World Cup Football Legends -"il capitano" FRANCO BARESI

Milan's ultimate no.6

In footballing terms, when you think of Italy you think of defense, the Italian way of playing the game that has got them success time and time again despite the fact that they don’t produce sexy football. We are reminded of the plethora of defenders that the country has produced… the likes of Giorgio Cheillini, Fabio Cannavarro in the current crop that have proven their prowess worldwide at club level.

Many more illustrious names as Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini, Billy Costacurta, Scirea and Gentile who have become legends. But, the player I had like to mark respect to is the great “libero” Franco Baresi.

This Milan defender was any striker’s nightmare. A great brain at the back who was always perfect in his tackling and challenges. He was not a hot headed and crass kind of a defender rather an artist in his field. The last of the fading breed of sweepers or ‘libero’ as the Italians put it. He was captain charisma with the all qualities of leading the line and leading a team. Defending was never last ditch or messy when Baresi was at the back, he had the control, the vision, a sort of clairvoyance, sixth sense to sniff out an attack which is hardly found in any of defenders and that makes him one of the legends.

He hardly went into a wrong tackle because he studied the game so well that he hardly needed to lunge on the opponent, a player who totally changed the notions about defending. Often credited to instigate moves from the back and even finishing some with his spirit and tenacity, Baresi was an one team man. He played for A.C. Milan for his whole life after being rejected by Inter at an early age. The club was in turmoil after the being relegated to seria B in the 80’s when this 20 year old defender was given the captain’s armband and he complied to the trust shown in him. He gave it all for the club and I won’t be wrong in tagging him as the best there ever was at Milan because hardly anyone is that loyal anymore and dedicating 20 years of your life to a club and achieving so much.

Its because of this that the club retired the No 6 jersey to mark respect to one of their most devoted employee.

The only thing that eluded him…world cup 94

He was magnificent at the world stage too but his biggest achievement i.e. winning the1982 world cup was less than glorious for him because he hardly featured in the games with Italy having the likes of Gentile and Scirea in the team. Still that’s the only trophy he had to show for a celebrated career that he had. He was also in the team that secured 3^rd place in Italia 90 but his most Valiant effort to lift the cup was at U.S. 94 where he, at the age of 34 leading the Italian squad missed out on penalties. Despite suffering from injury he played against the Brazilians in the final only to see his and Baggio’s spot kick missed.

Still he has his share of accolades and people revere him for what he has contributed to the game of football. A milestone man who has carved his niche in the game as a legend of the game and has set a benchmark for the generations succeeding him. He was tutelage to Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta who later like him became Milan legends. The comparison will go on with people tagging Nesta or Maldini as next Baresi but for me he is inimitable, the real talisman and a player that marks respect for what he was on the pitch… an emblem, emblem of the Italian game.