The Calcio Blog

Tag: football legends

  • Legends of Calcio: Paolo Maldini

    A name that transcends rivalries. Universally admired by teammates, rivals, coaches and pundits. The embodiment of Italian defensive mastery. The art of defending, personified. One Club Man. Elegance, Intelligence, Loyalty. Is there a bigger legend of Calcio than Paolo Maldini?

    Born in 1968 in Milan, Maldini quickly rose through the ranks at AC Milan and would make his debut at the age of just 16 in 1985. By the time he retired in 2009 he had made over 900 appearances in all competitions for Milan, appeared in 7 major tournaments for Italy, won 7 Serie A titles and 5 Champions Leagues.

    The man who would be cited as inspiration by John Terry, Gerard Pique and Virgil Van Dijk. His career took him all around the World, collecting trophies. But he never left Milan and he never won a thing with Italy.

    A young Maldini making his debut.

    Hi father, Cesare Maldini was on the coaching staff in 1985 when he made his debut, and his son Daniel would begin his career at Milan with his Dad as Technical Director. He’s since moved on, as has Paolo, and Milan feels a bit emptier for it.

    Maldini would win his first Serie A title in 1988 as part of the irresistible pressing side of Arrigo Sacchi. He formed part of an indomitable back line with Baresi, Tassotti and Costacurta. His first European triumph wasn’t far behind when Milan dismantled Steaua Bucharest 4-0 in the final in 1989.

    Milan would win back to back European Cups, defeating Benfica 1-0 in the final in 1990 with a defensive masterclass from their famous quartet.

    The best was yet to come in Europe, however, and in 1994 Milan defeated the great Cruyff Barcelona 4-0 in the final, with Maldini putting on a clinic as a fill in centre back. Europe provided plenty of low moments too, though, with arguably the worst coming in 2005.

    Paolo scored the fasted ever final goal (at that point) when he put Milan 1-0 up against Liverpool in Istanbul. By half time it was 3-0 and their name was on the cup. Fate had other ideas, however, and Liverpool roared back in the second half, eventually winning on penalties after extra time.

    Despite the defeat, Maldini was praised for his leadership and sportsmanship that night in Istanbul. It would be avenged two years later though, when a 38 year old Maldini captained his side through a knee injury to a 2-1 victory over the same opponents.

    A much happier Paolo Maldini

    England provided another sweet Champions League moment for Maldini too, when he lifted his first one as captain in 2003. Not only did Milan defeat the old enemy Juventus, but they did so in Old Trafford, Manchester – birthplace of his father Cesare.

    Back home in Italy, Maldini collected trophies like they were prizes in a cereal box. By the time of the Juventus final in 2003, he had already won 6 of the 7 titles he would win. Milan also won a Coppa Italia title with him, as well as 5 Supercoppas.

    But it was internationally that Maldini was hardest done by. Making his debut against Yugoslavia in 1988, at just 19, he would play 126 games for the Azzurri across 7 tournaments but only collect runners up medals.

    Paolo Maldini in action at Euro 96

    The first of these came in the 1994 World Cup, when he was ever present in Italy’s run to the final. He captained the side for the first time too, after Franco Baresi was injured. However, three missed penalties in the final meant that Italy wouldn’t win the tournament and his medal would be silver.

    He would remain captain of Italy after the tournament and would miss the chance to lift a major honour again when in Euro 2000 in Holland and Belgium, Italy lost the final to France 2-1 after extra time.

    The absolute scandalous refereeing performance at the 2002 World Cup that saw Italy eliminated to South Korea in their home tournament eventually proved too much for Maldini and he announced his retirement from the international game to focus on Milan.

    It was a good decision, Maldini played a further 7 years for Milan, eventually hanging up his boots after 902 matches and 33 goals in all competitions. He even received his first ever Red Card in that final season.

    The best were terrified of taking on Maldini

    Maldini was quoted as saying that, “If I have to make a tackle then I have already made a mistake”. He embodied the ideals of the perfect Italian defender with the way he read the game. His coolness under pressure, composure on the ball and a fabulous range of passing. He was uncompromising, tough, but fair and sporting.

    These were all traits he would take into his next role, as Technical Director of Milan. He had the role from 2018 until leaving in 2023 under something of a cloud after tensions with the club’s owners RedBird Capital. His exit has been viewed by some Milan fans as the moment when the team started to lose its identity.

    Maldini was widely regarded as one of the World’s greatest defenders of all time – known for his elegance, positional intelligence and loyalty. Inspiring a wealth of modern defenders, Thiago Silva (once of Milan) summed it up nicely with, “I dreamed of being a defender like Maldini”.

    And the truth is, there’s no one quite like Maldini…

    Maldini bids farewell

  • Legends of Calcio: Francesco Totti

    Legends of Calcio: Francesco Totti

    Any football fan with an algorithm worth anything will have come across the video on Instagram or TikTok before. An emotional Francesco Totti bidding an emotional farewell to an even more emotional Stadio Olimpico. I’m not a Roma fan, but I am a human being so I always stop and watch the video.

    Football fans far and wide – except maybe Laziali – almost all stop and watch the video and get a lump in their throat. Totti spanned club rivalries, a one club man who stayed true to his hometown in the face of enormous offers from elsewhere. He lived out everyone’s childhood dream, captaining their local team, lifting a title for them and becoming their all time great.

