Cesare Maldini

Cesare Maldini

Maldini in 1969
Personal information
Full name Cesare Maldini
Date of birth (1932-02-05)5 February 1932
Place of birth Trieste, Italy
Date of death 3 April 2016(2016-04-03) (aged 84)
Place of death Milan, Italy
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1952–1954 Triestina 32 (0)
1954–1966 Milan 347 (3)
1966–1967 Torino 33 (0)
Total 412 (3)
National team
1960–1963 Italy 14 (0)
Teams managed
1970–1972 Milan (assistant manager)
1972–1974 Milan
1974–1976 Foggia
1976–1977 Ternana
1978–1980 Parma
1980–1986 Italy (assistant manager)
1986–1996 Italy U21
1996–1998 Italy
2001 Milan
2001–2002 Paraguay

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (goals)

Cesare Maldini (5 February 1932 – 3 April 2016) was an Italian football manager and player, who spent most of his playing career with Italian club A.C. Milan, also later coaching the side. A commanding, elegant, and respected defender, with good technique and passing range, and an excellent ability to read the game, he was known for his leadership, consistency, and tactical versatility, as well as his discipline and class, both on and off the pitch; although he was usually deployed as a centre back, or as a sweeper, he was also capable of functioning as a right-back.[1][2][3][4][5]

At club level, Maldini won 4 Serie A league titles and 1 European Cup with Milan. Internationally, he played for the Italian national team, earning 14 caps and participating in the 1962 World Cup. As a coach, he had a successful career in charge of the Italian Under-21 side, winning the European Under-21 Championship a record three consecutive times.

Early life and family

The son of Albino Maldini, a sailor, and Maria, Cesare Maldini was born in Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy.[5] He married Maria Luisa (Marisa; nee Mazzucchelli) in 1962; together they had six children: three sons and three daughters.[5] One of his sons, Paolo, also had a successful football career as a defender with Milan,[4] and also once held the record for the most caps for the Italian national team (now third behind Gianluigi Buffon and Fabio Cannavaro). The younger Maldini captained Milan to the UEFA Champions League title in 2003 and 2007, and won the trophy five times in total.[6] Maldini's grandsons Christian[7] and Daniel play football in the Milan youth teams.[8][9][10]

Playing career

Club

Maldini began his playing career with local side Triestina, in 1952,[5] and made his Serie A debut in his first season with the club, on 24 May 1953, in a 0–0 away draw against Palermo.[11] After two seasons with Triestina, Maldini transferred to A.C. Milan in 1954, where he went on to achieve notable successes both domestically and internationally in the team's starting line-up, also becoming an important figure at the club.[12] He made his debut with the club on 19 September 1954, in a 4–0 league win over his former side, featuring in a Milan team which included several important players at the time, such as Lorenzo Buffon, Francesco Zagatti, Nils Liedholm, Gunnar Nordahl, and Juan Alberto Schiaffino; he immediately broke into the first team and won his first league title in his debut season with the squad.[11][13] In total, he made 347 appearances for Milan in Serie A, scoring 3 goals,[1] and made 412 appearances for the club in all competitions.[3][13] Maldini won four league titles with Milan, and also later became the team's captain in 1961, a role which he held for several years, until he left the club, and was succeeded by Gianni Rivera. During his time with Milan, he also won a Coppa Latina, and went on to capture the club's first ever European Cup as team captain in 1963, as Milan defeated Benfica 2–1 at Wembley Stadium on 22 May, with two goals from José Altafini;[3][4][14][15] as a result, Milan became the first Italian side ever to win the trophy, while Maldini became the first Italian captain to lift the cup.[9][16] He made his final appearance for Milan on 22 May 1966, in a 6–1 home win over Catania, in Serie A.[11] In 1966 he moved to Torino for a season, before retiring in 1967;[8] he made his final Serie A appearance on 28 May, in a 2–1 away defeat to Napoli.[11]

