[dst]

Maldini is one of three active Milan players who have earned the most caps for their national teams; the others are Cafu and Dario Å imić.

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

[Zed.D]

[At the end of the season, you and Maldini will end your careers. What will football lose?

"Maldini is number 1, the point of reference for all footballers for his career, for his victories, for how he behaves both on and off the pitch." ]

Maldini's retirement may come before Figo's, as soon as January, if Tribalfootball is to believed! I don't rule it out... it can happen. maybe Maldini carried on playing just for the CWC title? I don't think he needs [or wants] another CL title. time will tell, but everyone would be happy if he stayed until the end of this season.

[Jack Sparrow]

He has to stay till the end of the season. Unless we get kicked out of CL.

[Tennie]

There were rumors this morning in Corriere dello Sport that he was going to announce his retirement after the CWC. He's come out with an immediate denial in a Studio Sport interview.

[Jack Sparrow]

God bless his little heart! Phew...I almost got a heart attack!

[Zed.D]

There were rumors this morning in Corriere dello Sport that he was going to announce his retirement after the CWC. He's come out with an immediate denial in a Studio Sport interview.

Wasn't he on plane this morning? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

[Tennie]

Depends on which timezone you're in. The reports were in the Thursday morning Corriere. Japan is several timezones ahead of Italy (8, I think), and the team has had its training session for the day (see my note on that in the news section). So the interview in which Il Capitano denied his imminent retirement most likely took place either before or after the interview. For those who don't know, Studio Sport is a Mediaset program (and Mediaset = Silvio Berlusconi). It's generally far more reliable for Milan news than Corriere, which is generally reliable for...lining birdcages.

[Zed.D]

Ah... so it was not true. thanks Tennie.

[dst]

God protected me... if I had read about the retirement bs before the denial I'd be dead already! Thanks Paolo!! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/king.gif)

[Tennie]

Maldini to draw career to a close


AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini has announced that he will retire from football at the end of the season, ending one of the most decorated careers in recent times.

World triumph
The 39-year-old defender revealed his decision following Milan's 4-2 triumph against CA Boca Juniors to lift the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan. Following the game, which resulted in his 26th honour with Milan, he said: "This victory is so great because it's really hard to play with a great team like Milan when you are 39 years old like me.

No regrets
"This club have always given me the possibility to play for important trophies and today I feel very satisfied with what I have done. I can quit playing without any regrets or sorrow. I have had all the things I could ask for in my career," added Italy's most capped international, with 126 appearances to his name prior to his last outing in 2002.

Glittering career
Maldini has lifted the European Champion Clubs' Cup five times – during a career that began with his debut in 1985 – the most recent of which being last May's 2-1 win against Liverpool FC in Athens. Now in his 23rd campaign, he has appeared a record 604 times in Serie A, scoring 28 goals and winning the Italian title on seven occasions. He also won five UEFA Super Cups, one Italian Cup, four Italian Super Cups and three world club titles. Milan will retire Maldini's No3 shirt at the end of this season but it could be seen again if one of his sons makes the senior side and his eldest is in the Rossoneri's youth squad.

Ancelotti praise
"I'm proud of being part of a club that always win something important," Maldini continued. "I'll quit playing next June but until that moment I will enjoy every match I play even if I feel pain in my knee, but I won't postpone my retirement." Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti added: "Maldini has shown what a great champion he is today. He is 39 and has returned to play on the left flank without problems. This shows his personality. Players like him give confidence to the whole team."


(From uefa.com link)


(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cry.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cry.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cry.gif) Forza Il Capitano!

[Rossoneri7]

Milan's legendary symbol is in his last 6 months before retirement. He reflects on several things:

"It's a great feat to play till the age of 39, and what is even greater is to play at the level that is demanded at AC Milan. A club that has always given me chance after chance to in playing for the important tournaments. Now I feel very satisfied to be closing my career after 23 years with Milan, a club which has not let me doubt one day of something I have done or not done."

[dst]

I found this:
(IMG:http://media2.acmilan.com/200312/635_big.jpg)

[kidnicky]

ok I know that you guys won't find this pic as great as I did but I had to post it 'cause, well it's God what other reason would I need? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

(IMG:http://aycu24.webshots.com/image/37583/2003314319522083575_rs.jpg)

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

[misha]

ok I know that you guys won't find this pic as great as I did but I had to post it 'cause, well it's God what other reason would I need? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Every Paolo pic is great (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

[arivanjj]

Maldini wants Milan future

Paolo Maldini has set out his plans after retirement. “I cannot ask for more than I have had from my career. I would like to keep working with Milan.”

The legendary defender made his Serie A debut for the club in 1985 and will hang up his boots at the end of this season.

“My youngest son thought I had already stopped playing when we went on our Christmas holiday to Miami. The eldest knows what’s going on and would like me to carry on, but… I love this sport, training and working with a team, but I cannot ask for more than I have had from my career.”

He has won every trophy imaginable with the Rossoneri and hopes he will remain a symbol of the side even after retirement.

“I am not afraid of this step, as I had plenty of time to think about it. I will certainly have to change my day to day habits and find a different type of work. I will miss the daily training sessions and experiencing things in a group of 50 people. Perhaps I’ll collapse completely!

“I would like to continue living in my city and hopefully working with Milan, putting my experience at the club’s disposal. I think there is room for many options, as the experience of former players who competed at the top level can be useful.

“We’ll decide together with Adriano Galliani and President Silvio Berlusconi. I would like to have an active role, though, and not just a ceremonial position.” (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/king.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/king.gif)

In a curious twist of fate, he made his debut on January 20, 1985 against Udinese and will repeat that fixture on January 20, 2008.

“It is one of the many strange coincidences in my career, but naturally it won’t end there. It will be a special day, as the debut against Udinese was a turning point for me and Milan have always been my anchor.”

A different Milan player will receive his Serie A debut this weekend against Napoli, as Alexandre Pato is expected to start.

“He has great technique and a remarkable ability to move the ball from his right foot to his left and shoot in a matter of seconds. He has extraordinary physical presence for an 18-year-old. The important thing is to play and in these six months he has never been able to play a real game, so that did not help his integration.”

Pato joined the club in the summer, but because he was still 17 when the summer transfer window closed he was not eligible for official competition until January.


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