Football Special Report: Tribute to a Legend – Franco Baresi
In 1976, two young brother of diminutive nature appeared at San Siro seeking a trial in order to get in to Inter Milan youth academy. The older brother, Giuseppe Baresi, was chosen while a young Franco was sent home disappointed. True to his character, Baresi
didn’t give up and decided to try his luck with the red and black half of the Milan derby. Of course, he got in!
The talent of Baresi could not be kept in the youth squad for long and a young Baresi slotted in to the Milan Backline the very next year. The legendary defender would go on to make 532 appearances in the red and black jersey. In the twenty seasons that
Baresi played for Milan, he averaged 25 league appearances a year. The skipper was like a General in the battlefield, leading his troops superbly from the back.
For a legend of Baresi’s statues, stats alone can hardly do justice to his achievements. One had to see him to believe it. Fan’s of AC Milan now remember Maldini’s darting runs up the left flank, and the sensational tackles that he made on the touchline.
Baresi in contrast was right in the heart of the defence. Baresi was so astute in his positioning that he hardly needed a tackle. One of the legend’s great performances came against the equally legendary Bulgarian Hristo Stoichkov in a tie against FC Barcelona.
Most defenders were left hapless facing the Bulgarian and the only way was to through him off the ball with a foul. Baresi on the other hand dispossessed the Barcelona ace with the elegance of a floating swan. Indeed Baresi had the striker in his pocket for
the entire 90 minutes.
Baresi perfected the ‘Sweeper’ role while he wore the AC Milan Azzurri jerseys. The younger generations of football fans have been deprived of this role due to evolution of the game. In this era, the use of two centre backs in a traditional 4-4-2 eliminates
the need for a ‘sweeper’. The two central defenders both act as ‘sweepers’, Baresi used to all that on his own and even managed to launch scathing counter attacks at will. It is safe to say that the current football players lack the intelligence and the ability
to play the ‘sweeper’ role. Owing to the emphasis on physique and strength over skill, the role is now all but extinct from the current version of football.
Baresi’s success at the club can only be matched by Paolo Maldini; his apprentice at the club. It is only fitting that Paolo breaks Baresi’s record for most number of games played and the most trophies won. Where Baresi is an immortal for the Rossoneri faithful,
his Azzurri career was equally breathtaking. It’s such a tragedy that legends like Maldini and Baresi never won a world cup. The sight of a crying Baresi handing over the captain’s armband to Maldini after the World Cup final defeat to Brazil is still fresh
in the minds of Azzurri fans.
AC Milan President Silvio Berlusconi has been criticized over recent years for his indifference towards his beloved club. The Retirement of Baresi was such a momentous occasion that even old Silvio himself was left in tears. The words of Berlusconi
“Selling Baresi would be synonymous to selling the flag of Milan itself”
are still unfurled as banners at the San Siro. Paying a tribute to the loyal skipper, Milan retired his number 6 jersey upon his retirement and rightly so. The number 6 will remain Baresi’s for eternity for no mortal could ever don the Jersey and do justice
to it.
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