Sunday, May 24, 2009

Forza



A
s you most probably know, Paolo Maldini is *finally* retiring. The home league game against Roma this coming sunday will be his last in San Siro, while away against Fiorentina on 31 May will be his last ever official game.


- started his career with the AC youth team, and never look back since.
- initially a rightback, Maldini is right-footed.
- league debut : against Udinese, 30/1/1985.
- took over from the legendary Franco Baresi as the Rossoneri captain in 1997.
- been to 8 Champions League Final, and won 5 of them.
- 900 official appearances for AC Milan.



Honours

Winner:
Serie A: 1987-88, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1998-99, 2003-04
Coppa Italia: 2002-03
Supercoppa Italiana: 1992, 1993, 1994, 2004
UEFA Champions League: 1988-89, 1989-90, 1993-94, 2002-03, 2006-07
UEFA Super Cup: 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003 2007
Intercontinental Cup: 1989, 1990
FIFA Club World Cup: 2007

Runner-up:
Serie A: 1989–90, 1990–91, 2004–05
Coppa Italia: 1989–90, 1997–98
Supercoppa Italiana: 1996, 1999, 2003
UEFA Champions League: 1992–93, 1994–95, 2004–05
UEFA Super Cup: 1993
Intercontinental Cup: 1993, 1994, 2003

National team
FIFA World Cup 1990: 3rd Place
FIFA World Cup 1994: Runner-up
UEFA Euro 1988: 3rd Place
UEFA Euro 2000: Runner-up

Individual
Under-21 European Footballer of the Year: 1989
FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament: 1994
UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1996, 2000
UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match: 2003
Serie A Defender of the Year: 2004
FIFA 100
UEFA Team of the Year: 2003, 2005
FIFPro World XI: 2005
UEFA Champions League Best Defender: 2007
Italy captain: 1994-2002
Italy all-time caps: 126


Forza Maldini, Take a bow son.

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