I don't know. We won this scudetto mostly on old legs. Thiago is the only vital player that is substancially younger. Abate, KPB and Pato come close. But who was crucial? Zlatan, Abbiati, Nesta, Rino, Seedorf in the end too. This is still a Mladini era team. Only when Pirlo and Rino/Ambro and Nesta go it will be a final break.

Sure, but some things need to be gradual, I don't really feel that Rino was that vital for us, neither Seedorf. Sure in a handful of games they came through for us with great perfromances or hugely important goals.

Abbiati can still play on for a while yet, same with Zlatan. Nesta is the only one that really was vital for our season from the old gaurd, a player that we couldn't have done this without.

Come next season another few of those players will be phased out and we'll see a season after that what will happen. The club is taking the right steps into transitioning the team to the new era. Sure they could have done it earlier but better late then never

Still had there not been the young players and the experienced players (I wouldn't call players that are in Zlatan's age group old or on their last legs), we would never have achieved this.

Happy Birthday, Legend!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMz70s5dX_w...eature=youtu.be

Happy Birthday Maldini. Best defender, EVER !

I'll do the 3rd, Happy Birthday wish, thank you! Top of the day, Paolo, King of Kings.

and almost a God. Happy B-day!!

Remember there's heroes and there's legends.
Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.

Happy Birthday to the living legend 'Paolo Maldini'

happy birthday maldini

happy birthday maldini

Happy birthday GOD

So what is he doing lately?

supervising.

This is such a wrong assessment I'm not gonna bother replying!

Really? Why bother saying anything then almost two months later?

What?

Two months past from my comment, and suddenly you say you don't agree with my assessment but don't consider wasting time replying to it. So, what's the point of your comment then?

I agree, the introduction of KPB in our midfield did wonders ... But that does not cancel out Seedorf's contribution



You never give the benefit of the doubt do you han?

Rebuilding a team can be done in many ways; Juventus for instance has been shedding skin after skin since they came back from Serie B. Spending Millions at one go just to get their team back on its feet. inter (pre-calciopoli) & Liverpool come to mind in terms of prestigious clubs, that have money and spend it, yet never come to a median with the right squad to win something meaningful.

Milan however has done a gradual cycle, a smooth transition if you will ... While at that, the club is currently building a side that could snatch the lantern off of Barca's hands.

Galliani has been handling Milan's squad affairs for 25 years now, since his appointment to date - we are considered the most successful club in the world. He knows what he is doing when he extends/terminates contracts, he has a long-term plan for this team - as he stated in Milan's workshop in 2008.

We went from CWC winners to UEFA cup participants, however emerged from a dark phase with a front-line only Fantacalcio could conjure up. Have faith in the men that run this club buddy, they are not in it to ruin Milan. The period of being 'stingy' is the period when Italy got hit hard economically.

Oops! I really didn't notice the date. I thought it was a recent post since the thread was up.

Paolo Maldini hints at AC Milan return

Legendary Italian defender says 'the right conditions' could prompt him to accept a role with the Serie A champions as he cannot stay away from his 'football passion'

Paolo Maldini admits he would consider returning to AC Milan following his retirement from football in 2009.

The 43-year-old former defender left the Italian champions following a success-filled career which spanned over two decades.

And, having spent the last two years outside of the game, Maldini believes he still has plenty to offer, but not in a playing capacity.

Speaking to Il Giorno, the former captain said: "For now I am working as a father, a difficult job, but if I receive an interesting offer then I could return to working in football.

"Football is my passion, my life and I know Milan like the back of my hand.

"If there are the right conditions I would be very happy to come back to the team I love and give back, in part, the many things I received."

Previous reports have suggested the ex-Italy international could return to San Siro as a director.

Maldini began his Milan career in 1978 as a youth and turned professional in 1985.

He won a hoard of trophies including seven Italian titles, and five European Cups during his time at the club.

goal.com

Paolo is spending his vacation in New York with his family. In this video he was at the Adidas Fanatic Tournament in NYC with his 2 sons playing around having fun.

http://youtu.be/XRZQpDYotZ0

Carles Puyol brought a special guest to last evening's training session. Puyol wrote on his twitter account: "Today I've watched the training session with the best defender in history, my idol Paolo Maldini. What a phenomenon".



facebook

Let's sign Puyol

Maldini is huge!

My respect for Puyol just went from 0 to 3. Or 30, even.

+1

You guys didn't know Puyol is a big Maldini/Milan fan?! forgotten the Albertini farewell and all?

