WHERE THERE'S AN EMBRACE

...there's the Captain. A voyage in one of the many peculiarities of Paolo Maldini. Each time that Milan scores, he runs to embrace his team-mate. And San Siro wants to embrace him on Sunday.

MILAN - Last May 8, Ricardo Kaka made two strong declarations. Both were about Paolo Maldini. The La Repubblica the Brazilian star said: "The retirement of Paolo Maldini makes me think that from next season onwards, it will also be up to me to do what he always did, and that is explain Milan to the new arrivals."

Just a few hours later, same day, always Kaka, but with Milan Channel: "The thing that always hit me about Paolo is that for every goal scored by Milan, in any part of the pitch, he always runs to embrace himself with the team-mates . It's something that always happens, systematically. I find it very nice."

How many stories and how many particulars at high level rotate around Paolo Maldini. Particulars which make the difference. On Sunday afternoon will pass on like a film in the memories of the 80,000 people at San Siro. All the Milanisti who have in agend the three points against Roma, but especially in the heart, the tribute to their captain.

ALL OF PAOLO MALDINI'S DATES
20 January 1985 - Serie A debut
21 August 1985 - Coppa Italia debut
18 September 1985 - European Cups debut
12 November 1986 - Under 21 National team debut
4 January 1987 - First goal in Serie A
11 February 1987 - First goal with Under 21 National TEam
28 October 1987 - Olympic national team debut
31 March 1988 - National team debut
19 February 1989 - 100th match in Serie A
4 October 1992 - 200th match in Serie A
20 January 1993 - First goal with National team
17 February 1995 - 300th match in Serie A
29 March 1997 - Symbolic goal of Paolo Maldini with the national team: at Triese with the Azzurri coached by Cesare Maldini
25 April 1999 - 400th match in Serie A
15 March 2003 - 500th match in Serie A
22 March 2003 - 501st match in Serie A
13 May 2007 - 600th match in Serie A
16 February 2008 - 1000th official game between Milan and national team
16 May 2009 - 900th official match with Milan shirt


(from acmilan.com's english page)

His legacy will carry on forever...

but the Milan which we all know and love will surely change once he retires [from the pitch]...

Agreed.