The Biography of Paolo Maldini - Research Paper Example

The Biography of Paolo Maldini INTRODUCTION Paolo Maldini was born on 26th June of 1968 in Milan, Italy. He spent his entire soccer career playing for AC Milan (ACMilan.com, “Paolo Maldini”). He made a total of 902 appearances over a period of 25 years. His record for being the youngest player, to have achieved an AC Milan shirt at the age of 16 years, still remains unbroken. He retired at the age of 41 years in 2009. He is now the living icon of the AC Milan club, which he joined at the age of 10 years. Paolo is also ranked within one of the most proficient defenders in the world of soccer (Williams, “Maldini the fulcrum of Milan generation game”). Even if tried, it is very difficult to shun the fact that he is the only retired football player whose entry provokes the entire audience to rise to ones feet (FIFA, “Paolo Maldini, an icon and a gentleman”). Paolo considered his father, Cesare Maldini, who also was a former Milan football player, to be his greatest role model. Paolo also played in the role of an assistant coach to Enzo Bearzot, during the time when Italy won the crown of World Championship in 1982 (Goal.com, “The former Azzurri boss has backed Clarence Seedorfs predecessor at AC Milan to lead the national team if Cesare Prandelli leaves his current position”). This research specifically focuses on the life of Paolo Cesare Maldini, who is considered as one of the most prestigious and legendary Italian football defenders for both Milan and the Italian National Squad. According to critics, soccer has played a significant role in changing people’s lives, Paolo’s life being a prominent illustration to the fact. THESIS STATEMENT The objective of this entire thesis is to describe the role of soccer in changing the lives of the people and to some extent their childhood as well, taking the example from Paolo Maldini’s life and career. It also aims at highlighting the importance of defense in achieving victories and titles as per Polo’s philanthropy rather than just offense win. DISCUSSION Paolo Maldini started his career as a defender. Based on his experience, Paolo stated that soccer is not only about playing offensive to win. It is effective in scoring but players cannot win the entire game through such tactic. Although, Paolo also regarded that defensive playing tactics have its significant role in winning a game. His athletic and good slide-tackling capabilities made him legendary. During the beginning stage of his sports career, he always played from left-back position but with time, his speed gradually decreased and he shifted to center-back position, thus gaining the skills of defending on either foot. Paolo strongly believed that defensive support playing helps in pressurizing the opponent attacker with the ball (FIFA, “Paolo Maldini, an icon and a gentleman”). Paolo joined the Rossoneri Youth Set-Up at a very early age of 10 years. It did not take him much time to polish up his positional skills, which in turn helped him brightening up his natural elegance and sportsmanship sense (FIFA, “Paolo Maldini, an icon and a gentleman”). At the age of 16 years, he found himself up for his first opportunity to participate in the ‘Series A’ match where the team ended up with 1-1 draw with Udinese. This opportunity was a gift from his father’s former team mate ‘Nils Liedholm’, who was a Swedish coach as well. Paolo’s effective technical, physical and tactical capabilities assisted him in being addressed as a cornerstone of the ‘Milan’s Rearguard’ for more than 2 decades. Paolo’s perfection in being two footed further added up permanence to his sport’s career. He, along with former players like Mauro Tassoti, Alessandro Costacurta and Franco Baresi, were considered as one of the strong defensive soccer support units of Milan (FIFA, “Paolo Maldini, an icon and a gentleman.”). Paolo’s trophy box also comprised of five ‘UEFA Champions League’ titles, one ‘FIFA Club World Cup’ crown and two ‘Intercontinental Cups’. Apart from just victories, this legend also witnessed defeats in two ‘Champions League’ finals and three ‘Intercontinental Cups’. The period between 1996 and 97 brought great challenges for Paolo Maldini. This happened when Milan’s centre defense post became vacant and Paolo had to take that place for representing both the club and his country. Appointment of a new coach, Alberto Zaccheroni, during that period helped in reducing the pressure on Paolo to some extent. Latter, the centre post was replaced by a new player and Paolo was re-assigned to his previous post (FIFA, “Paolo Maldini, an icon and a gentleman.”). Paolo also described his thinking based on his learning and experience that the success probability of the entire game does not depend on a single goal scorer or a defender but it is all about team work and determination. Guided by this philosophy, during an award-receiving ceremony, Paolo addressed defenders as individuals belonging to the engine room and not the takers of glory. Paolo also expressed himself as the only one who did not won a ‘World Cup’ in his team of four players which formed one of Milan’s strongest soccer defense teams showing his benevolent nature and magnificent leadership traits . To the least of astonishment, this legend was also known for possessing a surprising talent of stimulating and organizing his team members and co-defenders as well. His extreme command over the game often made the opponent team feel that they were playing at a pace, which was set by Paolo and his team. This phenomenon was also termed as the ‘Maldini effect’. The legend also possessed terrific capability of reading the game, which helped in setting himself at such an advantageous point on the ground that even opponent attackers feared the prospect of facing him (Kelly, “The monarch of defense”). Paolo even demonstrated one of his positive qualities of turning his disadvantageous points into advantageous points. For instance, between the periods of 2001 and 2002, he experienced a serious knee problem, which continuously went on troubling his performance. This problem even cost him his beloved side defense post. As a solution to this problem, he positioned himself to a less movement intense centre defense point and contributed to his team performance (Williams, “Maldini the fulcrum of Milan generation game”). Paolo Maldini might have been a winner for four occasions and a loser for three, but he never look forward for equalizing the score. He witnessed the biggest regret in his career when he failed to win a major title with Italy. He demonstrated his keen learning, dedication and hard work towards soccer from his early childhood and this granted him the respect of a pioneer in soccer. He carefully studied his every mistake and prevailed over them. He developed his understanding over the game at every stage of his career. Maldini always showed loyalty to his profession and principles. His shining status and resulted in ‘Inter tifosi’ paying him a tribute during his last Milan derby. Till date, he is a role model to many young soccer lovers (UEFA, “Paolo Maldini”). CONCLUSION From the above described points, it can be stated that Paolo Maldini has really been successful in proving himself as a living inspiration for every young sportsmen. His early age status in the field of soccer reflected his dedication and further kept on pushing him towards gaining such a respectful leadership position. He spent his childhood training under his father, which undoubtedly contributed to his understandings of the game tactics and helped himself groom as a competent soccer player. He was indeed capable of making terrific strategies during game plays. He even projected himself as a loyalty icon and playing for Milan for such a considerable long period of time. Works Cited “Paolo Maldini”. ACMilan.com. 2010. Web. 17 Feb. “Paolo Maldini, an icon and a gentleman.” FIFA. 2014. Web. 17 Feb. 2014. “The former Azzurri boss has backed Clarence Seedorfs predecessor at AC Milan to lead the national team if Cesare Prandelli leaves his current position”. Goal.com. 2014. Web. 17 Feb. 2014. Kelly, Cathal. The monarch of defense. 2007. Web. 17 Feb. 2014. “Paolo Maldini.” UEFA. 2011. Web. 17 Feb. 2014. Williams, Richard. Maldini the fulcrum of Milan generation game. 23 May. 2007. Web. 17 Feb. 2014. Read More