Paolo Maldini - Il nostro Capitano! 40 years old today

[Aladino]

So I was thinking, Juve have a sticky thread for Del Piero and Roma have one for Totti. And then I look at Milan, and I nearly faint as there is not only a no sticky thread for Maldini but not even a thread about solely Maldini in the Milan forum... according to my search. Shock to me, as how a Milan forum can forget one of their greatest if not the greatest player Milan has had.

So here it goes... Paolo Maldini's official thread. All news, clips, photo's go here about Maldini. A tribute to him for his last seasons as a Milan player, and a Milan captain.

Who is Maldini? Well only the greatest defender to bless the Italian league and teams like Milan and the Azzurri. The face of Italian football. The heart of classic, yet beautiful defending... Paolo Maldini!

TalkSoccer Media Player

Maldini made his debut for Milan when he was just 16, he came out of the youth ranks and into the first team. Impressing everyone with his vision and strength.

Today he is one of the most well know names in football. And the one with the most impressive C.V. winning practicaly every thing you can win on club level. His ownly flaugh in his C.V is with the Azzurri, but nevethelss in the 12 years he played for them, he lead them to high places and into finals.

He has broken many records like being the first defender to win the World player of the year award. This is just only one record that follows the name Maldini.

For years Maldini has been the heart and soul of Milan, and the one thing that has made him more special, is his choice to stay with Milan throughout the years.He is a one man club, after 23 years in the famous rossoneri shirt Maldini still remains faithful, and wears his shirt with pride, he plays every game like it would be his last game in a Milan shirt.

Maldini's ever calm persona keeps the faith of his fellow teammates and his fellow supporters alive. Without Maldini, Milan will not be Milan. Paolo Maldini's heart bleeds the back and red of Milan, and there is no going back. It even says it in his name. Maldini--> Di Milan. Coinsidence? Or was the big man planning this all along? Whatever it is, I am glad to have his kind of leadership at Milan. For without him, who knows where Milan and Italian soccer will be.

Paolo Maldini, sempre il vecchio cuore del Milan!

[Diabolico]

Great post, great idea for a thread! I don't have much to say that you haven't already said (until some new news about him comes out, that is)-- the man is a legend, an immortal, a true symbol of his club. His playing career may be nearing its end, but his legend is forever.

Phenomenal clip you found by the way, that one is a real must-see for Milan fans!

[D-Kin]

I thought he made his debut at the age of 16?

They were short of a LB so the coach played him there despite him being naturally right footed.

[cerebral_assassin]

maldini is left footed.

[D-Kin]

Originally Posted by cerebral_assassin

maldini is left footed.

Nope, he's actually naturally right footed.

Of course he's trained his left foot so much that you can't tell the difference now.

[Aladino]

Yeah Joel you are right it was 16 mny bad. Will change it now! Yes, Maldini is naturally right footed

[Diabolico]

Joel already posted the channel4 version of part of this (on the Maldini quit date thread), but I thought this version deserved posting as well-- Maldini makes a number of interesting comments about other topics in addition to that one:

ONLY THE BEST
3/27/2007 11:00:00 AM
According to Paolo Maldini it’s time for Milan to put their best foot forward, no settling for less than the best as they march through on two fronts

(Photo of Paolo Maldini celebrating his Milan-Messina goal on November 25, 2006)

Paolo Maldini was interviewed on last night’s Studio Milan show. He took this opportunity to comment on the record opening day ticket sales, with 26,239 tickets sold for the Milan-Bayern Champions League clash in just the first day: ‘It makes you understand how important this game is in a season like this one. We are not in the fight for the Italian league title, but we can take some satisfaction for ourselves in Europe. The silence of the curva fans section during the derby influenced things negatively. If the fans are there to support us it will be a positive thing.’

Maldini continued by speaking about his condition: ‘The knee that I had operated on last year is doing well, the other one is more or less in the same situation as the one that was operated on. I started the week well, working with the team despite the problems that presented themselves after the derby. We’ll see how it goes. I also went to see doctor Martens. As for whether or not I will have another operation that depends on the swelling. If it continues as it did last year, then it will be practically impossible to go ahead. In any case, this year has been richer and more intense as far as the games go and the minutes played compared to last year.

Milan’s primary objective for the season, other than first place, is the Champions League and Maldini commented on this: ‘Bayern are the same tough opponent as always, physically strong. However, I know the side well and I think that they are absolutely beatable as long as Milan are focused and in good form. As far as the focus goes there are no problems. As for our strength, we have recovered some important pieces and, in a game like this, you gather all the strength that you have. I am optimistic about the Champions League.’

Paolo then turned to the Azzurri and coach Roberto Donadoni, one of his former team-mates: ‘I saw Scotland play and Georgia didn’t deserve to lose. I don’t think that Italy will have any big problems. Certainly, the round is now more complicated and it’s difficult to recover. Other than that, there aren’t any other problems of rapport or otherwise. It is normal that a coach like Carlo Ancelotti could aspire to one day become the national coach, but this isn’t about Donadoni. Now, Donadoni is adapting to the high level of pressure that is put upon a national coach.’

