals, having won Gold in 1982, Bronze in 1990 and Silver in 1994. The other five players were from West Germany's squad of 1966–1974, and this record is also closely followed by a select group of players who have won two of the awards (Either Gold and Silver or Gold and Bronze, or Silver and Bronze).
He was also a member of the Italian squad that finished fourth at the 1984 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles, California.
, Baresi returned to Milan as a youth team coach in 2002. He was appointed head coach of AC Milan's Primavera Under-20 squad. In 2006, he was moved by the club to coach the Berretti Under-19 squad, with his former fellow Filippo Galli
replacing him at the helm of the Primavera squad. He retired from coaching and was replaced by Roberto Bertuzzo.
(FIFA), the international governing body of football revealed the FIFA 100
. The list contains choice of the "greatest living footballers", Baresi was one of many from the legendary Milan teams of the 1990s to be included. Baresi is one of the few players who have won all domestic club, international club and national honours, and doing so all with his native country.
*European competitions include the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, and UEFA Super Cup
>
1982
1
0
1983
3
0
1984
5
0
1985
0
0
1986
3
0
1987
5
0
1988
11
1
1989
10
0
1990
11
0
1991
9
0
1992
7
0
1993
7
0
1994
9
0
Total
81
1
Football in Italy
Football is the most popular sport in Italy. The Italian national football team has won the FIFA World Cup 4 times , trailing only Brazil . Italy's club sides have won 27 major European trophies, making them the most successful European nation in the subject of football...
youth team coach and former player. He played as a sweeper and spent his entire career with Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
club AC Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
, acknowledged as one of the greatest defenders ever to play the game. Baresi was nicknamed "Piscinin", Milanese
Milanese
Milanese is the central variety of the Western Lombard language spoken in the city and province of Milan....
for "Little one". In 1999, Baresi was voted AC Milan Player of the Century.
He is also the younger brother of Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
assistant manager Giuseppe Baresi
Giuseppe Baresi
Giuseppe Baresi is an Italian footballer, who spent most of his career with Internazionale. He is currently Internazionale's assistant manager.-Career:...
. Hoping Franco could play with him in the Nerazzurri, Giuseppe brought him for a trial in Inter's youth team, but Franco was rejected. Despite this setback, he didn't give up and decided to try out for arch-rivals AC Milan, where he was accepted.
Club
Baresi led the Milan team and its defence for the best part of a decade; a period during which Milan's defence was considered by many observers to be one of the best back fours in the history of football, consisting of Baresi, Paolo MaldiniPaolo Maldini
Paolo Cesare Maldini is an Italian former footballer who played as a left or central defender. He spent all 25 seasons of his career at Serie A club Milan, before retiring at the age of 41 in 2009, becoming a symbol and a legend of the club...
, Alessandro Costacurta
Alessandro Costacurta
Alessandro "Billy" Costacurta is an Italian former professional football defender turned manager.Costacurta spent some twenty years at Milan, with a brief period spent in AC Monza on loan. He is best known for his role alongside Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini and Mauro Tassotti, forming one of the...
and Mauro Tassotti
Mauro Tassotti
Mauro Tassotti is a retired Italian footballer. He played for seventeen years with A.C. Milan, mostly at right back but could also fill in at centre back if required, thanks to his versatility and commitment...
. He is also one of the few players who spent his entire career at one club, AC Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
, for whom he played 719 games, scoring 33 goals. He made his name as an adventerous defender, who built attacks from the back and surged forward whenever the opportunity presented itself.
With Milan, Baresi won six scudetti (Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
league titles) and three European Cups
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
– though he did not take part in the last win, his club's 1994 Champions League victory, through suspension. He mentored defensive partner Paolo Maldini
Paolo Maldini
Paolo Cesare Maldini is an Italian former footballer who played as a left or central defender. He spent all 25 seasons of his career at Serie A club Milan, before retiring at the age of 41 in 2009, becoming a symbol and a legend of the club...
in his later years, whose career subsequently followed a similar path.
After 20 years with Milan, he announced his retirement as a player on 24 June 1997.
His number 6 shirt was retired by the club, a rarity for Italian football.
