This Monday, AC Milan celebrates its 125th anniversary. There is plenty to celebrate – especially successes on the biggest stages. The name Maldini is always there.
It is not unusual for a family to produce several professional footballers. It happens quite often.
But it is much rarer for a family to produce two legends (and a currently aspiring offspring). The Maldinis have achieved this feat, however, and in doing so have significantly shaped the famous success story of AC Milan, which has existed since 1899.
Of course, the 19-time Italian champions and seven-time champions of the premier league have many more legends in their history than just the two Maldinis. For example, there are the Italians Franco Baresi, Gianni Rivera and Alessandro Costacurta, who played for the club for a record number of matches. Or the two Swedes Nils Liedholm and Gunnar Nordahl. And, of course, the Dutch icons Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and Marco van Basten. And from the more modern era of success, greats like Kaka, Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso and many, many more, right up to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is currently working in the Milan management and played a significant role in the Rossoneri’s most recent Scudetto in 2022.
Legendary coaches like Arrigo Sacchi and Carlo Ancelotti are also part of the inventory of the AC club’s history, without whom the Museo Mondo Milan (Casa Milan) in Via Aldo Rossi would not be so full of titles, successes and awards.
Not to forget, of course, the late patron Silvio Berlusconi, who owned the club between 1986 and 2017. The politician and media mogul with a dubious reputation is responsible for the glorious Rossoneri years in the 80s, 90s and 00s.
In short, the list of invitees for this Monday’s 125th anniversary and the scheduled celebrations (the traditional Italian club with British roots was founded on December 16, 1899) is likely to be almost endless.
Paolo cracks 1000
But quickly, the observer always comes across an omnipresent name in relation to Milan: Maldini. Both father Cesare (died in 2016 at the age of 84) and his son Paolo have celebrated countless successes with the Lombards and immortalized themselves several times in history.
Cesare, who was born in Trieste in 1932, began his career as a footballer in 1952 with his home club US Triestina, before joining AC Milan two years later. He went on to play in well over 300 games and win four league titles. He then went on to become a coach, making two (short) stints at Milan, and Cesare was also an assistant coach when Italy won the 1982 World Cup (3-1 in the final against Germany).
Paolo, who was born in Milan in 1968, even surpassed his father. Between 1985 and the end of his career in 2009 – he remained loyal to the Rossoneri throughout his entire career, including his youth training – the defensive artist, who could play on the left or in the center and disliked sliding tackles (“If I have to slide, I’ve already made a mistake”) 647 Serie A games, making him Milan’s all-time leading appearance maker, and 127 appearances in the Champions League. Paolo made over 900 competitive appearances for Milan alone, in addition to 127 international appearances.
Del Piero, Zidane & Co.: Praise from the greats
The only two downsides of his football career, which included winning the Champions League five times and seven league titles? With the Squadra Azzurra, Paolo only came in second once – in the 1994 World Cup (2:3 in a penalty shootout against Brazil) and in the 2000 European Championship (1:2 after extra time against France).
And after his retirement, when Paolo was technical director of the Milanese between 2019 and 2023, the inglorious separation followed in the summer of 2023. Combined with a small mudslinging match in the aftermath.
But that didn’t scratch the image of what is probably the greatest Milan icon. Especially among fans and companions, Paolo Maldini, in connection with his filling of the already large paternal footsteps, is considered the ultimate Rossoneri. Fittingly, Ronald Koeman (who will take over as Netherlands manager in 2023) once said: “There has never been a better left-back in the history of the game – he’s brilliant going forward with both feet and in his prime.” Alessandro del Piero probably summed it up even better: “There are great players, there are world-class players. And then there are those above that level. Paolo is the perfect example of this. He is the symbol of Milan.”
Zinedine Zidane also once offered humorous praise: “The best player in the world? Ronaldo, he passed Paolo Maldini.”
Incidentally, a third Maldini has appeared on the scene in recent years: Daniel. Paolo’s (56) 23-year-old son was trained and formed into a professional by the Rossoneri between 2010 and 2024 – including the 2022 league title.
In the meantime, however, the player, who, unlike his father and grandfather, plays in attack, now lives about 20 kilometers from Milan – this summer he made a permanent move to AC Monza. And in the meantime, he has also been promoted to Italian national player.
Interesting fact: in January 2021, the Maldini family came together for AC Milan’s 1000th Serie A appearance – at that time, Daniel had played six games, Paolo, as is well known, 647 and Cesare 347. It will be interesting to see how far the Maldinis push this number up.