There are two important games ahead of Milan, Roma and Bayern Munich: ‘I hope to be available for Roma, but Martens told me to forget about playing two games back to back. I would like to be on the bench against Roma anyway. Bayern Munich changed coaches, but they haven’t changed much else. On the other hand, Milan played a great season last year and perhaps we were superior last year. However, in this moment of the season Milan must show what they can do and we can’t be satisfied yet. We must do even more than what we have done up until now. In regards to fourth place, it is closer than it was at the beginning of the season. We are a few points away from Palermo. It is difficult because Lazio are fighting and Empoli isn’t giving up. However the team’s minimum objective is to arrive in fourth place, taking into consideration the point penalty and the hurried pre-season preparation.’

Then a word about the market: ‘We are hoping to sign Ronaldinho because playing with a champion is easier and it’s fun. I said the same thing about Ronaldo. I liked him a lot. He is a champion and was different from the players that we already had. We must not forget that he is coming from six months of being almost inactive. However, now he is training really well. He could be the turning point in our arrival in fourth place, while in the Champions League it’s up to us.’

The captain then spoke about another new signing from January, Leandro Grimi: ‘He comes from a completely different reality. He is adapting but it isn’t easy at the physical, tactical and competitive level. I can understand how difficult it is for him, seeing that we have twelve amazing defenders on the roster. However, he has decided to remain here. I think that he has learned a lot and next year he will have his cards to play.’

A.C. Milan - ONLY THE BEST

[Aladino]

Good Diabolico. Everything Maldini goes in here! It wil be a sad day when he hangs up his boots. I don't know which game he should play Roma or Bayern. Both a risk!

[Diabolico]

Both a risk for sure... but I think we're without Bonera for the Roma match, aren't we? In that case I'm wondering if he should play the Roma game rather than Bayern. I guess some of it depends on whether we're really getting Nesta back or not, and what kind of form he'll be in when he returns.

[Aladino]

LAHM: "Maldini? Meglio per noi se non gioca"
01/04/2007
Faccia a faccia con Phillip Lahm nel Magazine del sito ufficiale uefa.com. Il terzino del Bayern parla della sfida di Champions con il Milan: "Come per ogni squadra italiana il Milan ha una difesa molto solida e sa attendere l'errore dell'avversario. E' sempre difficile giocare contro le italiane e credo sarà un vantaggio per noi se non ci dovesse essere Maldini. Si tratta di un giocatore ai massimi livelli da un decennio, per me rappresenta un modello".

smart kid Lahm is...
he is basically saying that it would be better for Bayern if Maldini doesn't play. He obviously hasn't seen Nesta back yet. No but In all honesty, he is right even at his age Maldini is still performing at the highest level and that is something to be admired!

[Diabolico]

Good thing Maldini stayed on the bench for Roma (since his doctor has said he can't play two games in a row)-- I expect him to start against Bayern for sure. Lahm is right, much better for Bayern if Maldini doesn't play!

[Aladino]

Originally Posted by Diabolico

Good thing Maldini stayed on the bench for Roma (since his doctor has said he can't play two games in a row)-- I expect him to start against Bayern for sure. Lahm is right, much better for Bayern if Maldini doesn't play!

Yeah I wouldn't be surprised if he rested or started. As Bonera and Maldini prove a good partenership. But the return of Nesta is also good, but I wouldn't want to experiment their central partnership in a C.L match. And Kaladze has returned, but I think Maldini will start as he wants this more than anything! We all know how Maldini is...

[Aladino]

Maldini keeping the faith as usual:

Maldini: 50% Possiblity Of Going Through

The Milan captain is convinced that if the Rossoneri play in the same way they did on Tuesday night, then the Italian side will be the one celebrating the qualification when the two teams re-meet for the second leg.




Paolo Maldini was visibly unhappy with the 2-2 result of the first leg against Bayern Munich, but is looking forward to the second leg with optimism.

"We're sorry for the result, we played a very good game. Now we have 50% chance of going through. They never shot on goal and scored two goals on two very dirty balls."

Milan will have to do without Alberto Gilardino in the second leg due to the yellow card received by the Italian striker in this first leg.

"Gilardino's suspension hurts us because we don't have many attackers," admitted Maldini. "Bayern can be defeated if we play like we did tonight."

Maldini tried to avoid commenting on Silvio Berlusconi's reaction at the end of the match.

"I did not hear what Berlusconi said about this match, as I was at the anti-doping."

Glad to see Maldini keeping the faith! I hope he gives an inspirational speach in the changing rooms just beofre the game. We can win this.. FORZA MALDINI! without you... no milan

[Diabolico]

FORZA MALDINI! Always glad to see that he still believes-- it's so important for the team that he does. I agree with him too, if we play like we did on Tuesday, we can (and will) win this.