HISTORY MAN

Following the 1000 official games, a target dedicated to his wife Adriana, Paolo Maldini is ready to fly towards England, where 5 years ago they started calling him Legend...


MILAN - It was the English daily newspapers who came up with this word, 'History Man', the symbol of the game. It was the Daily Mirror to name Paolo Maldini like this, following the win in the Champions League of Milan at Manchester against Juventus. Manchester, in 2003, Paolo Maldini captain of Milan. Wembley, in 1963, Cesare Maldini captain of Milan. Things which happen to a few. No actually to no one. Only to him and only here.

Today Paolo Maldini is more gratified. A thousand games touch even a balanced champion like him. The Milan captain has always been respectful in the wins and calibrated in the defeats. No excess in celebrations, no drama. The way of Paolo Maldini has always been more adequate. But in front of 1000 official games, even he melted. It couldn't be otherwise. And it's on the back of this new monumental target that tomorrow he will be present at London, leading the Rossoneri against Arsenal.

OFFICIAL GAMES OF PAOLO MALDINI WITH MILAN: 860
DEBUT GAME: Udinese-Milan 1-1, 20th January 1985

OFFICIAL GAMES OF PAOLO MALDINI WITH THE NATIONAL TEAM: 126 (Record)
DEBUT GAME: Yugoslavia-Italy 1-1, 31st March 1988

OFFICIAL GAMES OF PAOLO MALDINI WITH THE UNDER 21: 12
OFFICIAL GAMES OF PAOLO MALDINI WITH THE OLYMPIC NATIONAL TEAM: 1

PAOLO MALDINI'S WINS WITH MILAN:
7 SCUDETTI - 5 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - 1 WORLD CLUB CUP - 2 INTERCONTINENTAL CUPS - 5 EUROPEAN SUPER CUPS - 5 ITALIAN SUPER CUPS - 1 COPPA ITALIA

OTHER IMPORTANT DATES:
7 September 1988: VITOCHIA SOFIA-MILAN 0-2, Paolo Maldini's debut in the Champions Cup
22 March 2003: MILAN-JUVENTUS 2-1, 500th game of Paolo Maldini in Serie A
11 March 2007: INTER-MILAN 2-1, 600th game of Paolo Maldini in Serie A
26 November 2003: AJAX-MILAN 0-1, 100th game of Paolo Maldini in Champions Cup/Champions League