Paolo Maldini
Encyclopedia
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. During that period, he won the Champions League
five times, as well as seven Serie A titles, one Coppa Italia
, five Supercoppa Italiana
, five European Super Cups, two Intercontinental Cups
. He played for 14 years for the Italian national team
, making his debut in 1988 before retiring in 2002 with 126 caps
and four World Cup
participations.
Maldini played at a world class level for his entire career spanning 2 and a half decades, and won the Best Defender trophy at the UEFA Club Football Awards
at the age of 39. He came second to George Weah
for the FIFA World Player of the Year
Award in 1995, the closest a defender had ever reached to winning the award at the time. He was also the Milan and Italy captain for many years and was considered a leader amongst leaders by fellow footballers, leading to the nickname "Il Capitano" (the Captain). Paolo's father Cesare
formerly played for and captained Milan, and is a successful national U-21 manager.
in a match against Udinese
at the age of 16. It was his only league appearance of the campaign, but he was in the starting eleven the following season. The 1987–88 Scudetto marked Maldini's first trophy, and the first of seven league titles, with the club. He was also part of Milan's undefeated Serie A champion side in the 1991–92 season
. The back four that included Maldini and fellow long-timers Franco Baresi
, Alessandro Costacurta
and Mauro Tassotti
is widely considered one of European football's most formidable defensive quartets of the 1990's. Following Baresi's retirement, he would also form a formidable and successful partnership with Alessandro Nesta
.
In addition to winning his third Champions League and reaching the 1994 World Cup
final, Maldini became the first defender ever to win World Soccer
magazine's annual World Player of the Year Award. During his acceptance speech, Maldini called his milestone "a particular matter of pride because defenders generally receive so much less attention from fans and the media than goalscorers. We are more in the engine room rather than taking the glory." He then singled out Milan captain Franco Baresi
as a player who "really [deserved] to receive the sort of award I have received."
Maldini played his 600th Serie A match on 13 May 2007 in a 1–1 draw at Catania
. On 25 September 2005, Maldini broke Dino Zoff
's Serie A appearance record after playing his 571st league match against Treviso; seven days earlier, he had played his 800th game in all competitions for Milan. On 16 February 2008, Maldini reached 1,000 senior games with Milan and Italy when he entered as a substitute against Parma
.
Maldini has participated in eight UEFA Champions League
finals during the course of his career, which is bettered only by Francisco Gento
, who also appeared in a Cup Winners' Cup
final, bringing his total European finals to nine. Maldini has lifted the trophy five times, the latest coming in Milan's 2–1 victory over Liverpool
in the 2007 Champions League final
on 23 May 2007 in Athens. In an interview with ESPN
that aired prior to the broadcast of the 2007 final, he labeled the 2005 Champions League final
, a match that Milan lost on penalties to Liverpool after blowing a 3–0 half-time lead, the worst moment of his career, even though he had scored the fastest-ever goal in a European Clubs' Cup final just 51 seconds into the match, in the process also becoming the oldest player ever to score in a final.
Maldini announced his plans to retire at the end of the 2007–08 season, saying that he would do so with "no regrets." However, following Milan's elimination from the Champions League by Arsenal
in March, Maldini stated that he would possibly delay his retirement for at least a further year. He signed an extension on June 6 that kept him at Milan for the 2008–09 season. On 18 April 2009, Maldini announced that he will be finally retiring at the end of the 2008–09 season.
On 17 May, in the Friuli Stadium
, Maldini played his 900th official match for Milan in a league game against Udinese. Maldini's last match in San Siro
was on 24 May, in a game lost 3–2 against Roma
. There was a small controversy when the Milan fans known as "Brigate Rossonere" protested against Maldini as he said goodbye. His last appearance for Milan, and his last game as an active player was on 31 May 2009, in the last match of the season, against Fiorentina
, which Milan won 2–0.
