Paolo Maldini

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I think someone who is, fitness permitting, now set to appear in his SEVENTH Champions' League final deserves a celebratory thread (has anyone else been in as many? It seems unlikely). Obviously all of us (well, maybe excepting Steady Mike) will be hoping he loses, but what a career! All with one club, more caps than all but a few outfield players, and for one of the world's top football nations, playing alongside a long list of genuine greats - I'm inclined to think his captain as a youngster, and maybe the best defensive organiser I've ever seen, Franco Baresi, may have been the most important one.

And given his dad's top level managerial career, I suspect that Paolo might not be lost to football when he does retire.

So, best left-back ever? How many greater football careers have there been?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 20:08 (twenty-one years ago)

The REM of left backs.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 20:10 (twenty-one years ago)

He is very important.

Martin, when is the final?

― X-PAT (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 20:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't recall - it's usually something like the first wednesday in June, sometimes the second, so that's the 1st or the 8th, which happens to be my birthday. God should have arranged it for Bristol Rovers to be there as a birthday gift for me, but I guess being omnipotent sometimes just isn't enough.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 20:22 (twenty-one years ago)

25 May 2005
AC Milan v Liverpool, 19:45

― M. White (Miguelito), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 20:26 (twenty-one years ago)

he sold that scissors kick like a true pro

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 21:23 (twenty-one years ago)

oh shit, wrong board

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 21:23 (twenty-one years ago)

maldini rules, but cafu is more fun - the 34 year old who plays like a reckless teen.

they are both in phenomenal shape for men their age.

maldini may be the best full-back of his generation. i would say he's had the best club *career* of anyone of his generation. made his debut aged 16 - that's 20 years of top flight football at (arguably) the best club in europe.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 21:28 (twenty-one years ago)

theres another pretty phenomenal record out there, this time for someone still under 30

1995 Champions League winner (Ajax)
1998 Champions League winner (Real Madrid)
2003 Champions League winner (Milan AC)

http://www.africafoot.com/pics/joueurs/seedorf/seedorf.jpg

― charltonlido (gareth), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 21:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Jaap Stam will win a third CL medal if Milan win too right?

― $V£N! (blueski), Thursday, 5 May 2005 02:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Sorry to lower the tone of the thread and get all girlie but he is totally gorgeous too.

― leigh (leigh), Thursday, 5 May 2005 06:23 (twenty-one years ago)

eew he's bald!!

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 5 May 2005 08:00 (twenty-one years ago)

oh you mean maldini

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 5 May 2005 08:00 (twenty-one years ago)

For all his considerable achievements Seedorf is loathed in his native country, and is no longer selected for the national side anymore. Too many arrogant, indifferent displays in an orange shirt.

― stevo (stevo), Thursday, 5 May 2005 09:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I have never understood why so many people fancy Paolo Maldini. To me, he looks like a skeleton with lots of hair. His dad's scarier though.

(but yes, anyway, good at football etc.)

― Madchen (Madchen), Thursday, 5 May 2005 11:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I figured Maldini was fancied for his piercing blue eyes and 'good legs'.

― $V£N! (blueski), Thursday, 5 May 2005 11:15 (twenty-one years ago)

His English is really good, too

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Thursday, 5 May 2005 11:17 (twenty-one years ago)

He looked like a very angry Oscar Wilde during France 98.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 5 May 2005 11:17 (twenty-one years ago)

His eyes are mad and staring and his knees are a bit knobby, I think.

― Madchen (Madchen), Thursday, 5 May 2005 11:18 (twenty-one years ago)

He's beautifully balanced and composed, and he has floppy hair.

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Thursday, 5 May 2005 11:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I have a friend who is the spitting image of Maldini, skeleton looks and all, and the women flock at his feet.

― Ste (Fuzzy), Thursday, 5 May 2005 11:44 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm not surprised. He's going to look the spit of his dad when he's older though, not so good. Does Maldini senior still have badly dyed hair?

― leigh (leigh), Thursday, 5 May 2005 11:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I haven't seen him in the flesh since 1997. It occurred to me just now that it's quite possible Maldini Jr has very well dyed hair.

― Madchen (Madchen), Thursday, 5 May 2005 13:25 (twenty-one years ago)

two weeks pass...

I'm really delighted that Liverpool won, but I do feel a bit sorry for Paolo, especially after scoring the opening goal.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 25 May 2005 20:41 (twenty years ago)

I was going to be girlie and post a handsome picture to prove Madchen wrong, but I found this one instead.
http://www.baobongda.com.vn/multidata/4229894397672979Paolo_Maldini.jpg

And then next to his dad for scary "what he will look like in a few years time" type things
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/football_paolo_maldini0s_20_years_in_football/img/6.jpg

Classic, by the way. One of the genuine footballing legends of my lifetime.

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 25 May 2005 21:28 (twenty years ago)

Salut.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 25 May 2005 21:29 (twenty years ago)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/football_paolo_maldini0s_20_years_in_football/img/6.jpg

Oh, OK, a non-ugly one. I don't think he's very photogenic, but he seems quite handsome on the telly. I was too far away at Parkhead to get a proper look.

Have I undone all the good proper-football-supporter stuff and become a traitor to myself now?

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 25 May 2005 21:31 (twenty years ago)

Haha, that didn't work.

http://ngoisao.net/News/The-thao/2005/01/3B9B0129/mal1.jpg

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 25 May 2005 21:34 (twenty years ago)

He's about to turn 37 too. Not a bad run for an athlete (pun not intended).

― Sasha (sgh), Wednesday, 25 May 2005 23:49 (twenty years ago)

I always think his dad looks a bit like Lux Interior.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/football_paolo_maldini0s_20_years_in_football/img/6.jpg

http://howwastheshow.com/images/cramps_photo_by_steve_wolf.jpg

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Thursday, 26 May 2005 08:42 (twenty years ago)

four months pass...

Perhaps we should mark the occasion, now that his appearance in Milan's 2-0 win over Treviso on Sunday saw him make his 571st appearance in Italian football, and overtake Dino Zoff's 25 year old record.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/football_paolo_maldini0s_20_years_in_football/img/11.jpg

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 27 September 2005 00:18 (twenty years ago)

three years pass...

Nice (if somewhat fanciful) wee piece on Maldini as he finally faces retirement.

http://www.runofplay.com/2009/05/12/the-tuesday-portrait-paolo-maldini/

― the innermost wee guy (onimo), Friday, 15 May 2009 11:19 (sixteen years ago)

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