[Diabolico]

SALUTING A TRUE LEGEND
5/19/2007 8:00:00 PM
Alessandro Costacurta said his final farewell as a player after over 20 years of loyal service but a new career as a Milan coach now awaits

This isn't really good-bye. This is 27 season and 23 trophies won. This is the first page of another story in the brilliant career of Billy Costacurta.

He took his last trip around the field and now we can open up the boxes of memories and mementos that have become the Costacurta story. It is a story about a champion that has become part of what Milan stand for with his class, intelligence, strength and sensibility.

There is no reason to be sad because Alessandro Costacurta represents the perfect continuity of Milan, a champion who will switch from the player's jersey to the coach's jacket, but it will still be the same colours. It will still be red and black and he will continue to give as much as he has always given to this side. There is no doubt about that. Carlo Ancelotti and Mauro Tassotti will have another card up their sleeve with Billy at their side, an extraordinary professional who has always given the utmost attention to order and discipline, who has always been a point of reference within the team. Professor Billy's voice will still echo through the Rossoneri grounds, as weighty and decisive as it always was.

BILLY'S DEBUTS

Serie A: 25/20/1987 Verona-Milan 0-1
European Cup: 7/09/1988 Vitocha Sofia-Milan 0-2
Italian Cup: 24/08/1986 Milan-Sambenedettese 1-0

BILLY'S AWARDS WITH MILAN

1989 Winner of the European Super Cup
1990 Winner of the European Super Cup
1995 Winner of the European Super Cup
2003 Winner of the European Super Cup

1989 Winner of the Champions League
1990 Winner of the Champions League
1994 Winner of the Champions League
2003 Winner of the Champions League

1989 Winner of the World Club Championship
1990 Winner of the World Club Championship

1988 Winner of the Italian Super Cup
1992 Winner of the Italian Super Cup
1993 Winner of the Italian Super Cup
1994 Winner of the Italian Super Cup
2004 Winner of the Italian Super Cup

1988 Italian Championship
1992 Italian Championship
1993 Italian Championship
1994 Italian Championship
1996 Italian Championship
1999 Italian Championship
2004 Italian Championship

2003 Winner of the Italian Cup

1993 Finalist in the World Club Championship
1994 Finalist in the World Club Championship
2003 Finalist in the World Club Championship

1993 Finalist in the Champions League
1995 Finalist in the Champions League
2005 Finalist in the Champions League

A.C. Milan - SALUTING A TRUE LEGEND