Milan retired his number 3 shirt, but it will be bequeathed to one of his sons if one makes the club's senior side.
to the Italian U-21
side, where he earned twelve caps
and scored five goals in two years. He made his Azzurri
debut at the age of nineteen on 31 March 1988, in a 1–1 friendly
draw against Yugoslavia
, and made one appearance for Italy at the 1988 Olympics
. Maldini featured in all four of Italy's games at Euro 1988, and participated in his first World Cup in 1990
, where Italy lost to Argentina
in the semifinals on penalties.
Maldini's first international goal came in his 44th career match, in a 2–0 friendly win over Mexico
on 20 January 1993. He captained Italy at the start of the 1994 World Cup
, losing to Brazil in the final on penalties. He was named in the Team of the Tournament, 32 years after his father received the same honour at the 1962 World Cup
. Euro 1996 would see Italy eliminated in the group stage, and the quarterfinals of the 1998 World Cup
. Italy did reach the final of Euro 2000, but lost to France
in extra time.
After Italy were eliminated in the 2002 World Cup
round of sixteen, Maldini retired trophyless from international competition as Italy's most capped player. He scored seven international goals, all coming in home games. He spent over half of his 16 years as an international as team captain, wearing the armband a record 74 times.
In February 2009, Italian head coach Marcello Lippi
declared his support for a testimonial match
for Maldini, stating that it would give him a chance to play for the Azzurri for a final time. Italian Football Federation offered him a place in the line-up in a friendly match against Northern Ireland. However, Maldini rejected the offer, saying that he wanted to part with football in an "official" match.
, by joining Chelsea
as a coach having reportedly met with Ancelotti and with Chelsea's owner, Roman Abramovich
, to discuss such a possibility. On 30 June 2009, Ancelotti announced that Maldini had turned down his offer to become part of Chelsea's coaching staff.
n former model Adriana Fossa since 1994. The couple have two sons, Christian (born 14 June 1996) and Daniel (born 11 October 2001), who both have already been signed by Maldini's former club Milan
and currently play in the youth teams.
In 2003, he lifted the European Cup/Champions League
as club captain exactly 40 years after his father Cesare
accomplished the same feat for the same side. The only other father-son pairs to have done so are Manuel Sanchis Martínez
and Manuel Sanchís Hontiyuelo (won it with Real Madrid
) and Carles
and Sergio Busquets of Barcelona
.
1European competitions include the UEFA Champions League
, UEFA Cup
, and UEFA Super Cup
2Other tournaments include the Supercoppa Italiana
, Intercontinental Cup
and FIFA Club World Cup
3Play-off for UEFA Cup admission
|-
|1988||10||0
|-
|1989||7||0
|-
|1990||11||0
|-
|1991||8||0
|-
|1992||7||0
|-
|1993||5||2
|-
|1994||12||0
|-
|1995||7||1
|-
|1996||7||0
|-
|1997||11||2
|-
|1998||11||1
|-
|1999||7||1
|-
|2000||11||0
|-
|2001||7||0
|-
|2002||5||0
|-
!Total||126||7
|}
Individual
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 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...
, before retiring
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
at the age of 41 in 2009, becoming a symbol and a legend of the club. During that period, he won the Champions League
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...
five times, as well as seven Serie A titles, one Coppa Italia
Coppa Italia
The Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
, five Supercoppa Italiana
Supercoppa Italiana
The 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...
, five European Super Cups, two Intercontinental Cups
Intercontinental 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...
. He played for 14 years for the Italian national team
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...
, making his debut in 1988 before retiring in 2002 with 126 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
and four World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The 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...
participations.
Maldini played at a world class level for his entire career spanning 2 and a half decades, and won the Best Defender trophy at the UEFA Club Football Awards
UEFA Club Football Awards
The UEFA Club Football Awards are awards given by UEFA to the most outstanding performers of the European club football season. The awards were presented in August each year at a special gala in Monaco ahead of the UEFA Super Cup. Since 2005, the awards are presented at the UEFA Champions League draw...
at the age of 39. He came second to George Weah
George Weah
George Tawlon Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah is a Liberian humanitarian and politician, and an ex-footballer. He ran unsuccessfully for president in the 2005 election, losing to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in the second round of voting...
for the FIFA World Player of the Year
FIFA World Player of the Year
The FIFA World Player of the Year was an association football award given annually to the male and female player who were thought to be the best in the world, based on votes by coaches and captains of international teams...
