Paolo Maldini - Il nostro Capitano! 40 years old today

[Aladino]

CONGRATULATIONS PAOLINO for the award for Best Defender. Much deserved, and he had to at least win it once in his career. I am so proud!

[LaVecchiaSignora]

Very much congrats to him very much deserved in my opinion

[Trim]

I feel like this was a more symbolic award to crown him for the title won and aswell considering how many CL titles he won in general.

But, to be honest, he didn't deserve it.

[barracuda]

I don't think he was Milan's best defender last year, but you can't argue with his class and importance for the CL over the last 20 years

[Trim]

Originally Posted by barracuda

I don't think he was Milan's best defender last year, but you can't argue with his class and importance for the CL over the last 20 years

We're talking about 2006/07.

[Aladino]

Paolo himslef said it wasn't his bets year, but you have to see at the age of 39 and he is still performing well that earned him a lot of credit. and the fact he lead his team to win their 7th title, when it looked like it wasn't going to happen giving the circumstances we were in earlier in the season, you can see why people voted for him.

[Aladino]

Maldini keeps Gila faith Thursday 13 September, 2007

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Milan captain Paolo Maldini has joined teammate Daniele Bonera in offering his support for stuttering striker Alberto Gilardino.

Gilardino emerged as a prolific hitman after arriving at Parma from Verona. Between 2003 and 2005 he became a talismanic figure for the Crociati as he hit 23 goals in two consecutive campaigns.

His eye for goal netted him a move to Milan worth around £18m in July 2005, but since scoring 17 times in his first term at the San Siro, he has looked ill at ease in the Rossoner’s jersey.

After suffering jeering from the Diavolo faithful this season, Gila did find the net in a friendly against Dynamo Kiev.

Now he needs to come to life and Maldini has joined fellow stopper Bonera in tipping Alberto for a renaissance.

“We are all firmly behind him because he is a striker with unique characteristics,” he told Sky Sports Italia.

“He should relax in the knowledge that he has complete support from the whole team and the club’s staff.”

Maldini also took time to compliment the signing of Brazilian starlet Alexandre Pato, who will arrive in Milan in January to challenge Gila for a place.

“He is a very important investment as he is one of the most talented players in Brazil,” the 39-year-old claimed.

“There may be a desire to bring in more players in January, but at the moment it’s tough to get top-class players from big sides.

"The secret to Milan’s success is encouraging growth from young players.”

Maldini always knows how to say the right things at the right time. I can't wiat fo rhis return!

[Jager]

Maldini blasts Milan faithful Thursday 20 September, 2007

Milan veteran Paolo Maldini has hit out at the San Siro fans for their lack of support during the Rossoneri’s Champions League victory over Benfica on Tuesday.

The European champions began their title defence with a 2-1 win over the Portuguese giants, but the atmosphere was muted in the Stadio Meazza.

“Like my teammates I’m angry because after all that we have given and all we have won we deserve to be treated better,” Maldini told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“This attitude started at last season’s derby and with some help from the curva we would have won that game.

“Fans all over the ground aren’t giving their support and I think that they need to show us that they have Milan in their hearts.

“It seems like we’re playing away all the time and we don’t want to put up with that any longer,” he concluded.

Parma are the visitors to Milan on Saturday evening and it remains to be seen what impact the 39-year-old’s comments will ha

ve.channel4.com - Football Italia

[Aladino]

I think it is good Paolo speaks out, someone has to stand up to the ultra's and Maldini has been their idol for years, hopfully his comments do have an impact.

[D-Kin]

Paolo Maldini is on the verge of making his seasonal debut in Serie A after coming through a friendly against Athletic Bilbao unscathed.

The Milan legend hasn’t played a competitive match for the Rossoneri since last season due to a knee problem, but impressed in last night’s 0-0 draw in Spain.

The 39-year-old was given 45 minutes of action and responded with a performance that would have left under-pressure boss Carlo Ancelotti delighted.