International
Baresi was selected for three World Cups for ItalyItaly national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
, in 1982
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
, 1990
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
and 1994
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
. Baresi was part of the 1982 World Cup squad in Spain aged 22 as understudy to Gaetano Scirea
Gaetano Scirea
Gaetano Scirea was an Italian football player who is considered one of the greatest defenders of all-time.Scirea is one of only five players in European football history to have won all international trophies for football clubs recognized by UEFA and FIFA...
, but didn't play, just like in the 1980 European Football Championship, where he was called up along with his brother Giuseppe
Giuseppe Baresi
Giuseppe Baresi is an Italian footballer, who spent most of his career with Internazionale. He is currently Internazionale's assistant manager.-Career:...
.
His international debut came later in 1982 in a match against Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
. He missed the 1986 tournament, coach Enzo Bearzot
Enzo Bearzot
Vincenzo "Enzo" Bearzot was an Italian association football player and manager. He is best known for having led the Italian national football team to a triumph in the 1982 FIFA World Cup.-Playing career:...
preferring Juventus centre-halves Cabrini and Gentile, with Scirea in Baresi's position of libero
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Baresi was unfortunate that his early international career coincided with the peak of Gaetano Scirea's stint as Italy's first choice sweeper, and Baresi was continually left out in the cold, much to his frustration, and he refused to play for the national side while Bearzot was in charge (thus explaining Baresi's relative lack of caps before the 1990 tournament). When the Azzuri crashed out to France in the 1986 tournament and Scirea retired, the mantle was passed to Baresi who returned to the side, a responsibility that become more poignant when Scirea was killed in a car accident aged 36, only months before Italy was to host the World Cup. So Baresi made his World Cup debut in 1990. The Azzurri
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
lost to Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
in the semi-finals, but went on to beat England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in the third place play off.
In the 1994 World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
he came one step closer to lifting the trophy as Italy finished runners-up. Baresi injured himself early in the tournament in the group match against Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
, and after emergency surgery, was able to return for the final against Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
. Baresi suffered cramp in extra time as the patched-up Italians defended against a tired Brazil to a 0–0 score after 120 minutes, Romário
Romário
Romário de Souza Faria , better known simply as Romário , is a former footballer who played striker,manager and current politician where is currently running for a mayor like position in his hometown...
later attributing his quiet performance to "The most ruthless monitoring of my entire career". Baresi missed the first penalty in the shootout and Italy went on to lose the first World Cup Final to be decided on penalties. Baresi is one of six players to have won all three types of World Cup Medals, having won Gold in 1982, Bronze in 1990 and Silver in 1994. The other five players were from West Germany's squad of 1966–1974, and this record is also closely followed by a select group of players who have won two of the awards (Either Gold and Silver or Gold and Bronze, or Silver and Bronze).
He was also a member of the Italian squad that finished fourth at the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in Los Angeles, California.
Coaching career
After a short spell as Director of Football at FulhamFulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
, Baresi returned to Milan as a youth team coach in 2002. He was appointed head coach of AC Milan's Primavera Under-20 squad. In 2006, he was moved by the club to coach the Berretti Under-19 squad, with his former fellow Filippo Galli
Filippo Galli
Filippo Galli is a former Italian football player with A.C. Milan who played as a Right back but was often called on to fill in at any defensive position...
replacing him at the helm of the Primavera squad. He retired from coaching and was replaced by Roberto Bertuzzo.
Honours
On 4 March 2004, at a gala ceremony in London, to mark the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Fédération Internationale de Football AssociationFIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
(FIFA), the international governing body of football revealed the FIFA 100
FIFA 100
The FIFA 100 is a list of the world-renowned Brazilian striker Pelé's choice of the "greatest living footballers". Unveiled on 4 March 2004 at a gala ceremony in London, the FIFA 100 marked part of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Fédération Internationale de...
. The list contains choice of the "greatest living footballers", Baresi was one of many from the legendary Milan teams of the 1990s to be included. Baresi is one of the few players who have won all domestic club, international club and national honours, and doing so all with his native country.