Award in 1995, the closest a defender had ever reached to winning the award at the time. He was also the Milan and Italy captain for many years and was considered a leader amongst leaders by fellow footballers, leading to the nickname "Il Capitano" (the Captain). Paolo's father Cesare
Cesare Maldini
Cesare Maldini is an Italian football manager and former player. He played as a centre back and spent the majority of his career with AC Milan. Maldini also represented Italy at international level in the 1962 and 1966 World Cups. His son Paolo, also a defender, previously held the record for the...
formerly played for and captained Milan, and is a successful national U-21 manager.
Club career
Maldini made his league debut in the 1984–85 season on 20 January 1985, replacing the injured Sergio BattistiniSergio Battistini
Sergio Battistini is a retired Italian footballer who played for AC Milan, Fiorentina, Inter Milan, Brescia and Spezia. He also competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics....
in a match against Udinese
Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio is an Italian football club based in Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and currently plays in the Serie A. Founded in 1896, Udinese is the second oldest club in the Serie A, after Genoa....
at the age of 16. It was his only league appearance of the campaign, but he was in the starting eleven the following season. The 1987–88 Scudetto marked Maldini's first trophy, and the first of seven league titles, with the club. He was also part of Milan's undefeated Serie A champion side in the 1991–92 season
Serie A 1991-92
During this season, under the guidance of Fabio Capello, AC Milan completed a remarkable unbeaten season, a run that eventually totalled 58 games.- Final classification :- Results :-Top scorers:25 goals* Marco van Basten 18 goals...
. The back four that included Maldini and fellow long-timers Franco Baresi
Franco Baresi
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"...
, 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...
is widely considered one of European football's most formidable defensive quartets of the 1990's. Following Baresi's retirement, he would also form a formidable and successful partnership with Alessandro Nesta
Alessandro Nesta
Alessandro Nesta, Ufficiale OMRI , is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer who plays as a defender for Serie A club Milan. Considered by many as one of the best centre backs to have ever played the game, he is a four-time member of the annual UEFA Team of the Year.-Early life:Nesta was raised in...
.
In addition to winning his third Champions League and reaching 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...
final, Maldini became the first defender ever to win World Soccer
World Soccer Magazine
World Soccer is an English language football magazine published by IPC Media. It specialises in the international football scene. Its regular contributing writers include Brian Glanville, Sid Lowe and Tim Vickery. World Soccer is a member of the European Sports Magazines , an umbrella group of...
magazine's annual World Player of the Year Award. During his acceptance speech, Maldini called his milestone "a particular matter of pride because defenders generally receive so much less attention from fans and the media than goalscorers. We are more in the engine room rather than taking the glory." He then singled out Milan captain Franco Baresi
Franco Baresi
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"...
as a player who "really [deserved] to receive the sort of award I have received."
Maldini played his 600th Serie A match on 13 May 2007 in a 1–1 draw at Catania
Calcio Catania
Calcio Catania is an Italian football club founded in 1908 and based in Catania, Sicily. The club has spent much of its history in Serie B, gaining promotion to Italy's top league Serie A five times...
. On 25 September 2005, Maldini broke Dino Zoff
Dino Zoff
Dino Zoff is an Italian former football goalkeeper and is the oldest winner ever of the World Cup, which he earned as captain of the Italian team in the 1982 tournament in Spain, at the age of 40 years, 4 months and 13 days.Zoff was a goalkeeper of outstanding ability and has a place in the...
's Serie A appearance record after playing his 571st league match against Treviso; seven days earlier, he had played his 800th game in all competitions for Milan. On 16 February 2008, Maldini reached 1,000 senior games with Milan and Italy when he entered as a substitute against Parma
Parma F.C.
