Newsgroup: it.sport.calcio.milan
Titolo: [eng] Cherish Milan's Paolo Maldini while we can

Un bellissimo articolo sul Telegraph dedicato a Paolo Maldini.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/12/04/sfnwin104.xml
Carolina72
....
When Paolo Maldini made his debut for AC Milan, Ray Wilkins was in the
Rossoneri squad, the Dutch triumvirate of Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten and
Frank Rijkaard were not even a twinkle in the board's eye, and Kaka was
sucking dummies, rather than selling them. It was 1985.
Now 39, a vaunted defender who has won European Cups in three decades
appears to have been around forever, yet the twilight of this footballing
god is sadly upon us.
      We should cherish Maldini while we can, whether against Celtic
this evening
or during his remaining Serie A and Champions League appearances in his
farewell season. Football will not see Maldini's like again.
In the age of Bosman and Baby Bentleys, the elegant Italian embodies
principles fast becoming extinct. He has remained loyal to Milan throughout
his 22-year career despite overtures from wealthy suitors such as Real
Madrid and Chelsea.
The red-and-black shirt had become a second skin for Maldini, and no amount
of euros or pounds would make him shed it.
As well as such remarkable constancy, Maldini also displays a rare dignity
in victory and defeat. Just before Steven Gerrard went up to lift the
European Cup in Istanbul in 2005, the vanquished Maldini hid his personal
anguish to pull Liverpool's captain to one side and congratulate him warmly.
This summer, with the roles reversed in Athens, Maldini walked across to
console Gerrard. Pure class.
The memory of the noble Maldini collecting the European Cup last May figured
strongly when this reporter joined the eminent London-based French sporting
oracle, Max Marquis, in casting England's vote for the Ballon d'Or.
The eventual 1-2-3 announced on Sunday - Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel
Messi - all earned votes from this quarter, following their year of
sustained entertaining, but Maldini, the ageless ambassador, offered
something extra.
He captained his team to the most significant trophy of the year, the
European Cup - just as another Italian centre-half, Fabio Cannavaro, did
last year in scooping up the World Cup and the Ballon d'Or. But Maldini is
more than one match, one season - his phenomenal career deserves
recognition.
Just consider the weight of evidence, much of it golden: Maldini has played
in eight European Cup finals, triumphing in five of them (1989, 1990, 1994,
2003 and 2007). Five! Maldini has won as many European Cups in his career as
Liverpool have in their celebrated history.
Along with an attic full of European honours, Maldini owns medals for seven
Serie A titles, five Italian Super Cups, five European Super Cups, two Fifa
Club World Cups and one Coppa Italia. If he wore all his medals, Maldini
would resemble Mr T.
He is also Italy's most capped player, with 126, and performed in a World
Cup final in 1994. In a record that will delight creaking pensioners
everywhere, Maldini became the oldest player to score in a Champions League
final, his Istanbul goal being the fastest yet on such a prestigious
occasion.
Maldini is much more than the sum of his impressive numbers. The versatile
defender, outstanding at left-back or centre-half, is a natural leader, a
committed force for Milan ever since being thrown into action during an
injury crisis against Udinese on Jan 20, 1985.
The fire within has always burned strongly but Maldini also seems to enjoy
his chosen employment. Football is a passion, as well as a profession for
the son of the mighty Cesare Maldini, himself a Milan defensive great of
real longevity (1954-1966).
On eclipsing Dino Zoff's 570-game record of most Serie A appearances,
Maldini talked of "my spirit remaining child-like although my knees are
slightly less so".
That is the essence of Maldini: an enthusiasm for the sport he has served so
well. Due to retire last summer, he stayed on for another year, to help
Milan and because he relishes the fray.
Milan will retire the No 3 shirt when Maldini finally vacates the San Siro
stage, although the club who know how to cherish legendary names promise to
dust it down if another Maldini emerges on to the scene.
And they say that Christian Maldini, Paolo's son, is doing well in the Milan
youth team.

 He captained his team to the most significant trophy of the year
Prevedo esplosioni di fegato.
-- 
*MAFIA INTER* Adriano: "Io parlerei ma me lo hanno proibito, e se parlo
avrò dei problemi" 

 Liverpool have in their celebrated history.
E si...noi ste cose le diamo quasi per scontato ma sono numeri e fatti
abnormi....
e per fortuna che non hanno fatto paragoni con altre squadre.

 
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/12/04/sfnwin104.xml
Grazie. Molto bello