Maldini Announces Retirement

Rikand · 18-12-2007 02:36PM

eirebhoy wrote:

Strolled through the games against Celtic last season.

Strolled being the operative word

Nah, but seriously, total legend. It'll be a long time before the game sees a player like him again...or maybe in another 5 years when his son comes through the ranks

Sherifu · 18-12-2007 04:54PM

Any time i've seen him play on tv, he's looked like a real class act.
Sorry to hear he's retiring but he's had a great run at it.

KdjaCL · 18-12-2007 06:45PM

iregk wrote: »

A lot of people thought that. They billed the Italy -v- Russia match as Maldini -v- Kanchelskis. Then we proceeded to watch Maldini completely dominate him and all thoughts of the great one being past it were gone.

He was then and is now the greatest defender ever to play the game. The only other person that comes close was his team mate. Franco Baresi.

Was Sergei Kiriakov who dominated Maldini, tore him to shreds, Russia played a 441 and 1 on maldini and maldini was ripped apart. Was a decent match

kdjac

UnitedIrishman · 18-12-2007 07:37PM

I don't think there ever was or ever will be as good a defender as him. I remember watching him last year in the final against Liverpool and seeing how calm he was, I don't think he was ever under pressure.

Pity he couldn't go on for another 10 years but he really is a true great and I've a feeling he'll be a very good coach/manager.

MrJoeSoap · 19-12-2007 12:06AM

eirebhoy wrote: »

Maldini played left back against Boca they other day and he really does still have the fitness of a 25 year old. Running up the wing constantly and even sliding into tackles in the opposition corner, getting up and running full pelt for the loose ball.

Not to mention Cafu on the other flank. There must be something in the water. Two absolute legends of the highest standing.

gucci · 19-12-2007 09:38AM

a genius and a legend. he and some of his fellow Italians and team mates have to be model professionals how they have looked after themselves and remained at the top for so long.

to be still playing at the very top at 39 and not look out of place or over the hill is some achievement. i presume Milan will be retiring the number 3 as they done for the great Franco Baresi?

prendy · 19-12-2007 11:53AM

ya id say they will..hes an ambassador for the club.
true legend of the game.

DerekD Goldfish · 19-12-2007 12:49PM

gucci wrote: »

a genius and a legend. he and some of his fellow Italians and team mates have to be model professionals how they have looked after themselves and remained at the top for so long.

to be still playing at the very top at 39 and not look out of place or over the hill is some achievement. i presume Milan will be retiring the number 3 as they done for the great Franco Baresi?

Its retired unless one of his sons make the first team then they will get it

eirebhoy · 16-02-2008 10:43PM

Played his 1000th game for Milan today.

Number 1000

The Rossoneri captain made his debut an incredible 23 years ago on January 20, 1985 against Udinese in Serie A, and he has since gone on to make 999 appearances.

This evening Milan travel to the Stadio Tardini to play Parma, and Maldini is expected to be given the honour of his 1000th appearance.

Maldini was asked how it felt to reach the number, 8427 days after his first-ever game all those years ago.

“Serginho always asks me how many nights I have spent in a pre-match ritiro. The answer is really quite a lot…” said the 39-year-old.

“My other view of this milestone is that I have been fortunate to avoid serious injuries, to play in a great club, to be pushed by an enormous passion for the sport and having always had fun.”

Milan 6 - 0 Inter

During his career Maldini has won six different games with a 6-0 scoreline. So which one of these was the most gratifying?

“The derby we played with Inter as the home team. I remember the sight of the scoreboard at San Siro and my father’s face, as he was on the bench. It wasn’t a great season, but the derby gave us all such joy,” he explained.

“Having said that, it’s not always enjoyable to win by such a big margin. We respected Inter in that game. It is not right to stop when you are 2-0 or 3-0 up, but at the end of the day you do feel a little sorry if a team is beaten so heavily.”

Legacy

Maldini is set to end his illustrious playing days at the end of the season. So what legacy does he wish to leave?

“I hope my legacy will be one of absolute respect for the sport and opposition,” he stated with unrivalled class.

“This respect has been recognised by the fans, as I have never been insulted or jeered in any particular fashion.

“I did not create a personality or character that is separate from how I am in real life and this was appreciated by fans.”

Maldini will undoubtedly go down as one of, if not the most, legendary Italian footballer of all time.

KdjaCL · 16-02-2008 10:52PM

“This respect has been recognised by the fans, as I have never been insulted or jeered in any particular fashion.

“I did not create a personality or character that is separate from how I am in real life and this was appreciated by fans.”