Parma Football Club , commonly referred to as just Parma, is an Italian professional football club based in Parma, Emilia–Romagna that will compete in Serie A for the 2011–12 season, having finished in twelfth position last season. Founded as Verdi Foot Ball Club in July 1913, the club changed its...
.
Maldini has participated in eight UEFA Champions League
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...
finals during the course of his career, which is bettered only by Francisco Gento
Francisco Gento
Francisco "Paco" Gento López is a former Spanish football player.-Biography:He débuted in the Primera División with Racing Santander in the 1952–53 season...
, who also appeared in a Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
final, bringing his total European finals to nine. Maldini has lifted the trophy five times, the latest coming in Milan's 2–1 victory over Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
in the 2007 Champions League final
2007 UEFA Champions League Final
The 2007 UEFA Champions League Final was an association football match between A.C. Milan of Italy and Liverpool F.C. of England on 23 May 2007 at the Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece. The showpiece event was the final match of the 2006–07 season of Europe's premier cup competition, the UEFA...
on 23 May 2007 in Athens. In an interview with ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
that aired prior to the broadcast of the 2007 final, he labeled the 2005 Champions League final
2005 UEFA Champions League Final
The 2005 UEFA Champions League Final was the final match of the 2004–05 UEFA Champions League, Europe's primary club football competition. The showpiece event was contested between Liverpool of England and Milan of Italy at the Atatürk Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey on 25 May 2005...
, a match that Milan lost on penalties to Liverpool after blowing a 3–0 half-time lead, the worst moment of his career, even though he had scored the fastest-ever goal in a European Clubs' Cup final just 51 seconds into the match, in the process also becoming the oldest player ever to score in a final.
Maldini announced his plans to retire at the end of the 2007–08 season, saying that he would do so with "no regrets." However, following Milan's elimination from the Champions League by Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in March, Maldini stated that he would possibly delay his retirement for at least a further year. He signed an extension on June 6 that kept him at Milan for the 2008–09 season. On 18 April 2009, Maldini announced that he will be finally retiring at the end of the 2008–09 season.
On 17 May, in the Friuli Stadium
Stadio Friuli
Stadio Friuli is a multi-purpose stadium in Udine, Italy. The stadium was built in 1976 and holds 41,652 people. It is currently used mostly for football matches and the home of Udinese Calcio.-Structure:...
, Maldini played his 900th official match for Milan in a league game against Udinese. Maldini's last match in San Siro
San Siro
The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, originally and commonly referred to as the San Siro because of its location, officially given its current name on 3 March 1980, is a football stadium located in the San Siro district in Milan, Italy. It is the home of both A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano...
was on 24 May, in a game lost 3–2 against Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
. There was a small controversy when the Milan fans known as "Brigate Rossonere" protested against Maldini as he said goodbye. His last appearance for Milan, and his last game as an active player was on 31 May 2009, in the last match of the season, against Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...
, which Milan won 2–0.
Milan retired his number 3 shirt, but it will be bequeathed to one of his sons if one makes the club's senior side.
International career
In 1986, Maldini was called up by his father CesareCesare Maldini
Cesare Maldini is an Italian football manager and former player. He played as a centre back and spent the majority of his career with AC Milan. Maldini also represented Italy at international level in the 1962 and 1966 World Cups. His son Paolo, also a defender, previously held the record for the...
to the Italian U-21
Italy national under-21 football team
The Italy national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Italy and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation.The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
side, where he earned twelve caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
and scored five goals in two years. He made his 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...
debut at the age of nineteen on 31 March 1988, in a 1–1 friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
draw against Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
, and made one appearance for Italy at the 1988 Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
. Maldini featured in all four of Italy's games at Euro 1988, and participated in his first World Cup in 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...
, where Italy 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 semifinals on penalties.
Maldini's first international goal came in his 44th career match, in a 2–0 friendly win over Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
on 20 January 1993. He captained Italy at the start of 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...