Milan have had an uncomfortable start to the season and having their veteran stopper available again will calm the nerves around Milanello.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Aladino]

Maldini denies quit talk Friday 7 December, 2007

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Milan veteran Paolo Maldini has refuted suggestions that he is planning to retire immediately after the Club World Cup.

There have been reports that the 39-year-old will make the Diavolo’s adventure in Japan his last as a player, but he insists that isn’t his intention.

“I have absolutely no intention of hanging up my boots yet,” Maldini told journalists.

“I have a contract until the end of June 2008 and that will be the end of my career.”

Maldini has had to bounce back from a serious ankle injury, which caused him to miss the start of the campaign, but he is back to full fitness now.

“After five months of rehabilitation, it would be absurd to give up on the season now that I’m healthy,” he said. “I want to enjoy myself until the end of this term.”

Milan are looking to improve on their poor record in the Club World Cup’s predecessor the Intercontinental Cup.

“I have lost a lot of Finals, but this time we have reached the conclusion of two years of work,” Maldini explained.

“Every time I have come to Japan and been beaten, I thought that I would return.

“Defeats are never easy to get over, especially those in the Intercontinental Cup where we lost to two sides we should have beaten, especially Velez Sarsfield.”

The former Azzurri stopper finished by giving his view on Ronaldo, who still isn’t training with the side due to his calf problem.

“It seemed that his problems were over, but after Lisbon he was very sad,” Maldini recalled.

“We are gutted for him on a personal level and also a technical one because it isn’t easy to do without a champion like him.”

YAY!! No retirement for Maldini after Japan. Sempre il Nostro Capitano!!

[D-Kin]

Maldini wants Milan future Wednesday 9 January, 2008

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paolo Maldini has set out his plans after retirement. “I cannot ask for more than I have had from my career. I would like to keep working with Milan.”

The legendary defender made his Serie A debut for the club in 1985 and will hang up his boots at the end of this season.

“My youngest son thought I had already stopped playing when we went on our Christmas holiday to Miami. The eldest knows what’s going on and would like me to carry on, but… I love this sport, training and working with a team, but I cannot ask for more than I have had from my career.”

He has won every trophy imaginable with the Rossoneri and hopes he will remain a symbol of the side even after retirement.

“I am not afraid of this step, as I had plenty of time to think about it. I will certainly have to change my day to day habits and find a different type of work. I will miss the daily training sessions and experiencing things in a group of 50 people. Perhaps I’ll collapse completely!

“I would like to continue living in my city and hopefully working with Milan, putting my experience at the club’s disposal. I think there is room for many options, as the experience of former players who competed at the top level can be useful.

“We’ll decide together with Adriano Galliani and President Silvio Berlusconi. I would like to have an active role, though, and not just a ceremonial position.”

In a curious twist of fate, he made his debut on January 20, 1985 against Udinese and will repeat that fixture on January 20, 2008.

“It is one of the many strange coincidences in my career, but naturally it won’t end there. It will be a special day, as the debut against Udinese was a turning point for me and Milan have always been my anchor.”

A different Milan player will receive his Serie A debut this weekend against Napoli, as Alexandre Pato is expected to start.

“He has great technique and a remarkable ability to move the ball from his right foot to his left and shoot in a matter of seconds. He has extraordinary physical presence for an 18-year-old. The important thing is to play and in these six months he has never been able to play a real game, so that did not help his integration.”

Pato joined the club in the summer, but because he was still 17 when the summer transfer window closed he was not eligible for official competition until January.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Aladino]

Paolo Maldini was on the winning side the last time he faced Arsenal FC, and the AC Milan captain is desperate to do so again because failure would spell the end of his extraordinary adventure in the European Champion Clubs' Cup. "If we go out, I know I've had an incredible career," he said.

