Italian football is in mourning: Franco Baresi passed away last night . The AC Milan icon was 66 years old. AC Milan made the sad announcement on its official social media channels: "The history of AC Milan is in mourning for the passing of Franco Baresi. His example," the post reads, "and his depth will forever be, like his number 6 shirt, an integral and fundamental part of the Club's DNA and journey . AC Milan's condolences to Franco Baresi's entire family are the same as those every Rossoneri fan offers themselves at such a difficult time." A year ago, his illness was announced—a pulmonary nodule —and in recent days his condition has progressively worsened.
Born in Travagliato (Brescia) in 1960 , he has inextricably linked his career to Milan: his very young debut (the “Piscinin” was how Paolo Mariconti, a historic AC Milan masseur, nicknamed him) on 23 April 1978, the purgatory of Serie B, the great global triumphs of the Berlusconi era, during which Baresi led the team as captain to win everything: Championships, European Cups, Intercontinental Cups, Italian Cups, Super Cups , to the point of making Milan the most successful Italian club in history.
“Kaiser Franz” was also a pillar of the national team : he was part of the victorious Italian expedition in Spain 82 , he contributed to the third place in Italy 90 , while in USA 1994 he was the protagonist of an exceptional recovery after a knee injury and in the unfortunate final in Pasadena which ended on penalties against Brazil he missed, like Baggio and Massaro, the spot kick . A bitter disappointment however repaid by the countless successes achieved with the Rossoneri shirt with the number 6 on the back , a number that after his retirement the club chose to never let anyone wear again , as an everlasting tribute to its greatest icon (719 appearances and 33 goals) . AC Milan fans – as well as all sports enthusiasts – will always remember him as one of the best defenders in the history of world football, the king of free throws, the prince of offsides. The Captain par excellence.
