Costacurta: I’m quitting

[Aladino]

He isn't coaching just yet. I think he sits in and helps out, until next season. He hasone son, Archille and he is still a baby so we will only see (if we do) the likes of mini Billy in a long time.

Billy is a legend, and desrves credit. He has worked hard and remained faithful. His passionate never-give-up attitude has seen him win endless titles with Milan.

Billy is also most famous for when he got himslef suspended for the final in 1994 when Milan had to play Barca. But nevertheless we still won. He is also one of the players with the most yellow cards in Serie A to date. A hard working central defender, one that will be in the history books, of the Rossoneri no doubt.

We love Billy and all that comes with it. He will remain a legend to all milanisti!

[Diabolico]

Hey Aladino, do you still have his yellow card tally to date? I was going to post it but then couldn't find it.

F_R, if want to see his kid, there's a photo on this site: Dolce & Gabbana Milan Family - Dolce&Gabbana Books
...But you're probably more interested in seeing his wife, Miss Italy 1991 Martina Colombari.

[D-Kin]

He's got 93 bookings in Serie A.
Most bookings in Serie A

[Diabolico]

So he's second place for currently active players, third place among all-time most-booked players. Nice, Billy... not bad at all. Thanks Joel!

[Aladino]

Yeah sorry i didn't put it on...
Favalli is also up there some where for the most bookings! But after a 20 year career, you would think he has the most bookings

[Diabolico]

Damn am I excited right now... this is the fucking best Milan news since beating Man Utd!! Ready?

BILLY COSTACURTA WILL BE AN ASSISTANT COACH NEXT SEASON.

Assistant coach. For the SERIE A SIDE. Is this great or what??

And Leonardo will rejoin the management team as well.

Fantastic Billy article:

NO GOOD-BYES
5/7/2007 4:32:00 PM
The news that Alessandro Costacurta will be back next season to assist Carlo Ancelotti was quite simply music to Rossoneri ears

MILAN - Alessandro Costacurta is Milan. Whether it be in day-to-day life or out on the field playing the game, Billy is a shining example of what the Rossoneri are all about. He is one of the original Invincibles from the nineties and is still playing in the first team today. His career has spanned a period of time in which Milan have maintained their place at the top of Europe and taken residence in the most prestigious ranks over the past five years. In what was announced to be his last season with Milan Costacurta hasn't just been a face among the crowd, he has been a force to be reckoned with just like in years past. He has always been there when Milan called and he was there again this season to play 180 minutes against Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League preliminary. If we are where we are today knocking on Athens' door, then it is because of the contribution that he made when we needed him most. He has been the inside man on the job for many years, surrounded by a family that loves him. And we aren’t just talking about the Rossoneri, even though they are family too. Billy's wife was there at Malpensa airport with a birthday cake to celebrate his 41st birthday and welcome back her hero and ours from Manchester. When Adriano Galliani announced that ‘Billy Costacurta will become like Carlo, the second assistant coach to Ancelotti, alongside Mauro Tassotti,’ it was quite simply music to our ears and to all those Rossoneri across the world that just can’t get enough of the likes of our good old Billy boy.

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 - NO FAREWELLS

FORZA BILLY!!!

Here are some other versions of the news:

ADRIANO GALLIANI ON COSTACURTA AND LEONARDO
5/7/2007

MILAN - After Milan-Fiorentina at the San Siro, Adriano Galliani said: 'As a suggestion, Billy Costacurta will become like Carlo, the second assistant coach to Ancelotti, alongside Mauro Tassotti. Moreover, from July 1 Leonardo will be back in the management team.'

AC MILAN - Sito Ufficiale - Official Website

AC Milan to shake-up management team
tribalfooball.com - May 07, 2007

AC Milan are reshuffling their football management team for next season.

ControCampo says defender Billy Costacurta, who will retire this summer, will be appointed assistant coach to work alongside Mauro Tassotti next term - under the charge of Carlo Ancelotti.

Former Milan star Leonardo, who has been acting as a club ambassador and South American scout, will be installed as effectively their new sports director, responsible for all football matters.

tribalfootball.com - AC Milan to shake-up management team

[Forza_Roma]

Costacurta takes assistant role

Monday 7 May, 2007

Milan veteran Alessandro Costacurta will join Carlo Ancelotti on the San Siro bench at the end of the season.