, losing to Brazil in the final on penalties. He was named in the Team of the Tournament, 32 years after his father received the same honour at the 1962 World Cup
1962 FIFA World Cup
The 1962 FIFA World Cup, the seventh staging of the World Cup, was held in Chile from 30 May to 17 June. It was won by Brazil, who retained the championship by beating Czechoslovakia 3–1 in the final...
. Euro 1996 would see Italy eliminated in the group stage, and the quarterfinals of the 1998 World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
. Italy did reach the final of Euro 2000, but lost to France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
in extra time.
After Italy were eliminated in the 2002 World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
round of sixteen, Maldini retired trophyless from international competition as Italy's most capped player. He scored seven international goals, all coming in home games. He spent over half of his 16 years as an international as team captain, wearing the armband a record 74 times.
In February 2009, Italian head coach Marcello Lippi
Marcello Lippi
Marcello Lippi, Commendatore OMRI is a former Italian World Cup-winning football manager and former player. He served as Italian national team head coach from 16 July 2004 to 12 July 2006 and led Italy to win the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He was re-appointed as Italian head coach in the summer of 2008...
declared his support for a testimonial match
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
for Maldini, stating that it would give him a chance to play for the Azzurri for a final time. Italian Football Federation offered him a place in the line-up in a friendly match against Northern Ireland. However, Maldini rejected the offer, saying that he wanted to part with football in an "official" match.
Retirement
Prior to his retirement, Maldini expressed that he would never be moving into a coaching career. He was offered a position that would have reunited him with his former manager, Carlo AncelottiCarlo Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti is an Italian football manager, Nicknamed Carletto, Ancelotti played as a midfielder and had a successful career with Roma – captaining the team – with whom he won one Scudetto and 4 Coppa Italia and was part of the legendary late 80's Milan team, with whom he won two Scudetti and...
, by joining Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
as a coach having reportedly met with Ancelotti and with Chelsea's owner, Roman Abramovich
Roman Abramovich
Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich is a Russian businessman and the main owner of the private investment company Millhouse LLC.In 2003, Abramovich was named Person of the Year by Expert, a Russian business magazine. He shared this title with Mikhail Khodorkovsky...
, to discuss such a possibility. On 30 June 2009, Ancelotti announced that Maldini had turned down his offer to become part of Chelsea's coaching staff.
Style of play
Maldini was primarily known for his positioning as a defender rather than his tackling. He made an average of one tackle every two games and positioned himself well so as to avoid making that tackle.Personal life
Maldini has been married to VenezuelaVenezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n former model Adriana Fossa since 1994. The couple have two sons, Christian (born 14 June 1996) and Daniel (born 11 October 2001), who both have already been signed by Maldini's former club 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...
and currently play in the youth teams.
In 2003, he lifted the European Cup/Champions League
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...
as club captain exactly 40 years after his father Cesare
Cesare Maldini
Cesare Maldini is an Italian football manager and former player. He played as a centre back and spent the majority of his career with AC Milan. Maldini also represented Italy at international level in the 1962 and 1966 World Cups. His son Paolo, also a defender, previously held the record for the...
accomplished the same feat for the same side. The only other father-son pairs to have done so are Manuel Sanchis Martínez
Manuel Sanchis Martínez
Manuel Sanchis Martínez is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a defender.Like his son, Manuel, he represented Real Madrid, also being an international...
and Manuel Sanchís Hontiyuelo (won it with Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
) and Carles
Carles Busquets
Carles Busquets Barroso is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper, mostly for FC Barcelona.-Football career:...
and Sergio Busquets of Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
.