    I read somewhere that he said he hasn’t been able to walk around the city he loves so much in 20 years because he’s mobbed everywhere he goes. It seems bittersweet for a man who turned down Real Madrid to stay in Rome.

    But how did he get here? Plenty of players come through their hometown youth system and don’t end up a legend across the entire country – look at Trent Alexander Arnold…

    On March 28th 1993, Vujadin Boskov probably had no idea what he was unleashing on the world when he handed a 16 year old Francesco Totti his debut. Boskov had recognised his talent in training, specifically his technical ability, and called him up to the first team.

    A young Francesco Totti makes his debut against Foggia, aged 16
    Il Bambino makes his debut for Roma, aged 16

    He was so young, the other players called him “il bambino” (the kid) and he kept his school books in his locker at the training ground. Early the next season, on September 4th 1994 a 17 year old Totti opened the scoring against Foggia with a powerful, well placed effort.

    It was the first of many goals, 307 in total during 786 appearances. He also contributed 180 assists and at the time of his retirement was second in the list of all time Serie A appearance holders. The numbers speak for themselves, but numbers is a modern curse that we judge footballers on – thanks Pep. What made Totti a great was the way he effortlessly did incredible things on the pitch, his inventiveness and his ingenuity.

    Thierry Henry described Totti as having “magic in his boots” and Pele said he was “one of the most intelligent players” he’d ever seen. It wasn’t always plain sailing for Totti however, in the mid-2000s he would suffer with recurring ankle and knee problems.

    Not only this, but in the closing months of the 2005-06 season, he would break his leg in a match against Empoli. With the 2006 World Cup coming fast, Totti didn’t play a game from February until the end of the season.

    The career threatening injury, as it turned out, couldn’t even threaten Totti’s World Cup. He would play in all seven games for Italy as they lifted the famous trophy following a shoot out win over France in the Final.

    During the tournament, Totti would provide 4 assists and a crucial goal in the 95th minute of the Round of 16 against Australia, winning the game for Italy from the penalty spot and preventing extra time. After the tournament, manager Marcelo Lippi was moved by Totti’s commitment and ability, commenting, “Only Totti could’ve played like that with half a leg”.

    Francesco Totti of Italy with the World Cup trophy
    Francesco Totti, with half a leg and the World Cup trophy

    His resolve to Roma was tested a few times, mainly by Real Madrid, who offered him a mega money deal in the early 2000s and pretty much guaranteed him a Ballon D’Or. On turning them down (several times), Totti said, “If I had gone to Madrid, I might have won more, but I would have betrayed myself”.

    It was, therefore, fitting that Totti would provide the crucial goal to provide Roma’s first Scudetto since 1983. In the game against Parma on 17th June 2001, Totti scored the decisive goal that sealed a 3-1 victory and would see him parade around the pitch with a gladiator’s cape on. All over the city, the celebrations went on for days, and there’s still graffiti across Rome to this day saying “Grazie Capitano”.

    Francesco Totti celebrating his Scudetto securing goal in 2001
    What the Scudetto means to Francesco Totti

    There were many more iconic moments for Totti throughout his career. Some that come to mind are his ridiculous 40 yard lob against Inter at the San Siro in 2005. Spotting Julio Cesar off his line, he went for it and secured himself goal of the season, prompting commentary cries of “Non ci credo!!!” That’s “I don’t believe it” to you and I.

    He also had a signature penalty move, crowned in Euro 2000 against the Netherlands when he chipped the ball down the middle in the shoot out under enormous pressure. His now iconic “cucchiaio” penalty was preceded by him turning to his team mates and saying, “Now I’ll do the spoon”.

    Totti was the true inventor of the selfie celebration too, after scoring twice in the Rome Derby, he grabbed a phone from coach Guido Nanni and took a selfie with the Curva Sud. His second goal in that game equalled the record for goals scored in the Derby della Capitale with 11 – alongside Dino Da Costa.

    It was this sort of cavalier performance for Rome, after turning down the big money and personal honours that led to team mates like Daniele De Rossi to say of him, “He is football for Rome. He’s the banner, the heart, and the king of this city.” His long term coach Luciano Spalletti said of him, “Totti is Roma, and Roma is Totti. He’s a symbol of a city, not just a club.”

    When the time came to call time on his career, it was no wonder he was going to get the send off we all watch on Instagram and TikTok every time. Totti once said, “Winning one title at Roma to me is worth winning 10 at Juventus or Real Madrid.” It was that kind of refreshing loyalty that endeared him to so many across Rome and Italy.

    An emotional Francesco Totti says goodbye to the Stadio Olimpico
    A tearful Francesco Totti says goodbye

    When he stood on the pitch at the end of the game against Genoa at Stadio Olimpico, Totti – overcome with emotion – bid farewell to Roma with some typically passionate words, “Now I’m afraid. I need you and the love you’ve always shown me.”

    So many footballers say they struggle after retirement and this openness with his public was typical of a man who once said, “I was born a Roman, and I’ll die a Roman”.

    And perhaps that’s the best way to remember one of the true Legends of Calcio…