The 41-year-old defender is in his 20th campaign with the Rossoneri and confirmed earlier this year that he was ready to hang up his boots in the summer.

“On Carlo’s suggestion, Costacurta will become second assistant Coach to Ancelotti beside Mauro Tassotti,” Vice-President Adriano Galliani told the club’s official website.

“Also from July 1, Leonardo will return to be part of the management team,” continued the statement.

The former Italian international had already been close to retiring two years ago, but Galliani convinced him to extend his contract with the Via Turati club.

Costacurta has won seven Scudetti and four Champions League titles with Milan, as well as one Coppa Italia and five Italian Super Cups.

There could also be a fifth European trophy with the Rossoneri facing Liverpool in this year’s Final, and Billy also became the oldest man ever to play in the competition against AEK Athens this season.

Paolo Maldini, the only other survivor from the glorious Milan squad led by Arrigo Sacchi at the end of the ‘80s, had also stated that he might retire in June, but he now seems set to continue for another year.

The veteran is currently trying to recover from a knee injury and hopes to be available for the Champions League Final with Liverpool in Athens on May 23.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Forza_Roma]

I think it's a great step for him. He has earned the right to be Ancelotti's right hand man.

[Diabolico]

Agreed, and I hope this means that he will eventually become head coach.

At this point, I'm with what Billy said in an interview a few months ago: Ancelotti to remain coach for a while longer, Billy to become the next coach after that.

Here's something funny to think about: if Maldini stays on next season, then technically, Billy will be coaching him.

[Aladino]

This is such great news. Milan fans around the world are so happy for him. We won't have to say goodbye to him afterall. He is such a legend and deserves this role.

Couldn't be more happier for the guy

[Diabolico]

Costacurta embraces new career
Tuesday 15 May, 2007
Alessandro Costacurta will probably play his last game for Milan this weekend, but insists he’s not sad at hanging up his boots.

The veteran will start against Udinese at San Siro in a second string side, as the team prepares for the Champions League Final with Liverpool on May 23.

“This will be my final match, but right now I do not feel sad. Perhaps it is because next season I will still be here, or maybe the time to stop has come and I have experienced so much in my time,” said the defender.

‘Billy’ has already announced the next stage of his career in football – taking the assistant manager role to Carlo Ancelotti, his former teammate in Il Grande Milan of the late 1980s.

“I don’t really know the reason why, but I do not feel disappointed to be ending my playing days. In fact, I am enthusiastic to think I’ll be working with Ancelotti and these lads.”

He has already attended a party in his honour that the club staged on Thursday and revealed it was a memorable moment.

“It was a wonderful celebration and above all a great surprise,” he told Milan Channel. “Absolutely everyone was there, all the people I shared so much with over the years.

“I am frankly amazed I didn’t burst into tears. My son was there and as I was welling up I saw him and had to get myself together.”

Costacurta was born on April 24, 1966 and has spent a lifetime in the Rossoneri jersey, save for a season-long spell with Serie C1 club Monza in 1986-87.

He made his Serie A debut in a 1-0 victory away to Verona on October 10, 1987 and this is set to be his 458th top flight appearance, during which he scored just two goals.

During the Milan career Costacurta won seven Scudetto titles, four European Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, four European Super Cups, a Coppa Italia and five Italian Super Cups.

The man from Orago (Varese) was also an Italian international, putting together 59 caps and two goals after his debut in the 1-1 draw with Norway on November 13, 1991.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Diabolico]

A CHAMPION'S FAREWELL
5/17/2007 5:15:00 PM
Billy's last jersey will go up for a charity Milan Foundation auction

MILAN - On Saturday, May 19 Billy Costacurta will take to the field in his last game as a player. The Rossoneri defender will say his final goodbye in Milan-Udinese after 27 seasons and 23 trophies won with Milan. Billy will wear a special jersey for the occasion that is initialled with the letter M... M for Milan, the team of his life.

The jersey will then go up for auction starting on Monday, May 21 on AC MILAN - Sito Ufficiale - Official Website. All proceeds from the auction will go to benefit the Neonatal Intensive Care ward of the Holy Family Hospital in Nazareth.

A.C. Milan - A CHAMPION'S FAREWELL

"M" on the back rather than "Costacurta", I wonder? Or will the M be somewhere else?

[Aladino]

Here is where the "M" will be! FORZA BILLY, this is nice, i like this idea

[Diabolico]

Looks great. Very nice... FORZA BILLY!