Career statistics
| Team | Season | Serie A | Coppa Italia | European Competition1 |
Other Tournaments2 |
Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| 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... |
1984–85 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| 1985–86 | 27 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 0 | |
| 1986–87 | 29 | 1 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 13 | — | 37 | 1 | |
| 1987–88 | 26 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 2 | |
| 1988–89 | 26 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 0 | |
| 1989–90 | 30 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 1 | |
| 1990–91 | 26 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 4 | |
| 1991–92 | 31 | 3 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 38 | 4 | |
| 1992–93 | 31 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 3 | |
| 1993–94 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 2 | |
| 1994–95 | 29 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 2 | |
| 1995–96 | 30 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | — | 41 | 3 | |
| 1996–97 | 26 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 1 | |
| 1997–98 | 30 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 37 | 0 | |
| 1998–99 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 1 | |
| 1999–00 | 27 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 1 | |
| 2000–01 Serie A 2000-01 In the 2000-01 season, Serie A, the major football Italian professional league, was composed by 18 teams, for the 13th consecutive time from season 1988-89.... |
31 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 0 | — | — | 49 | 1 | |
| 2001–02 | 15 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 0 | |
| 2002–03 | 29 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 | — | — | 49 | 2 | |
| 2003–04 | 30 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 0 | |
| 2004–05 | 33 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 1 | |
| 2005–06 | 14 | 2 | — | — | 9 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 2 | |
| 2006–07 | 18 | 1 | — | — | 9 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 1 | |
| 2007–08 | 17 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 1 | |
| 2008–09 | 30 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 0 | |
| Career Total | 647 | 29 | 72 | 1 | 168 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 902 | 33 | |
1European competitions include the UEFA Champions League
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...
, UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
, and UEFA Super Cup
2Other tournaments include the Supercoppa Italiana
Supercoppa Italiana
The 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...
, Intercontinental Cup
Intercontinental 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...
and FIFA Club World Cup
FIFA Club World Cup
The FIFA Club World Cup is a football competition between the champion clubs from all six continental confederations.The first FIFA Club World Championship took place in Brazil in January 2000...
3Play-off for UEFA Cup admission
|-
|1988||10||0
|-
|1989||7||0
|-
|1990||11||0
|-
|1991||8||0
|-
|1992||7||0
|-
|1993||5||2
|-
|1994||12||0
|-
|1995||7||1
|-
|1996||7||0
|-
|1997||11||2
|-
|1998||11||1
|-
|1999||7||1
|-
|2000||11||0
|-
|2001||7||0
|-
|2002||5||0
|-
!Total||126||7
|}
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 20 January 1993 | Florence, Italy | 2–0 | Win | Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
|
| 2. | 24 March 1993 | Palermo, Italy | 6–1 | Win | FIFA World Cup 1994 Qualification 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA) Listed below are the dates and results for the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the European zone . For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification.... |
|
| 3. | 11 November 1995 | Bari, Italy | 3–1 | Win | UEFA Euro 1996 Qualification | |
| 4. | 29 March 1997 | Trieste, Italy | 3–0 | Win | FIFA World Cup 1998 Qualification 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification -Qualified teams:The following 32 teams qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup: - qualified automatically as hosts - qualified automatically as defending champions-Notes:... |
|
| 5. | 30 April 1997 | Naples, Italy | 3–0 | Win | FIFA World Cup 1998 Qualification 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification -Qualified teams:The following 32 teams qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup: - qualified automatically as hosts - qualified automatically as defending champions-Notes:... |
|
| 6. | 22 April 1998 | Parma, Italy | 3–1 | Win | Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
|
| 7. | 5 June 1999 | Bologna, Italy | 4–0 | Win | UEFA Euro 2000 Qualification | |
Honours
MilanA.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 ASerie 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...
: 7
-
- 1987–88, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04
- Coppa ItaliaCoppa ItaliaThe Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
: 1
- Coppa Italia
- 2002–03
- Supercoppa ItalianaSupercoppa 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...
: 5
- Supercoppa Italiana
- 19881988 Supercoppa ItalianaThe 1988 Supercoppa Italiana was a match played by the 1987–88 Serie A winners Milan and 1987–88 Coppa Italia winners Sampdoria. It took place on 14 June 1989 at the San Siro in Milan, Italy, and was the first edition of the trophy...
, 19921992 Supercoppa ItalianaThe 1992 Supercoppa Italiana was a match played by the 1991–92 Serie A winners Milan and 1991–92 Coppa Italia winners Parma. It took place on 30 August 1992 at the San Siro in Milan, Italy. A.C...
