What makes a great footballer is a successful record and a full trophy cupboard, with cups and medals from different years and competitions. That is why Paolo Maldini is a great player.
Having won the Italian Serie A seven times, the Italian Cup once, the Italian Super Cup, the European Super Cup and the European Champions League all five times, and having lifted the Intercontinental Cup twice and the FIFA Club World Cup once since his Milan debut in 1988, Maldini is a football legend.
But having played 20 years in the Milan first team, Maldini should have left at the end of last season. An ideal retirement date for the legendary Italian defender would have been two seasons ago after lifting the Champions League for the fifth time. But his love for the game and his passion for Milan makes it such a hard step for Maldini to hang his boots once and for all.
After leading the Italian national team as captain for more than a decade, Maldini retired from international football after the 2002 World Cup where he featured in what turned out to be a disappointing campaign for the Azzurri. Therefore, Maldini missed out on winning a major competition with Italy as he did not feature in Italy's 2006 successful World Cup campaign.
I am an Italy fan and am an admirer of Maldini's abilities. I see that he should hang his boots and leave while he is at his peak, so that football fans can remember the great picture of Paolo Maldini; Paolo, the leader, the champion, the warrior, and not an old and slow player.
Maldini reversed his decision to retire at the end of last season, and recently decided to keep on playing for an additional season to help Milan go back to their winning ways after a disappointing campaign last season where Milan were eliminated from the Champions League Second Round by Arsenal, and failed to qualify for next year's Champions League.
Let us remember you as a legend, Paolo. Let us remember you as the leader who rallied the troops of Milan to glory on so many occasions.
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2 months ago
I think it's fair play to him. He is a legend and is only increasing that status by playing on. He is an asset to the modern game and more importantly, an asset to Milan.
2 months ago
Where to start?? Maldini is still one of the top defenders in the world regardless of his age, true he is not as quick as he used to be but that's a given. However, what he lacks in speed he makes up for in the mind, by that I mean he can read the game exceptionally well and has a knack for knowing where the ball will go. His commitment to Ac Milan is virtually unheard of in the modern game and yet he continues to play for a club who next year will play in the Uefa Cup, surely this is yet another sign of him placing his team over personal glory. The likes of Pato and Flamini can only learn from having the vast experience of Maldini in their side.
Your arguement that trophies makes players great is weak and in all honestly a bit pathetic. So its all about winning is it?? Therefore if the likes of Maldini, Pele, Maradona had never won anything would that have made them any less of a player? For argument sake, say Arsenal won nothing whilst Henry was there, would that have made him any less than the great player he was?? Very few players have the capacity to lift a whole team on their own, I can think of one and that is Maradona who took an average Argentina and Napolia to respective titles.
To be quite honest your 'argument' is rather sad. If people only remember an 'old and slow player' it is not Maldini they are watching and their knowledge of the game would be such that I would dare to say they are not fans of football.
from 2 months ago
i meant he should retire before being booed off. he is still an exceptional legend, but he should not remain in the game until he cant kick a ball.
2 months ago
In all honesty I can't see that happening, can you?? He has been one of world's soccer most consistant players and he has a sharp footballing brain. I have no doubt in my mind that he knows what he is doing, everyone knows its not for a big payday his only reasons are football motivated. I've been to Milan and he is spoken of like a God there, no chance of him not been able to 'kick a ball' and 'being booed off'. Besides he's only making sure the number 3 stays warm until Christian takes over :-) On that note, type Daniel Maldini into youtube and you'll see just how much football runs in the Maldini veins, Cesare...Paolo... Christian...Daniel, Like father like son :-) Il Captaino Per Sempre!!
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