Franco Baresi

One of the greatest defenders of all time, Franco Baresi was either a sweeper or central defender with A. C. Milan, with whom he spent his entire career. He made 710 appearances and scored 31 goals for Milan in 20 years with the club, and was club captain for 15 of those years. In their list of the 100 greatest players of the 20th century, World Soccer magazine ranked Baresi at number 19.

Baresi’s list of titles with Milano is impressive. He won three UEFA Champions’ League/European Cup titles in 1989-90 and 1994; six Serie A titles 1979, 1988, 1992-94, 1996; four Italian Super Cups 1988, 1992-94; two European Super Cups in 1990 and 1994; and two Intercontinental Cups 1989-90 .

On the international scene, Baresi won the 1982 FIFA World Cup as a substitute. He also played in 1990, when Italy finished third, and was named in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team. Baresi was captain of the Italia side that reached the 1994 World Cup final, and was unfortunate to miss the first penalty in the shoot-out against Brazil, as the south Americans went on to win their record fourth trophy.

Baresi also represented Italy at the UEFA European Championships in 1980 and 1988, and the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. In all three tournaments Italy reached the semi-finals. Baresi won 81 Italy caps between 1982-94, and scored just one goal, against the Soviet Union at Bari in 1988. In honor of his sporting achievements, Baresi was awarded a gold medal by the Italian Olympic Committee. In September 2021 he published his autobiography Libero di sognare (Free to Dream).