, 19931993 Supercoppa ItalianaThe 1993 Supercoppa Italiana was a match played by the 1992–93 Serie A winners Milan and 1992–93 Coppa Italia winners Torino. It took place on 21 August 1993 at the RFK Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C., USA...
, 19941994 Supercoppa ItalianaThe 1994 Supercoppa Italiana was a match played by the 1993–94 Serie A winners Milan and 1993–94 Coppa Italia winners Sampdoria. It took place on 28 August 1994 at the San Siro in Milan, Italy. A.C...
, 20042004 Supercoppa ItalianaThe 2004 Supercoppa Italiana was a match contested by the 2003-04 winners Milan and the 2003-04 Coppa Italia winners Lazio.The match result was a 3-0 victory for Milan after a hat-trick by Andriy Shevchenko.-Match details:-References:...
- European Cup/Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe 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...
: 5
- European Cup/Champions League
- 1988–89, 1989–90, 1993–94, 2002–03, 2006–07
- UEFA Super Cup: 5
- 19891989 UEFA Super CupThe 1989 European Super Cup was the 14th UEFA Super Cup, an annual football match contested by the winners of the previous season's European Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup competitions. The 1989 Super Cup was played on a home-and-away basis, and was contested by Milan, winners of the 1988–89...
, 19901990 UEFA Super CupThe 1990 UEFA Super Cup was played between A.C. Milan and U.C. Sampdoria, with A.C. Milan winning 3–1 on aggregate.-First leg:-Second leg:-External links:*...
, 19941994 UEFA Super CupThe 1994 UEFA Super Cup was contested between A.C. Milan of Italy and Arsenal of England . It was won by Milan, 2–0 on aggregate....
, 20032003 UEFA Super CupThe 2003 UEFA Super Cup was played on August 29, 2003 between A.C. Milan of Italy and F.C. Porto of Portugal. Milan qualified by beating Juventus in the 2003 UEFA Champions League Final. Porto had made it to the Super Cup after beating Celtic in the 2003 UEFA Cup Final. Milan won the match 1–0...
, 20072007 UEFA Super CupThe 2007 UEFA Super Cup was the 32nd UEFA Super Cup, an annual football match between the winners of the previous season's UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup competitions. The match was held at the Stade Louis II in Monaco on 31 August 2007 and contested by Milan and Sevilla...
- 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...
: 2
- Intercontinental Cup
- 19891989 Intercontinental CupThe 1989 Intercontinental Cup was a football match played on 17 December 1989 between Milan of Italy, winners of the 1988–89 European Cup, and Atlético Nacional of Colombia, winners of the 1989 Copa Libertadores. The match was played at the neutral venue of the National Stadium in Tokyo in front of...
, 19901990 Intercontinental CupThe 1990 Intercontinental Cup was a football match played on 9 December 1990 between Milan of Italy, winners of the 1989–90 European Cup, and Olimpia of Paraguay, winners of the 1990 Copa Libertadores. The match was played at the neutral venue of the National Stadium in Tokyo in front of 60,228...
- FIFA Club World CupFIFA Club World CupThe FIFA Club World Cup is a football competition between the champion clubs from all six continental confederations.The first FIFA Club World Championship took place in Brazil in January 2000...
: 1
- FIFA Club World Cup
- 20072007 FIFA Club World CupThe 2007 FIFA Club World Cup was a football tournament played in Japan from 7 December to 16 December 2007. It was the fourth FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament organised by FIFA for the winners of each confederation's top continental club tournament....
- 1987–88, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04
National team
- FIFA World Cup1990 FIFA World CupThe 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...
Third-place: 1990 - FIFA World cup1994 FIFA World CupThe 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...
Runners-up: 1994 - UEFA European Football ChampionshipUEFA European Football ChampionshipThe UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
: Runners-up 20002000 UEFA European Football ChampionshipThe 2000 UEFA European Football Championship, or Euro 2000, was the 11th UEFA European Football Championship, which is held every four years and organized by UEFA, association football's governing body in Europe....
