Demetrio Albertini

Midfielder Demetrio Albertini was an Italian footballer whose name was synonymous with the great AC Milan team of the 1990s. Having started his career with the Milan youth teams, he spent a season on loan in Serie B with Padova (1990-91) before returning to Milano where he matured in the shadow of great midfielders such as Carlo Ancelotti and Frank Rijkaard.

Under Milan coach Fabio Capello, Albertini won five Italian titles (1992-94, 1996, and 1999), three Italian Super Cups (1992-94), one Champions League (1994), and a European Super Cup (1994). Albertini joined Atlético Madrid in 2002 before playing for S.S. Lazio, Atalanta and finally Barcelona in 2005, with whom he won La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup. Albertini won 79 international caps, scoring three goals, and came close to lifting the FIFA World Cup (1994) and the European Championship (2000), finishing second to Brazil and France, respectively. He did win an 1992 European Under-21 Championship, and participated at the Barcelona Olympics.

From 2007 Albertini became vice-president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) under the presidency of Giancarlo Abete. In 2000 Albertini was appointed Knight to the Order of the Italian Republic and in 2006, Officer to the Order.