The Last Few Months of Maldini

When Italian and AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini announced his retirement last year, the entire footballing world paid tribute to him, with good reason. No matter what league or team you follow, Maldini is a player — and a person — it’s impossible not to respect: Classy, graceful, unassuming, wildly talented, quietly intelligent. He’s made more appearances than anyone else for the Italian national team and, perhaps more impressively, spent every minute of a career that spans more than two decades with a single club, from his first youth match to his last senior one. You don’t find players like that in any sport any more, let alone in football.

So, the praise came from all corners of the earth, and we prepared for life After Maldini (at least until his son Christian makes his Milan debut) — but then he changed his mind. Despite knees so bad he couldn’t play two matches in a row and the need for yet another surgery, Maldini decided to stay around for the 2007-2008 season, a change of heart with which no one offered an argument, particularly those at Milan who were looking at a Maldini-free defense with no small sense of concern.

Now, though, the reprieve is over and the end is really nigh: After Milan’s victory in the World Club Cup final yesterday, Maldini again said goodbye, effective at the end of the season. That gives us all about five more months to watch him before he vanishes from football (Unlike his father, who coached for nearly 30 years after his playing career ended, Maldini has said he has no interest whatsoever in coaching.), and we all should make an effort to do so — there’s not going to be another one like him for a long, long time.

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Category: Europe, Spain La Liga, World Football