International

At international level Maldini earned 14 caps for the Italy national football team between 1960 and 1963, also serving as the national team's captain between 1962 and 1963,[17] but was less successful than with Milan. He made his debut on 6 January 1960, in a 3–0 win over Switzerland in the 1955–60 Central European International Cup,[17][18] and later took part in the 1962 FIFA World Cup with Italy, making two appearances in the competition.[15] The team suffered a disappointing and controversial first-round elimination, although he was named to the team of the tournament for his performances.[8][19] He made his final appearance for Italy in a European championship qualifier in Moscow, in 1963, as Italy sufferred a 2–0 away defeat to the Soviet Union.[5]

Managerial career

Early career

After retiring from playing Maldini became a coach, starting his career as an assistant manager for Nereo Rocco at Milan in 1970, and later also coached the team between 1972 and 1974, while Rocco served as the club's technical director. Maldini's first official match as Milan's head coach came on 6 September 1972, in a 4–1 away win over FA Red Boys Differdange in the Cup Winners' Cup;[11][13] Maldini won a Coppa Italia and a Cup Winners' Cup double in 1973, and also narrowly missed out on the league title that season.[2][8][12][13] He was sacked by the club in 1974, following a disappointing 2–1 defeat to Verona on 6 April, and was replaced by Giovanni Trapattoni for the final few games of the season.[11][13] He later went on to coach Foggia (1974–1976), Ternana (1976–77), and Serie C1 side Parma (1978–80), helping the team to obtain Serie B promotion during his tenure with the club, after managing a second place finsh in the league during the 1978–79 Serie C1 season.[2][8][18]

Between 1980 and 1986, he was one of Enzo Bearzot's assistants for the Italian national team, and even served as his assistant manager during the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain, which Italy won.[2][8][20]

Italy under-21 coach

Maldini took charge of the Italian Under-21 side in 1986, and coached the team for ten years, winning the European Under-21 Football Championship tournament a record three consecutive times between 1992 and 1996.[21] As Italy's Under-21 coach, Maldini was also known as a mentor for many of the team's players, who lated stated that he played a key role in their development; indeeed, former protégés Fabio Cannavaro, Gianluigi Buffon and Francesco Totti from Maldini's 1996 Under-21 European Championship-winning squad went on to win the 2006 FIFA World Cup.[22] He also coached the Italian Olympic teams that took part at the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics.[2][20]

1998 World Cup with Italy senior team

Following his successes with the Under-21 side, Maldini took charge of the senior team in December 1996,[18] replacing Arrigo Sacchi.[5] After taking over as the national team's manager, he helped Italy to a crucial 1–0 away victory over England at Wembley Stadium on 12 February 1997,[5] and successfully aided the team to qualify for the 1998 FIFA World Cup undefeated through the play-offs against Russia.[20] Despite initially struggling in qualification, the Italian media and fans had great expectations of the 1998 side, which included a strong defence, and several prolific attacking players, such as Christian Vieri, Alessandro Del Piero and Filippo Inzaghi, among others, in their prime. Cesare Maldini's son, Paolo, was captain of the team.[4][9][20][23]

Italy were drawn in Group B of the tournament with Chile, Cameroon and Austria. They won their group, drawing 2–2 with Chile in their opening game,[20] and then beating Cameroon 3–0[24] and Austria 2–1.[25] Advancing to the Round of 16, Italy then beat Norway 1–0[26] to secure a spot in the quarter-finals against tournament hosts France. After a goalless draw, Italy were eventually eliminated by the eventual champions on penalties.[27]

Maldini resigned after the tournament due to heavy criticism in the Italian media over his allegedly ultra-defensive and "old-fashioned" catenaccio-inspired tactics, which included the use of a traditional man-marking defensive back-line line, as well as a sweeper.[5][20][23][28][29][30] He was also condemned for leaving Gianfranco Zola out of the squad, and for his reluctance to field creative forwards Roberto Baggio and Alessandro Del Piero alongside each other in the front-line, opting instead to have one player come on for the other in the second half;[20][23][31] these controversial substitutions were compared to those made between Sandro Mazzola and Gianni Rivera by Ferruccio Valcareggi, the Italian manager at the 1970 World Cup.[32]

