[dst]

This is an article I translated from a Greek newspaper. It's from the same journalist that wrote this a year ago. His name is Antonis Karpetopoulos and he's a die-hard Lazio supporter!

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Capitano, mio capitano... (*)

What did the first semifinal of the Champions League indicate? That Manchester United at Old Trafford is the best team in the world. Already known. That Kaká is the most complete footballer in the world, because he combines Brazilian brio and European learning; I think I already wrote that 3 years ago (**). That, in order to be a true European champion one has to face Milan. We have all figured that out. What I'm going to write about is the blatant obvious: that it's an honor for all of us to have watched Paolo Maldini play.

He's born on 1968. He made his debut in campionato on January 1985, when his current teammate Yoann Gourcuff was not even born! He won his first European Cup in 1989 and one year later he doubled that up. He lifted the trophy as captain in 1994. Once more in 2003. The day before yesterday, 22 years after his debut, his exit from the game was the basic factor that deprived Milan of the win in Old Trafford.

Career

I'm looking at Maldini's career in Milan's website and I get a headache. The numbers that describe his footballing exploits are beyond all reason: if a footballer has 8 full years of successes and triumphs, Maldini has had three careers! There is no competition he hasn't honoured with his presence, no record he hasn't brought down, no season in which he wasn't a protagonist. For a stunning twenty two years, Paolo Maldini, son of Cesare, has been the index mark of a team that in her decline has convinced the whole world that she's the most important one of our times. In this so important club Maldini has, for nearly one quarter of a century, been a lighthouse; he was the lad that made his debut at 17, the super star of the best defence in the world at 24, the captain that raised his voice for everyone to conform to his word at 29, the symbol of duration and continuity at 32, the "flag" at 36, the ultimate myth today when he's at 39. For these past twenty two years has been reminding to us that football is game and those that honour it have been getting back admiration, applause, immortality.

Titles

The account of his deeds cannot be numbered in titles. Four European Cups, seven Scudetti, two Intercontinental Cups and four European Super Cups may seem a lot to some, but maybe it's not enough to sum up his endless career. It is much more than titles. A smile that never goes out, a stare against which every single teammate and opponent is filled with awe, two surgeries on his knees, one of them at the age of 37. At the end of the match at Old Trafforf he explained what had happened: "My left knee, on which I had a surgery last year, managed to hold on, the other one hurts even if the doctor has stepped in for that too in the past. The doctor told me that I can't play two games in the same week cause my leg will brake while I run. I didn't want to come out at halftime but my knee was swollen and Ancelotti told me he feared it could get worse. I came through but Milan payed for it but there is the return match." Life itself is a return match.

Unique

In which breed does Maldini belong to? Impossible to tell. There are a lot of great players, less super stars but he stands as candidate for being registered in everyone's conscience as a one of a kind case. After the game between Milan and Bayern Munich, a journalist asked Silvio Berluscon for how long will Maldini still be playing. "I don't understand what you're asking", the boss replied. "So do you really think I have the ethical privilege to expel Maldini from Milan or even to ask him to quit? Who do you think I am, gentlemen?". Berlusconi is right: there is nothing above Maldini. As time went by he and Milan became the same thing; looking at his face you see everything. The handsome young man of past times has been corrugated, the first wrinkles cannot be hidden, the hair do not tread on air anymore, and handsome Paolo has grown up along with the team. Milan is no more playing the total football of the early 90's, she is less feared but anyone who thinks the team is over finds himself at the canvas; as long as Maldini is on the field, the guardian of her values, more than a footballer.

Travel

I don't know when he'll stop. For twenty two years he's been traveling the same way, counting triumphs and teaching character but again this tenure stops nowhere: in the second half at Old Trafford without him only normal (***) players were left in Milan's defence - Rooney, Ronaldo, Giggs and Scholes were delivered from his onerous heft. It's too hard to look at someone you admire as an opponent and everyone admires Maldini.

Goodbye

I don't know what will happen the day he'll say goodbye. Most likely he'll be given a place in the organization chart - Milan rarely lets her kids go: she will make sure the best one of them get what he deserves. In his testimonial game the whole history of world football will parade: Maldini is not a teammate nor a rival - he is the captain of them all. I don't know if San Siro will give him a last applaud - there is no deification so big to be able to be rated equal of his career. I think it would be more logical if everyone remained silent and waited from him that last applaud.

Awe

I want to be there: speechless and awe-stricken. Touched with emotion for sure over against a myth of our century...

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(*) The title was in Italian and I didn't translate it. I guess everyone understands it...
(**) In fact, yeah he did. He's the only one that says he's more cardinal than R20 when everyone else is staring at the Buck Teeth's tricks...
(***) As I already wrote the journalist is a Lazialo. When a Lazialo speaks of Nesta as an "only normal player" you can tell his subject for discussion does not belong in our mortal world...

Excuse my English and Greek to English translation...

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There is nothing more to say... I was crying when I read this. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cry.gif)

Il mio Capitano, il mio Dio! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif)

Damn!

This post has been edited by dst: Apr 27 2007, 01:25 AM

[Portman]

Very very nice article (just as the first one).

Thanks for the translation dstpoupoulous. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Rossoneri7]

Great work dst ...


Paolo Maldini is a legend, 3 generations of footballers have passed by his illustrious career.

This is the second article he has written about Milan, he sure seem like he cheers for Milan.

Great article (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/king.gif)

[Tennie]

Wonderful translation of a great article, dst. Thanks!!

[misha]

Tremendous article (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cry.gif) Thank you!!

[arivanjj]

yes a myth, thats what he really is (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cry.gif)


thank you dst, much appreciated.