Paolo Maldini: The Desire To Improve.

Paolo Maldini, Rossoneri debut, aged 16.

Growing up playing and watching football, whenever anyone showed top defensive qualities, he was often compared to Paolo Maldini. I would have loved to see him break into the Milan side when he did. I only got to watch his later years as a player, and his success’ under Carlo Ancelotti.

Defensive qualities are not often rated in football. Ask any defensive player. They are often the most humble guys on the pitch and sometimes the loudest. They lead and inspire. They make everyone in front of them calm. They are the back bone of the team.

So I decided to look back at the career of one of the best, if not the best defenders of all time.

A taste for it: Paolo’s first European cup in 1989, aged 21.

Paolo Maldini, born 26th June 1968, was an Italian former professional footballer who payed as a left back and central defender for AC Milan and the Italian National team.

Maldini was a total defender and is known to be one of the few to have played and mastered all four defensive positions, that is, left back, left center back, right center back and right back. He likes to say he was ambidextrous.

People describe Il Capitano as selfless and relentless. He was tough to beat, good on the ball, and read the game well. He just had a way of constantly adapting to the teams he played in, the coaches he played under and more importantly his defensive partners. Like a good Chianti, he got better with age as well.

Il Capitano with his first UCL trophy as Captain having defeated Juventus 3–2 on penalties.

He rarely took any plaudits and would always try and bring out the best in his team mates. He was lucky enough to play with and train under some great players and managers.

I mean having ‘Pippo’ Inzaghi ran at you daily in training must have helped as well.

Paolo Maldini with his friend and team mate Filippo ‘Pippo’ Inzaghi, 2007.

Maldini was also part of Arrigo Sacchi’s Milan side of 1987–1991, dubbed ‘The Immortals’ for always conceding such few goals and playing total football. Sacchi’s side is considered one of, if not the best teams ever. He was just 19 at the time.

That night in Istanbul, where Liverpool came from 3 goals down to sink his beloved Milan in 2005.

He was also a part of Fabio Capello’s ‘Invincibles’ of 1991–1992 season.

Paolo had made his debut in 1985 aged 16, becoming the youngest player to play for the black and red. It would be his only appearance that year and he would become a full first team player in 1986, playing as a right back.

He was given the number 3 shirt, which had previously also belonged to his father, Cesare Maldini.

Maldini’s relationship with the number 3 would mold him throughout his career.

Paulo Maldini scored 3 goals in the UCL. Those three painful goals conceded against Liverpool in 2005, in a final they ultimately lost by penalties, and on the day, he also became the oldest player to score in the UCL/European cup final history, Aged 36 years and 333days.

His number 3 shirt would ultimately be retired, when Paolo hanged up his boots in 2009 aged 41. He retired with only 3 red cards in his career.

Redemption. Two goals from Inzaghi in the 2007 UCL Final would help Milan exorcise the demons of Istanbul, defeating Liverpool 2–1.

The Maldini family have represented Milan for more than 55 years, a spell that began with his father Cesare Maldini who was also a captain, defender and ultimately coach of the Rossoneri.

Paulo Maldini reminds me of an era of football where players received very little information. Honor, consistency and longevity. Great leadership, the ability to work as a team for the win, and a constant desire to improve.