Milan return and 2002 World Cup with Paraguay

After serving as a head scout for his former team Milan from February 1999,[18] Maldini briefly returned to coach the Milan first team in March 2001, serving as an interim manager for the club (whose captain was his son, Paolo)[33] following Alberto Zaccheroni's departure, and led the squad for their final games of the season. Although the club endured a disappointing season, finishing in sixth place and failing to qualify for the Champions League, Maldini did lead the team to a memorable 6–0 victory over cross-city rivals Inter in the Milan Derby on 11 May;[13] the result was Inter's worst-ever home defeat in Serie A, and Milan's biggest league win in the Derby.[34] Maldini was replaced by Fatih Terim the following season, although he initially remained with the club as an advisor to the coach.[18]

In January 2002, Maldini became coach of Paraguay's national team.[35] His appointment caused some controversy as domestic managers were overlooked (prompting the managers union to try to unsuccessfully expel him for immigration breaches), and because he spoke little Spanish.[5] Maldini nonetheless had the support of star goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert and several other senior players.[36] He took over the team which had already qualified for the 2002 World Cup hosted by South Korea and Japan; at the age of 70, he became, what was at the time, the oldest coach to ever be in charge of a national side at a World Cup tournament (his son Paolo captained Italy in the same tournament);[8] this record was later broken by Greece's coach Otto Rehhagel in the 2010 World Cup.[37]

Despite missing Chilavert for the first game due to suspension, Paraguay managed to advance from Group B to the Round of 16, after a 2–2 draw with South Africa,[38] a 3–1 defeat from Spain,[39] and a 3–1 victory over Slovenia.[40] In the Round of 16, Paraguay were eliminated by the eventual finalists Germany, losing 1–0 courtesy of an 89th-minute goal from Oliver Neuville.[41]

After retirement

After the 2002 World Cup, Maldini returned to A.C. Milan as a talent scout for the Rossoneri.[42] He also later worked as a sports analyst for several radio stations and sports channels,[18] such as beIN SPORTS, and also for Al Jazeera in 2012, with Alessandro Altobelli.[8]

Death

On 3 April 2016, Maldini died in Milan at the age of 84.[43] In his honour, a minute of silence was held before every league game in Italy that weekend, while Milan players wore black armbands in their match against Atalanta.[44] Maldini's funeral service was held on 5 April, at the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, in Milan,[45] and was attended by several important footballing figures.[10]

Career statistics

Club

Source:[11]

Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Triestina 1952–53 10------10
1953–54 310------310
Milan 1954–55 271----10281
1955–56 220--6020300
1956–57 211----20231
1957–58 3203080--430
1958–59 34010--10360
1959–60 290--4010340
1960–61 30020--20340
1961–62 341--20--361
1962–63 310109020430
1963–64 220103030290
1964–65 340--20--360
1965–66 3101080--400
Torino 1966–67 33030--30390
Total for Milan 3473904201404123
Career totals 41231204201704513

*European competitions include the UEFA European Cup & UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

International

Source:[17]

Italy national team
Year Apps Goals
1960 10
1961 30
1962 60
1963 40
Total 140

Honours

Player

Club

Milan[1][2]

Manager

Club

Milan[2][11]

International

Italy national under-21 football team[21]

