The Miracle Of Istanbul - Where are they now?

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Cafu
Right Back

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Cafu was the right back of the vaunted Milan defense (Cafu, Nesta, Stam, Maldini) of the 2004-2005 season.

Cafu is considered one of the best right backs of the last 10-15 years. He won 2 World Cups (Brazil) and 1 Champions League Trophy (Milan). After the 2005 Final he played with Milan until the end of the 2008 season. He scored in his final game for the Rossoneri, and AC Milan VP Adriano Galliani has left the door open for Cafu to return and work for the club.

In December, Cafu was rumored for a short return to football with Northern Premier League Division One North side Garforth Town. Garforth Town is known for signing players like Sócrates, Careca, and Lee Sharpe to short-term, month-long contracts to play for them.

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Jaap Stam
Center Back

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The Dutch giant Jaap Stam, former Manchester United center back, played for Milan from 2004-2006. He was one of two legendary center backs playing for Milan in the 2005 Champions League Final. After 2006, Stam joined Dutch club Ajax for two years. He played for Ajax for a little over a year winning 2 Johan Cruyff shields and 1 KNVB Cup. In October of 2007 Stam announced his immediate retirement from professional football.

As of October 2008, Stam had returned to Manchester United as a scout for the club. He is responsible for scouting in South America.

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Alessandro Nesta
Center Back

http://soccerlegends.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/nesta.jpg

Another good Italian defender. Nesta moved to Milan in 2002 from Lazio. He instantly helped Milan become successful.

After Milan lost to Liverpool in the 2005 Champions League Final, Nesta struggled with injuries but was still very successful. He was apart of Milan's triumphant Champions League team in 2007. He also won the World Cup with Italy in 2006.

Injury problems forced him off the pitch for the entire 2008-2009 season, and despite having a contract that ties him to Milan until 2011 there are questions on whether he will ever return to competitive football.

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Paolo Maldini
Left Back
Captain

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/columns/molinaro/gfx/maldini-392.jpg

A true living legend, Maldini is the most decorated player in the history of Italian football. In the 2005 Champions League Final Maldini scored Milan's first goal (in a record time of 51 seconds). After the loss, Maldini described the 2005 final as the worst moment of his career.

Maldini stayed at Milan for the rest of his career, lifting the 2007 Champions League trophy (the fifth of his career!).

Maldini played his 900th match for Milan on May 17, 2009. He played his last match in the San Siro on May 24, 2009 (where he was jeered and insulted by some of the Milan supporters). Finally, he will end his playing career on May 31, 2009 when Milan travel to play at Fiorentina.

Milan plan to retire Maldini's number 3 jersey, with the club only allowing one of Maldini's sons to wear it if they come through the club.

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Andrea Pirlo
Holding Midfielder

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Andrea Pirlo, a dead-ball specialist, is more of a holding midfielder/deep-lying playmaker. He has pulled the strings in the Milan midfielder for 8 years now. He missed a penalty during the penalty shootout in the 2005 Final. Even after the disappointment of the 2005 Final, Pirlo's talent, form, and attitude didn't fall off (contrary to other Milan players involved in the final).

In 2006 he won the World Cup with Italy. He led Milan in minutes played in 2006-2007. Finally, he was nominated for FIFA World Player of the Year. He also collected a number of personal awards including his inclusion in the 2006 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament.

Pirlo is still considered an important player for both AC Milan and the Italian National Team.