- AC Milan
- UEFA Champions leagueEuropean Cup and Champions League historyThe history of the European Cup and Champions League is long and remarkable, with fifty years of competition finding winners and losers from all parts of the continent....
: 1989, 1990, 1994. - Intercontinental CupIntercontinental Cup (football)The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
: 1989, 1990. - European Supercup: 1989, 1990,1994.
- Italian ChampionshipSerie ASerie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
:1979, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996. - Serie BSerie BSerie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
: 1981, 1983 - Italian Super CupSupercoppa ItalianaThe Supercoppa Italiana is a pre-season football competition held the week before the season begins in Italy every year. It is contested by the winners of the Serie A and the Coppa Italia in the previous season, as a curtain raiser to the new season. It is usually played at the home of the Serie A...
: 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994. - Mitropa CupMitropa CupThe Mitropa Cup, officially called the La Coupe de l'Europe Centrale was one of the first really international major European football cups for club sides...
: 1982
- UEFA Champions league
- Italy:
- FIFA World CupFIFA World CupThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
: 1982 - Scania 100 Tournament (Sweden 1991):1991
- Runners-up FIFA World CupFIFA World CupThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
: 1994 - Runners-up US Cup:1992
- 3rd place FIFA World CupFIFA World CupThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
: 1990
- FIFA World Cup
Individual honours
- 1989
- European Silver Ball Footballer of the Year France FootballFrance FootballFrance Football is a French bi-weekly magazine containing football news from all over the world. It's one of the most reputable sports publications in Europe, mostly because of their photographic reports and accurate statistics of the big European Cup matches, and extensive coverage of the European...
- European Silver Ball Footballer of the Year France Football
- 1990
- Top Scorer Italian Cup : (4 goals) Total (15 goals) Italian Cup.
- Italian LeagueSerie ASerie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
The best player of the year. - Silver in Best world player of the year IFFHS : 1989
- 1999
- AC Milan player of the Century. His jersey number 6 at Milan has been retired
- 2004
- Named in FIFA 100FIFA 100The FIFA 100 is a list of the world-renowned Brazilian striker Pelé's choice of the "greatest living footballers". Unveiled on 4 March 2004 at a gala ceremony in London, the FIFA 100 marked part of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Fédération Internationale de...
- Named Italian Player of the 20th Century by FIGC
- Named in FIFA 100
Statistics
| Club | Season | League | League | Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| 1977/78 | Milan A.C. Milan Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others... |
Serie A Serie A Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new... |
1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| 3 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 1978/79 | 30 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||||||
| 40 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 1979/80 | 28 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| 35 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 1980/81 | Serie B Serie B Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the... |
31 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 35 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 1981/82 | Serie A Serie A Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new... |
18 | 2 | 4 | 0 | |||||||
| 3 | 2 | 25 | 4 | |||||||||
| 1982/83 | Serie B Serie B Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the... |
30 | 4 | 9 | 2 | |||||||
| 39 | 6 | |||||||||||
| 1983/84 | Serie A Serie A Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new... |
21 | 3 | 9 | 2 | |||||||
| 30 | 5 | |||||||||||
| 1984/85 | 26 | 0 | 10 | 0 | - | |||||||
| 36 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 1985/86 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 30 | 0 | ||
| 1986/87 | 29 | 2 | 6 | 3 | - | |||||||
| 35 | 5 | |||||||||||
| 1987/88 | 27 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||
| 36 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 1988/89 | 33 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 4 | ||
| 1989/90 | 30 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 5 | ||
| 1990/91 | 31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 0 | ||
| 1991/92 | 33 | 0 | 6 | 1 | ||||||||
| 39 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 1992/93 | 29 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 0 | ||
| 1993/94 | 31 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 0 | |||||||
| 1994/95 | 28 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 0 | |||||||
| 1995/96 | 30 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||||||
| |40 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 1996/97 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 1 | ||
| Career totals | 532 | 16 | 97 | 15 | 75 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 719 | 31 | ||
*European competitions include the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, and UEFA Super Cup
See also
- 1994 UEFA Champions League Final
- One-club man
- unofficial site