Serie A within the Nineteen Nineties was an exquisite factor – however Paolo Maldini is likely one of the few gamers to say he conquered Italy’s prime flight in three separate many years.
An undisputed icon for Milan and Italy, the defender – who shone as each a left-back and centre-back – lifted Serie A and the Champions League within the Nineteen Eighties, Nineteen Nineties and 2000s, whereas he went on to change into the nationwide staff’s most capped participant – a file which has since been surpassed.
It’s unattainable to sum up a participant with the longevity and significance of Maldini, so we’ve left it to the gamers who had the honour of showing alongside him, and those who had the issue of dealing with him.
Franco Baresi
“He was very younger, so I attempted to offer him some recommendation. However he wanted little or no; he was already a fantastic participant.”
Cesare Maldini
“He’s an actual Rossonero. His soul belongs to Milan.”
?⚫ “He’s an actual Rossonero. His soul belongs to Milan” – Cesare Maldini on Paolo.
After Paolo’s son Daniel made a cameo in opposition to Juventus, the Maldini household now have 1,000 Serie A appearances for Milan to their identify throughout three generations.
Sempre Milan, certainly. pic.twitter.com/QUSsqCjdtT
— Planet Soccer (@planetfutebol) January 7, 2021
Ruud Gullit
“Place for place one of many biggest gamers ever. However in contrast to sure different nice full-backs, he wasn’t world class when simply defending or simply attacking – he might do each higher than most and is a superb centre-back too.”
Ray Wilkins
“Simply an unbelievable athlete. If he wished to play centre-forward, he might. He actually had all of it.”
Brian Laudrup
“He merely by no means has a nasty match. Very troublesome to play in opposition to, a chic passer and he’s scored quite a lot of targets too. Has an unbelievable physique and is the final word role-model. He’ll go down within the historical past books as maybe the most effective left-back ever.”
Emmanuel Petit
“His file speaks for itself, each by way of high quality and longevity. Such an aesthetic defender – so robust to get previous – and somebody it’s troublesome to not admire.”
Marcel Desailly
“An actual monster… I discover it unbelievable he has by no means been World or European Footballer of the Yr. Alongside Franco Baresi he was the most effective defender I’ve ever seen in my profession.
“Though everyone tends to think about him simply as a full-back, he might additionally play as a stopper.
“Most individuals keep in mind that nice Milan aspect of the late-80s for its attacking play and for the ahead pair of Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten, however it was a staff constructed on a really stable defence, and Maldini was the cornerstone.”
READ: Neglect about Paolo Maldini’s defending and simply *look* at his wondergoals
Ronald Koeman
“There’s by no means been a greater left-back within the recreation’s historical past. Two-footed, and at his peak, good going ahead.
“The evening Milan annihilated Barcelona within the 1994 Champions League Remaining, he performed centre-half, as Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta had been each suspended, and regarded like he’d performed there all his life.”
Sir Alex Ferguson
“Maldini went by all the 90 minutes with out tackling. That’s an artwork and he’s the grasp of it. He is a superb participant.”
Alessandro Del Piero
“There are nice gamers and there are world-class gamers. Then there are those that handle to transcend that time period. Paolo is the proper instance. He’s the image of Milan.”
Andrea Pirlo
“Paolo Maldini is the most effective. A defender. A peerless defender. One of the best defender going. Each bodily and mentally, he had all the things, and the enjoyment he received from enjoying was as apparent at 40 years of age because it had been the day I first walked by the door at Milan.”
Ronaldo
“Paolo Maldini is the most effective I’ve performed in opposition to.”
*swoons* pic.twitter.com/tlkcKHor5Z
— Planet Soccer (@planetfutebol) April 14, 2020
Ronaldinho
“He was the most effective defenders in Champions League historical past, however what was so spectacular about him is that when he was on the ball he didn’t appear to be a defender however like a chic midfield participant.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
“Maldini was the most effective and hardest defender I ever confronted. He had all the things: he was an entire defender, who was sturdy, clever, and a very good man-marker.”
Sir Alex Ferguson
“Once I suppose of the present technology, Lionel Messi is top-level. Kaka has impressed, Zinedine Zidane was good however definitely, Paolo Maldini has been my favorite.”
David Villa
“He is likely one of the finest gamers within the historical past of the sport and he represents all the things that’s good in soccer. And above all, he’s a winner.”
Andriy Shevchenko
“Essentially the most gifted and hard-working participant I’ve ever seen. He was a wonderful all-round footballer with true management virtues and the uncommon means to be dependable in defence and inventive in assault.”
Francesco Totti
“I haven’t seen a extra decided, loyal participant than him. One of the best captain the Azzurri have ever had.”
Steven Gerrard
“He’s the definition of how a captain ought to be.”
Philippe Mexes
“He’s the picture of soccer in Italy, and the world. He’s by no means received the Ballon d’Or, however I’d give him 100.”
Tommaso Pellizzari, Inter fan & creator of anti-AC Milan e-book
“In 20 years of soccer, he by no means did one thing you keep in mind as dangerous or ugly.”
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