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "A.C. Milan Hall of Fame: Cesare Maldini". acmilan.com. A.C. Milan. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Alberto Costa. "Maldini, Cesare" (in Italian). Treccani: Enciclopedia dello Sport (2002). Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Michael Butler (3 April 2016). "Cesare Maldini, former Milan captain and Italy manager, dies aged 84". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Italy place faith in family values". The Irish Times. 11 October 1997. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Brian Glanville (5 April 2016). "Cesare Maldini obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  6. ↑ "Retiring Maldini celebrates the beauty of Milan". UEFA.com. 29 May 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  7. ↑ "Christian Maldini". Discipline Knowledge. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Giorgio Dell’Arti (9 May 2014). "Cesare Maldini" (in Italian). Il Corriere della Sera. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 Tom Mendelsohn (3 April 2016). "Cesare Maldini obituary: Italy and AC Milan legend dies at 84". International Business Times. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Sheva: 'Maldini like a father'". Football Italia. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Cesare Maldini". magliarossonera.it (in Italian). Maglia Rossonera. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  12. 1 2 "Milan great Cesare Maldini dies aged 84". FourFourTwo. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "FAREWELL TO A CLUB LEGEND". A.C. Milan. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  14. ↑ "Wembley 1963". Uefa.com. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  15. 1 2 "Morto Cesare Maldini, aveva 84 anni" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  16. ↑ "1963, Cesare Maldini primo italiano ad alzare la Coppa Campioni: Milan sul tetto d’Europa" (in Italian). Il Corriere della Sera. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  17. 1 2 3 "Maldini, Cesare" (in Italian). FIGC. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "E' morto Cesare Maldini: ci regalò l'impresa di Vicenza 1979" (in Italian). La Gazzetta di Parma. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  19. 1 2 "FIFA World Cup Awards: All-Star Team". Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Francia 1998 – Capitolo II: Le scelte di Cesare" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  21. 1 2 "Italy beats Spain: third European title for Cesare Maldini" (PDF). FIGC.it. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  22. ↑ "AC Milan legend Cesare Maldini passes away at 84". Yahoo. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  23. 1 2 3 "Francia 1998 – Capitolo Capitolo III: I rigori ancora protagonisti" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  24. ↑ "Italy – Cameroon3:0 (1:0)". FIFA. 17 June 1998.
  25. ↑ "Vieri, Baggio goals help Italy win 2–1, avoid Brazil". CNN. 15 September 1998.
  26. ↑ "Italia, la vittoria della sofferenza" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  27. ↑ "Francia avanti, ancora rigori stregati" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  28. ↑ Helene Elliott (17 June 1998). "Player's Father Always Interferes With Italy's Coach". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  29. ↑ "Profile: Cesare Maldini". BBC.co.uk. 10 April 2002. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  30. ↑ "Test per la difesa a tre Spazio a Cossu e Maggio" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 2 March 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  31. ↑ "Maldini sceglie Baggio, ma Alex vuole il posto" (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  32. ↑ "Messico 70 e quei sei minuti di Rivera" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  33. ↑ "Prima trasferta" (in Italian). Rai Sport. 7 April 2001. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  34. ↑ Simon Evans (12 May 2001). "AC crush Inter in derby drubbing". ESPN FC. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  35. ↑ "Maldini to Coach Paraguay in Cup". The New York Times. 28 December 2001. Retrieved 28 December 2001.
  36. ↑ "World Cup 2002 Cesare Maldini". BBC. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  37. ↑ Nicola Cecere (3 April 2016). "Maldini, dalla Coppa Campioni a c.t. del figlio: una carriera straordinaria" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  38. ↑ "South Africa peg back Paraguay". BBC. 2 June 2002. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  39. ↑ "Spain reach last 16". BBC. 7 June 2002. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  40. ↑ "Slovenia – Paraguay (1–3)". Sky Sports. 12 June 2002. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  41. ↑ "Germany edge out Paraguay". BBC. 15 June 2002. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  42. ↑ "Mondiali, Cesare Maldini: farò l'osservatore del Milan" (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  43. ↑ "Former Italy head coach Cesare Maldini dies aged 84". FIFA. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  44. ↑ "Former Italy coach Maldini passes away". TSN. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  45. ↑ "CESARE MALDINI FUNERAL: BERLUSCONI ARRIVES". A.C. Milan. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  46. ↑ "ERIC BATTY’S WORLD XI – THE SIXTIES" Retrieved on 26 November 2015

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Francesco Zagatti		 Milan captain
1961–1966 		Succeeded by
Gianni Rivera
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