[dst]

(IMG:http://media2.acmilan.com/200412/725_big.jpg)

Calcio legend Liedholm dies
Monday 5 November, 2007

Swedish ex-Milan hero Nils Liedholm has died at the age of 85.

The midfielder nicknamed The Baron played 359 games for the Rossoneri and scored 81 goals after arriving from IFK Norrkoping in 1949.

Liedholm was known for his dedication to training and his accurate passing during his time at the San Siro.

Alongside Gunnar Nordahl and Gunnar Gren, he formed the legendary Gre-No-Li trident.

After hanging his boots up at the age of 39, Liedholm became a Coach and enjoyed three spells at Milan and three at Roma as well as periods with Verona and Fiorentina.

A Swedish newspaper poll recently named the Valdemarsvik native as the nation’s greatest player.

Liedholm passed away at his home in Cuccaro Monferrato in the Piedmont province of Alessandria near Turin.


::channel4::

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

Rest in peace...

There is a reference to his death and an article on the Italian section of the official website, I hope it will be translated to English.

Calcio remembers Liedholm
Tuesday 6 November, 2007

The Italian football community have paid tribute to Nils Liedholm after his sad death on Monday.

Liedholm is widely regarded as the greatest Swedish player in history and is best remembered for his time in the Milan shirt.

The man nicknamed The Baron also coached the Rossoneri, Roma, Verona and Fiorentina before passing away at the age of 85.

“I’m very sad,” Juventus boss Claudio Ranieri told Sky Sports Italia.

“He was a true gentleman - a superb person who always had words of encouragement. He is an important example for Italian football.”

Milan chief Silvio Berlusconi remembers Liedholm for his impeccable passing, which was one of his trademarks.

“I never remember him making a mistake,” he insisted. “A great champion, a gentleman and a friend has left us. Thanks for all you did for us Nils.”

Liedhom undoubtedly left his mark on Roma where his coaching methods revolutionised the side.

“The whole of the Roma family mourns his loss because his influence on the club is still felt,” explained Giallorossi President Franco Sensi.

“The Roma side he created in the 1980s provided the base for a growth that is still going on now and the positive and spectacular football this club stands for.”

Current Roma tactician Luciano Spalletti cites Liedholm as one of his role models.

“Liedholm was one of the greatest stars of world football,” he stated. “He created a style based on simplicity, humanity, professionalism and charisma. He is a man I admired profoundly.”

Finally, Milan Coach Carlo Ancelotti, who started his playing career under Liedholm paid him a glowing tribute.

“He was a great teacher and there couldn’t have been a better person to help me begin life as a player,” he said.

“If there were lots of Liedholms in football, the game would be better for it.”

The funeral for the beloved Swede will be held near his home in Cuccaro in the province of Alessandria where he lived.


::channel4::

Tuesday 6 November's Papers Remember Nils

Gazzetta dello Sport
Ciao Liedholm, we will miss you

Corriere dello Sport
Goodbye Nils the great - A great man of calcio passes away

Tuttosport
Goodbye to Liedholm, a gentleman of calcio

This post has been edited by dst: Nov 7 2007, 05:37 PM

[Jack Sparrow]

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

I've heard this story when the San Siro stood up and applauded him when he finally misdirected a pass. He was that perfect.

Gre-No-Li is as much a part of legend as our Dutch trio.

EDIT: 2 years!! He went 2 years without making a bad pass, and when he finally did, they stood up and applauded him. They don't make players like this anymore!

This post has been edited by Jack Sparrow: Nov 5 2007, 06:54 PM

[Ry4n]

on the Italian section of the website it says that before the match tomrow against Shaktar there will be a minute of silence

Rest in peace Liedholm

This post has been edited by rhy_A4: Nov 5 2007, 06:52 PM

[kurtsimonw]

A sad loss. Rest in peace. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[Tennie]

(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)

(The article's too long for me to translate at work; I'll do it tonight if the website doesn't beat me to it).

The funeral will be on Thursday. Expect a lot of Milan faces to be there. Remember, Liedholm was not only a great player but also a former coach of Milan. The one who, for example, coached a skinny teenager named Maldni against Udinese back in the mid 80s.

Carletto mentioned Liedholm's passing in his press conference today, too.

[Zed.D]

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

[Tennie]

Milan and Sweden mourn Liedholm


Sweden and AC Milan legend Nils Liedholm has died aged 85 after a long illness.

Olympic gold
Born in Valdemarsvik on 8 October 1922, Liedholm began his career with IK Sleipner before moving to IFK Norrköping in 1946. In three seasons with the club he helped them to two championships, and the tall and clever inside forward was part of the Sweden team which won Olympic gold in 1948. A year after that triumph he transferred to AC Milan, where he formed the 'Gre-No-Li' trio with compatriots Gunnar Nordahl and Gunnar Gren.

Milan success
In 1950/51 they inspired Milan to their first Scudetto in 44 years, the club's total of 107 goals the last time any team has reached a century in a Serie A season. Further titles followed in 1954/55, 1956/57 and 1958/59, and it was in that decade where Milan announced themselves as a leading club that 'catenaccio' was developed to deal with their prolific prowess. In 1958 'Il Barone' Liedholm captained Milan and Sweden in their debut finals in the European Champion Clubs' Cup and FIFA World Cup respectively, having returned to the national team following the lifting of the ban on professionals representing the side.

Coaching career
Liedholm retired as a player in 1961 after 81 goals in 359 Serie A games. Following spells as a coach with Hellas-Verona FC, Varese Calcio and AC Fiorentina, he returned to guide the Rossoneri to their tenth title in 1979. In 1983 he guided AS Roma to their first domestic crown since 1942 and the following year took them to the European Cup final where they lost on penalties to Liverpool FC. He remained in Italy in his later years and opened a family-run vineyard. He died in his adopted Piedmontese home town of Cuccaro and the funeral will be held there on Thursday at 11.00CET.

'Irreplaceable'
A Milan statement read: "Milan mourn the death of Nils Liedholm, the Rossoneri coach for the tenth Scudetto and an irreplaceable member of the legendary trio Gre-No-Li. With him we lose a huge part of the our history, but his memory will always stay in the heart of fans of Milan and football."

©uefa.com 1998-2007. All rights reserved link

[Rossoneri7]

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

Rest in peace!

[HasanHasanly]

RIP Liedholm

Come on guys, win this years Scudetto and CL for Nils.

[bigmacmtl]

very sad news...

[Tennie]

Wow. Just did a quick peek at other Serie A team websites. They've all got condolence messages. All but the last are in Italian.

Fiorentina

Lazio

Roma

inter

Here's what Inter said on their English website (link above, and a pretty classy gesture from the nerazzuri):

FC Internazionale remembers Nils Liedholm
Monday, 05 November 2007 18:13:22

MILAN - Former player and coach Nils Liedholm, a World Cup runner-up with Sweden in 1958, an Olympic gold medallist in 1948, and a protagonist with AC Milan and Roma, has died in his adoptive home of Cuccaro in the Monferrato area. He was 85.

FC Internazionale remembers Liedholm as a loyal opponent and a man of sport, and is close to his family at this time.

This post has been edited by Tennie: Nov 5 2007, 07:58 PM

[jefri91]

i was just reading about him 2 days ago....

rip

[arivanjj]

(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) REST IN PEACE.

[Fillipo Simone]

Just read about this terrible news,...

This man is a true Milan legend and he'll be remembered by all of us fans worldwide.

RIP Barone..

[Ry4n]

Found some footage of Liedholm on the Milan Channel youtube , some really good skills

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JuzYKI0NOw