I just I'd post up a thread to see who people believe has been Milan's greatest player in the history of the club. This can be either who has been the best while at Milan or the best player who has at some point played for Milan. There are quite a few contenders from the 50s to the modern day. Nordahl, Schiaffino, Altafini, Hamrin, Rivera, Gullit, Van Basten, Rijkaard, Baresi, Weah, Baggio, Desailly and of course Maldini.
From all acounts of stories heard and small highlights I've seen, Gianni Rivera is the greatest Milan player ever. After that, one might say Franco Baresi, and then perhaps Marco Van Basten.
For me its San Paolo Maldini. He is the most decorated player in the club's history and has basically been perfect for about 15 years. Close behind are Baresi and Nordahl, but Milan have had so many geats that it is difficult to choose.
Give me Rivera! George is also one of my favorites; some of the best goals I've ever seen in my entire life.
This is a very, very difficult question to answer. Milan has been blessed over the years of having spectacular players in all positions, from defenders like Baresi and Maldini, to strikers that were the best in their respective generations (from swedes, dutch, liberian and now ukranian...grazie Sheva). But i think that, for me, to answer this question, a special player that elevates the team to a new level is the best way to do it. Just as Diego Maradona lifted Napoli into a team that got placed on the Italian map, I think Gianni Rivera "the Golden Boy", did the same for Milan. Two European cups and three scudettos, spanning a career that started in the early 60's and ended in the early 80's is what puts him just a tad ahead of everyone else that has fortunate to grace that beautiful rossineri shirt. Its a diffucult question, but its nice to know that the tradition of Milan from its birth to the present has the love and admiration from millions and millions of tifossi that respect those special players and honor and salute them, no matter how long ago they played for us. Its what makes being a milanista self gratifying. IMHO that is.
Hard to pick between Rivera, Baresi, and Maldini. I did however name my son (born 6 weeks ago) Paolo.
It's tough to compare players of different eras. I think Maldini and Rivera though are very similar in that they played and won so many games at Milan in thier careers. They were also the 2 greatest captains ever to play for Milan. But the greatest player I ever saw was Van Basten. But when you compare him to Gunnar Nordahl he is not as good, at least just looking at the stats. Gunnar Nordahl, Games: 257, Goals: 212, 5-time Serie A's top scorer. He only played 8 seasons for Milan and he is still Milan's all-time leading scorer. Wow, a truly great player.
Stats are good to consider but one's devotion should also be weighed. Baresi stayed true to the club throughout its darkest period and I personally feel that sort of devotion is slightly more impressive than goals and trophies won during the good times. It's true that many contenders didn't have this opportunity to show that level of faith in their club, so I totally agree with Spartak about how it's very difficult to compare icons from different eras (and different positions too). Can anyone who was a fan at that time give us more info on what happened? I read that the club was going through serious financial troubles in addition to the betting relegation so was there immense pressure for Milan to sell him and he outright refused to go, or was there just too little interest from other clubs? http://www.acmilan-online.com/lg_baresi.php
1979-80: Milan finish third but are relegated because of the infamous betting scandal. A practically unchanged team wins serie B the following season. 1981-82: in the worst season of their history, Milan finish third from the bottom and are relegated again. All the players who had won the scudetto three years before are sold, except Baresi. There are offers for him from other teams (IIRC, mainly Fiorentina, who were runners-up to Juventus that year), but Baresi decides to stay with the club he joined at 14 and, aged 22, becomes the captain around whom the team is rebuilt.
Thanks, jngugi19. Great post. I also found another Baresi link: http://www.football-people.com/baresi.html It's interesting that his brother Giuseppe played for Inter at the time. I vaguely remember hearing once that they both tried out for Inter at a young age but Franco was rejected. If that's true then it makes you wonder how different things might have been for both Franco and Milan if he had been accepted.
My vote is with Rivera. And I'm hoping that 15 years from now we'll be able to mentions Kaka in such a conversation.
Me too. I've been very impressed with Kaka's attitude and contribution so far. Definitely one of my favorite young players along with Tevez and Martins.
I can only really vote from 1992 onwards, but I find it impossible to seperate Maldini and Baresi, with van Basten a close 3rd.