Sunday,
May 27,
Paolo Maldini -
World's Best Defender- Now Time to Retire?
The
ANNOTICO Report
Arguably,
Maldini is the world's best defender. He has played
more games for
Maldini, who will be 39 next month, did retire at the
international level after the 2002 World Cup, and refused a call-up to Euro 04,
but then reconsidered for Euro '06, but showed "rust".
Buzzle. com
From
May
26, 2007
Soccer:
Is Paolo Maldini - heralded as the best defender in
the world - beyond criticism; and should he now hang up his boots?
After
65 minutes and 33 seconds of a generally unremarkable European Cup final in
Neither error resulted in a goal, a shot on target, or even a harsh word in the
newspapers all across
Arguably, Maldini is the world's best defender. He
has played more games for
I have been privileged to attend all eight of Maldini's
European Cup finals from 1989. In all those games, against Steaua
Bucharest, Benfica, Marseille, Barcelona, Ajax, Juventus, and Liverpool (twice), his defending was
flawless. Until the 66th minute in
Maldini, who will be 39 next month, was effusive
after lifting the cup. 'We've been the best team in
It sounded valedictorian. It would be a good time to stand down. He did it at
international level after the 2002 World Cup, and refused a call-up to Euro 04
because 'the fundamental thing is that a player of 34 years of age cannot
possibly play in such a tournament'. But no.
'The cycle hasn't ended yet,' he continued. 'It would have been nice to end my
career by winning this trophy, but I want to play in the European Super Cup and
another league campaign and the Intercontinental Cup and then I want to win the
European Cup again next year. That would be fantastic. My retirement will not
depend on my motivation, but on my body.'
After last week's civic reception in
Why? There is plenty more to keep him occupied. There's the clothing company he
runs with Chr istian Vieri, the modeling - his many female fans will not desert
him if he hangs up his boots - and the family, or rather both families, the
Daniele Massaro, who scored twice for
Here are a few, all of whom played alongside Maldini
in a European Cup final: Carlo Ancelotti,
It is difficult to untangle one family from the other. Maldini's
father, Cesare, also a defender, played for
Maldini senior's attitude to retirement? He quit aged
35.
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