FRANCO BARESI Born: 8th May 1960 Position: Central defender / Sweeper. Caps: Italy 81 (1982-1994) / 1 goal League Games: Italy 532 (1977-1997) / 16 goals European Footballer of the Year: 1988 (8th), 1989 (2nd), 1990 (5th), 1992 (20th), 1993 (6th), 1994 (11th), 1995 (21th) Italian Footballer of the Year: 1989/90 Clubs: Milan Trophies & Tournaments: World Cup winner: 1982 (did not play) World Cup runner-up: 1994 World Cup participation: 1982, 1990, 1994 European Championship participation: 1988 Italian Champion: 1979, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994 ,1996 Italian runner-up: 1990, 1991 European Cup winner: 1989, 1990, 1994 Euopean Cup runner-up: 1993, 1995 Franco Baresi was the ultimate “one club man”. He served Milan through the greatest highs and lows in the clubs history, and achieving more than almost any other player in history. Baresi began his career at Milan in 1978 (a 2-1 victory away at Verona) while his brother, Giuseppe, chose fierce city rivals Inter. In just his second season Baresi played a vital role as Milan swept to championship success. The following season Milan finished third, but two players and club president Felice Colombo were implicated in a betting scandal and Milan were onsequently relegated to Serie B. The bounced back though, winning Serie B, before a disastrous season which saw them relegated again. That summer Baresi travelled to Spain with La Squadra and while Baresi did not play, Italy won their third World Cup. On Baresi’s return Milan won Serie B again, and set about consolidating heir position in Serie A. As Silvio Berlusconi saved the club from bankruptcy, Milan re-emerged as one of the world’s top clubs with the superstars to match. The late 1980s and early 90s witnessed an unprescedented era of dominance for Milan as they swept all of Italy and Europe before them. They first secured a Scudetto before back to back European Cups. Italy went into the 1990 World Cup as hosts and favourites, due in large part to a superb defence marshalled by Baresi. They managed to keep clean sheets all the way to the semi final before conceding to Claudio Canniggia and Argentina. In the subsequent penalty shootout Baresi scored his penalty (the first) but misses by Donadoni and Serena cost Italy dear. Milan continued to dominate Italy and do well in Europe winning Scudetti in 1991/2, 92/3 and 93/4. Milan lost the 1993 European Cup final to Marseille by a single goal, and returned in 1994 to thrash Barcelona 4-0 (although Baresi was suspended for that game). The 1994 World Cup saw an inconsistent Italy advance to the final before a 0-0 draw with Brazil in the final. During the tournament Baresi had suffered with knee problems and had undergone an operation, but was back to captain Italy in the final. In the penalty shootout that followed, Baresi put his spotkick high over the bar as Italy crashed to another disappointing exit. The next year Milan again reached the European Cup final, this time losing to Ajax by a solitary goal scored by Patrick Kluivert. After another Scudetto Milan had a disappointing 1996/7 season, their worst in some years. Baresi retired in 1997, 20 years after his Milan career began. He had played an incredible 444 games in Serie A, and in recognition of his achievements Milan retired his famous No. 6 jersey. He was later voted Milan’s Player of the Century, an amazing honour given the array of greats who have pulled on the red and black shirt. Franco Baresi was not a man blessed with either the great pace or size associated with many modern defenders. Instead he had the greatest gift of all: vision. Few (if any) could rival Baresi as a reader of the game and the unititiated would often not realised there had been any danger as Baresi easily snuffed out even the most menacing attacks. One of the greatest sights in modern football was Franco calmly bringing the ball out of defence in order to start yet another Milan move. While the Dutch masters often grabbed the limelight at the San Siro, Baresi was the rock on which the Milan dynasty was built. Following his retirement Milan found it almost impossible to regain their previous doiminance until the arrival of the new Baresi, Allesandro Nesta, in 2002. Baresi still works at Milan and is now an honoury vice-president of the club. Season - Club - League----Games – Goals 1977/78 AC Milan..............01 / 00 1978/79 AC Milan..............27 / 00 1979/80 AC Milan..............27 / 00 1980/81 AC Milan..............27 / 00 1981/82 AC Milan..............29 / 02 1982/83 AC Milan..............31 / 04 1983/84 AC Milan..............34 / 03 1984/85 AC Milan..............29 / 00 1985/86 AC Milan..............28 / 00 1986/87 AC Milan..............25 / 02 1987/88 AC Milan..............26 / 01 1988/89 AC Milan..............23 / 02 1989/90 AC Milan..............28 / 01 1990/91 AC Milan..............26 / 00 1991/92 AC Milan..............27 / 00 1992/93 AC Milan..............14 / 00 1993/94 AC Milan..............27 / 00 1994/95 AC Milan..............30 / 00 1995/96 AC Milan..............13 / 01 1996/97 AC Milan..............13 / 00
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