Individual
- Under-21 European Footballer of the YearBravo AwardThe Bravo Award is an annual award which is handed out by the Italian magazine Guerin Sportivo to the most outstanding young European footballer. The first winner of the award was English Jimmy Case. Until 1992 only under-23 players participating in one of the three European club cups were eligible...
: 1
-
- 1989
- FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament:: 1
- 1994
- UEFA European Championship Team of the TournamentUEFA European Championship Teams of the TournamentThis article lists the Teams of the Tournament in the UEFA European Championship from 1960 to date.-France 1960:* 1. Lev Yashin* 2. Vladimir Durković* 3. Ladislav Novák* 4. Igor Netto* 5. Josef Masopust...
: 3
- UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament
- 1988, 1996, 2000
- FIFA World Cup All-Star TeamFIFA World Cup awardsAt the end of each FIFA World Cup final tournament, several awards are attributed to the players and teams which have distinguished from the rest, in different aspects of the game.These are awards granted during the men's senior tournament...
: 2
- FIFA World Cup All-Star Team
- 1990, 1994
- UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match2003 UEFA Champions League FinalThe 2003 UEFA Champions League Final was a football match that took place at Old Trafford in Manchester, England on 28 May 2003 to decide the winner of the 2002–03 UEFA Champions League. The match was contested by two Italian teams in the shape of Juventus and Milan. The match made history as the...
: 1
- UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match
- 20032003 UEFA Champions League FinalThe 2003 UEFA Champions League Final was a football match that took place at Old Trafford in Manchester, England on 28 May 2003 to decide the winner of the 2002–03 UEFA Champions League. The match was contested by two Italian teams in the shape of Juventus and Milan. The match made history as the...
- 1995 FIFA World Player of the Year1995 FIFA World Player of the YearThe 1995 FIFA World Player of the Year award was won by George Weah. He is the first African player to win the award and the only one to date.-Results:The best 11 players:# George Weah - Paris Saint-Germain → Milan# Paolo Maldini - Milan...
: 1
- 1995 FIFA World Player of the Year
- Silver Award
- Ballon d'Or Bronze Award: 2
- 1994, 2003
- Serie A Defender of the YearSerie A Defender of the YearThe Serie A Defender of the Year is a yearly award organized by the Italian Footballers' Association given to the defender who has been considered to have performed the best over the previous Serie A season. The award is part of the "Oscar del Calcio" awards event.-Winners:-By club:-External...
: 1
- Serie A Defender of the Year
- 2004
- 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...
: 1
- FIFA 100
-
- UEFA Team of the YearUEFA Team of the YearThe UEFA Team of the Year is a football award given by UEFA through a poll on its . This award started in 2001 to allow users and visitors of the organization's website to choose their own eleven players and a coach based on their overall performances in European club football and international...
: 2
- UEFA Team of the Year
- 2003, 2005
- ESM Team of the Year: 4
- 1994–95, 1995–96, 1999–2000, 2002–03
- FIFPro World XI: 1
- 2005
- UEFA Champions League Best Defender: 1
- 2007
- Italy captain: 1
- 1994–2002
- UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe 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...
Achievement Award: 1
- UEFA Champions League
- 2009
- AC Milan all-time highest number of appearances: 1
- 902
- UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe 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...
Record of most appearances: 1
- UEFA Champions League
- 168
- Serie A highest number of appearances: 1
- 647
- 1989
Orders
- 4th Class / Officer: Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
Italian orders of meritThere are five orders of knighthood awarded in recognition of service to the Italian Republic. Below these sit a number of other decorations, associated and otherwise, that do not confer knighthoods...
: 2000 - 5th Class / Knight: Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
Italian orders of meritThere are five orders of knighthood awarded in recognition of service to the Italian Republic. Below these sit a number of other decorations, associated and otherwise, that do not confer knighthoods...
: 1991