Quality!

kdjac

Racing Flat · 16-02-2008 11:10PM

DerekD Goldfish wrote: »

Its retired unless one of his sons make the first team then they will get it

No pressure on the sons then:eek:

Nunu · 16-02-2008 11:54PM

That guy has to be the most respected footballer of all-time...astonishing achievement in so many ways:eek:

darkman2 · 17-02-2008 01:37AM

Raskolnikov wrote: »

Great player, his retirement was inevitable though.

Oh I dont know - I expected him to go on past 80 years before popping his clogs on the pitch:D

Beanmachine · 17-02-2008 12:51PM

Classiest defender ever.

therecklessone · 17-02-2008 01:20PM

Hope he gets his game vs Lazio on 1st March as I'm going over just to see him!

ThE_IVIAcIVIAIV · 17-02-2008 01:28PM

yeah he's a class fellow. hope to see his son play for some italian team in the future.

oh since there is no serie A thread this weekend i just wanted to see if anybody watched the Juve-Roma game and what they think? Del piero ''Classic'' won the game.

DubDani · 07-03-2008 01:41PM

I just read that he decided to play for another year, and has therefore extended his contrct with Milan.

According to him he wasn't fully fit when he announced his retirement, but feels now as good as ever. Therefore one more year... will he ever stop playing?

Sherifu · 07-03-2008 02:14PM

See this thread dragged up in a year then

therecklessone · 07-03-2008 04:06PM

Excellent! He didn't play vs Lazio so I still get a chance to see him!

MrJoeSoap · 07-03-2008 04:10PM

AC Milan stalwart Paolo Maldini has revealed he may change his mind about retiring and instead play on for another year.

The 39-year-old centre-back announced in December this would be his last season as a player after 23 years in the Rossoneri shirt.

But Maldini admits he is now considering a U-turn and staying on with Milan for the 2008/09 campaign.

"I still have lots of energy," Maldini said. "I realise you should stick with what you say, but on the other hand you'd also be stupid not changing your mind if the situation also changes.

"In recent months the pain in my knees has gone, and the club and its supporters would like to see me play for another season."

The veteran, who retired from the Italy national side shortly after the 2002 World Cup, underwent knee surgery last year and revealed a positive recovery has prompted him to consider an extended spell on the pitch.

"I have to admit that three months ago things were much worse than they were five months ago because of the surgery I had to my knees," he added.

"But now I'm fit and playing at left-back in a position I haven't played in for a long time."

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/overseas/italy/news/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=international_feed/08/03/07/SOCCER_Ita-Maldini.html&TEAMHD=italy

Can't say I'm too delighted about it. He's an absolute legend, but what is he hoping to achieve really? Had he bowed out after the CL Final last year it would have been so fitting. I can understand his love for the game and his club is huge, but I'm sure it always will be. Time to call it a day, Paolo.

gosplan · 07-03-2008 05:50PM

I love him and I think the argument that he's the best footballer ever to play is a very strong one - He wins on longevity, attitude, trophies(bar losing a WC final and EC final on pennos with Italy). Really if you're oging to judge the best player ever, it's very hard not to pick him.

But......

He shouldn't play on. He's now an automatic substitution for Milan after 65 mins because he tires and offers almost nothing going forward any more. The team doesn't carry him so much, but they only get two substitutions per match and very little penetration down the left.

Although, who can tell Paolo to stand down? They were probably saying the same thing 5 years ago.

Nunu · 09-03-2008 03:02AM

I thought Paolo was at his peerless best against Arsenal and didn't look anywhere near finished.
Glad he's going for another season:)

MrJoeSoap · 09-03-2008 03:07AM

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=456485&in_page_id=1779

Just read this article from last May, what a legend.

invincibleirish · 09-03-2008 03:48AM

I love Maldini and i do think he could stay on for another season but Milan need to cop on. they're outta Europe & struggling in 5th in A. they are not the team they used to be. Berlusconi needs to spend some serious cash to replenish Milans Squad, they need at least one top striker & centre back.

PHB · 09-03-2008 12:24PM

The thing is though, I don't think Maldini is the weak link

Xavi6 · 09-03-2008 12:30PM

Nunu wrote: »

I thought Paolo was at his peerless best against Arsenal and didn't look anywhere near finished.
Glad he's going for another season:)

Agree 100%. Watched the whole Arsenal game today for the first time and he was quality. The little nutmeg down the line in the second half was class (and he had the pace to get onto the ball afterwards). To see him flying into tackles and making blocks in the opposition half was brilliant. His age has nothing to do with it really. He's fit enough and good enough so let him play on.

Maldini Announces Retirement

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