Myriad accolades
Maldini is in the final season of a glittering career that has taken in myriad accolades, honours and appearances, including seven Italian titles, five European Cups and as many UEFA Super Cups. It was in the last-mentioned competition that he met George Graham's Arsenal in February 1995, earning a 0-0 draw at Highbury before overcoming them 2-0 at San Siro. The 39-year-old defender sees different opponents in Arsenal now, though, and considers them much more of a force to be reckoned with.

Cause for optimism
"You can't compare this Arsenal side to the one I played all those years ago," he said. "This is a completely different side, a young side that likes passing the ball. And neither can you compare them to the Liverpool [FC] sides we have played in Europe recently. Liverpool play the long ball a lot more while Arsenal prefer the ball to feet. It will be a really tough match because they are the league leaders. But we come here as European champions and our record in this competition and our history mean I have every cause for optimism."

Adebayor threat
Maldini will have to contend with an Arsenal attack spearheaded by Emmanuel Adebayor, who has scored 22 goals in all competitions this campaign. Although the 23-year-old has yet to get off the mark on the European stage this term, the Rossoneri stalwart identifies him as a threat. "Adebayor is a very tall player but he is fast and very skilful with it. Years ago it wasn't so common to find players of his build with such pace and skill but nowadays you see them more. The fact he plays in this footballing side has helped his development and we'll have to watch him."

Optimistic
If anyone can cope with the tall Togo international, it is the much-decorated centre-back who has marked everyone from Diego Maradona to Peter Crouch. Maldini celebrated his 1,000th match as a professional on Saturday and is eager to pitch for his sixth, and Milan's eighth, European crown. "I have every cause for optimism because we have been here before. We come here as European champions and have a great record in this competition. We are better now than we were this time last year because we have won the UEFA Super Cup and the [FIFA] Club World Cup, which are not to be trifled with."

'Unrivalled career'
However, even Maldini knows that his European odyssey might end sooner than he would like, however blessed he has been throughout his career. "In theory this could be my last away game in Europe," he admitted. "Hopefully, it won't be. But if we do go out, I know I have had an incredible career. From a footballing point of view it has been unrivalled, so I can't really complain

FORZA Paolo, it isn't the end just yet! Mai!

[Aladino]

I am too distraught to comment on the game but here is a little something I wrote on my blog that I thought I might share just because I want to really show how much Maldini has meant to us fans:

There are so many emotions going through me right now I can't even think straight but one thing that has stuck in my mind since Milan were knocked out of the Champions League last was that Milanisti and Football fans around the world will never see Paolo Maldini play in the Champions League ever again.




When someone is asked to describe Maldini the first things that comes to people's minds are words like "legend", "a leader", "one club man", "loyal', "the perfect gentlemen". He is exactly that and more. Every football fan around the world knows the name Maldini and almost everyone if not everyone has respect for him.


Never one to claim the lime-light, he is one that prefers to stay in the comfort of his own home with his beloved family. If he is not at home he will be at Milanello training and teaching a few of his teammates a thing or too.


The perfect professional in all aspects, it is no wonder to us why he has been captain for Milan and for the Italian national team. It is no wonder why he has set the record for the most Serie A appearances and the most appearances for the Azzurri. At the age of 16 he was already a leader on the field.


Maldini is one of the most decorated players in the history of football having won everything one can in club football, need I remind you it was all with one club, however it was only with the national team that has seen him short of trophies.


Last night we bid goodbye to Milan and above all Maldini on the European stage as he will be retiring at the end of this season. He will surely be missed after being a predominant figure for 23 years in Europe, having made 107 appearances for the rossoneri.


We will miss his prefectly timed tackles, his runs up the flanks, his leadership on and off the field... hell! We will miss it all even his perfectly good looks with those sharp blue eyes.


When Maldini finally hungs up his boots at the end of the season it will not only be a loss to Milanisti or to calcio but to the whole world of football. A player has never quite had the fan base and respect as he has gained over the past 23 years and he deserves endless amounts of tributes. Though not even that can make up for all he has given Milan and the fans!


Addio Paolino!