I didn't forget per say, but its nice when moments like these recur to reinforce a point.

Haha, indeed.

Quite frightening actually.

I've witnessed heaven!

HAHAHA... Lovely

It's being rumored that Maldini will be making his way back to AC Milan as the new secretary-general of Milan Foundation. Nothing is official just yet, but it's said to be very close.

Link: http://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/calci...ml?refresh_cens

That would be great. I hope we can end this ridiculous cold war between the club and Maldini.

Does anyone have any recommended Maldini clips? I feel deprived that the only time I've ever watched the man play was in the '02 World Cup when I really didn't know anything about the game anyways.

Paolo Maldini - The DVD:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5to0hzqk9o

Compilation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkM7fEMADw0

Uefa Interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gxcem0gpK0

Awesome, thanks. I'll have to watch the DVD video later, but from the others, he seems very "down to earth" of a guy. Love the way he was able to not just knock the ball away from a tackle, but also possess it as well. I don't think I've seen that very often.

And, it looks like he was a better player as a small child than I am/could be now.

Yup, the DVD is beyond awesome. Fit for a king, nicely produced, though a bit outdated in the sense that it's only up till around 2005 - that night in Istanbul. His story continued beyond that, so fingers crossed another biographic DVD documentary comes along in the near future. If not, I'm gonna have to make one myself.

Paolo Maldini told some stories of his career to the microphones of Virgin Radio. (Interviewed by DJ Ringo)

I obviously couldn't understand due to inability to comprehend Italian.

However, maybe one of you might take something from it.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150814016605858

If this is how it went down, then there really isn't much left.

You said it all, man. The image said the rest. I'm so happy I did not get to see that match.

What are you guys talking about?Got me intrigued.

Paolo's last game at San Siro, the curva contested him for some reason. He's showing them the middle finger in the picture above.

I know the reason. Pathetic hypocrites, this curva. And we have a spinless board to go with it. No wonder Paolo has stayed away from Milan these last couple of years, though the ice is breaking up a tad. It's not the curva basturds I'm most disappointed/angry in, it's the board. Galliani and Berlusconi most of all, the people Paolo defended all his life.

But hey that's how the world rolls now. Maldini fought the ultras defending the club policies and this is what he gets!

When I saw that our last game of the season was at the San Siro I was disappointed. But thank Paolo this was not his last game!!

i never recall this incident.


i guess you can't always have for the perfect fans, theres always gotta be some rotten ones.

Maldini: ""The rumors about me getting divorced aren't true. Everything is great at home. I'm happily married. I haven't received any offers from PSG, but that doesn't mean that it won't happen. Milan haven't offered me anything yet. They don't have the desire to bring me back. A few people have asked me to return to Milan. Leonardo, Allegri and some of my former teammates. Leonardo wanted me in a role where I would be close to the players. Allegri wanted me to be the link between the players and the management. Milan is in my heart and I want to repay the club. I have told this to Berlusconi. I only want the best for Milan and that might be a problem for someone. I'm not afraid to say things as they are and that might also be a problem. An eventual return to Milan would be my way of saying thanks. I have so much love for the Milan shirt, almost a completely unconditional love. I'm in love with football and one day I will work in this area again. I received an offer from Chelsea when Ancelotti was the coach there, but I rejected it. And then I got an offer from New York Cosmos. It was interesting, but not clear. They wanted me to do a bit of everything. It was an ugly derby. Cold in every sense. Also on a technical level. Inter did what they had to do but it wasn't a good game. Milan are still the favorites to win the Scudetto. They are the strongest team. Pato is blessed with talent. But when you're aware of that, your progress can be more slow. The day that I see Pato carry the team, not only with his goals but also with his attitude, then I will consider him a super-champion. For now, Pato is a talent who has the potential of becoming a champion. Ibra is Milan's treasure. He's dominant and able to carry the team. He always plays and never holds back. Ibra's problem at Barça was philosophical, mental. Ibra is direct and Barça plays in a different way. What has happened to Gattuso is a crazy thing. Im very displeased. I drive my kids to school and to training at Milan. Christian is a defender and Daniel is a midfielder who plays on both on the left and the right. I play a lot of sports now, like tennis and boxing. Every Saturday I play 7-a-side football. I play as a striker. After a life in defence, I fancy to dribble and to score goals."

Man, imagine a future Milan side with TWO Maldini's also... is it me or did he hit out at Galliani?

Anyways, interesting read. thanks for posting.