How Good Were Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi Really?
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
- Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi are arguably the two greatest Italian defenders of all time, and potentially even THE greatest defenders of all time.
Not did they have insanely successful careers and play for only one club (AC Milan), but their careers overlapped by 13 years!
In this video, we'll be taking a look into what made them so special.
Transcript and sources: footballiconic.com/how-good-w...
Twitter: / theofficial_fi
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Background music:
Song 1: • sold vintage type beat... (Prod Pink)
Song 2: • [FREE FOR PROFIT] clas... (Prod Pink)
Song 3: • Video (Prod. Riddiman)
0:00 - Introduction
02:11 - How Good Was Franco Baresi
06:24 - How Good Was Paolo Maldini
08:24 - Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi dominate Italy
13:24 - Paolo Maldini (The later years)
16:27 - Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi by the numbers
Producer: Tinashe Chipako
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This video is intended for entertainment, commentary and educational purposes.
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I am a 71-year old Englishman and completely neutral. If I were compiling an international first XI from those who have played during my lifetime, I have always said that these two would form my central defensive pairing. No other player available from any country during that period comes close to dislodging either of these two formidable talents. Baresi and Maldini are to defence what Pelé and di Stéfano were to attack.
Maldini was a left back btw
@@richardconte3837 It might pay you to watch that video (again?) and this time listen to the commentary. Indeed (as the commentator so clearly explains), Paolo Maldini was, initially, just a left back. As he developed his game, though, he also played quite a lot of matchesas a left-sided centre back. Especially when the similarly-talented Antonio Cabrini was selected at left back for the national side. Baresi and Maldini played no fewer than 196 matches together as a centre-back pairing.
Maldini was IMO the best left back of all time, he was a great centre back as well but I wouldn't put him ahead of the other elite centre backs like Moore, Beckenbauer, Baresi, Nesta and Kohler in that position.
Also, surely as a 71 year old Englishman, you must rank Bobby Moore very highly. I'm a Scotsman and I usually have Moore in my dream teams 🤷
@@Bill-Butcher 😂😂Moore is not close to Maldini…. Maldini faced every legend u can think of Maradona, R9, Zidane, Platini, CR7 and lost goes on.
And bro has won 5 UCL and u pick Moore over him😂😂? You lost ur mind
@@maggiopazzotv4268 I didn't say I'd pick Moore directly over Maldini. I'd pick Moore over Maldini at central defence, I'd play Maldini at left back where he was at his best.
3:26 - so whenever Maldini is asked to speak about Baresi, he turns into Shakespeare.
🤣🤣
😂
The video could have stopped with the stat
“196 matches in CB pairing
23 goals conceded”
That stat line is TOTALLY unheard of in that many matches
23 goals per season
@@kaijunwong1390 23 goals total.
@@MdAbidHossainzim per season
That's insane
False stat
In my opinion I think Maldini and baresi are the greatest defensive partnership of all time.The amount trophies they won.The fact they barely conceded any goals.There longevity.Phenomenal
But maldini mostly played on the left, Costacurta was mostly the centre half alongside Baresi.
BONUCCI AND CHIELLINI
Sciera, Cabrini and Gentile
Bruh vidic and rio
@@danilomarin8188 Vidic and Rio were amazing aswell but I just think maldini and baresi were better IMO although I do think Rio was better then baresi
Baresi's performance in the '94 world cup final is the best defensive feat ever in my opinion.
Flawless... except that penalty.
@@andjelkozlotvor giocando con un ginocchio..
... And he was injured
Indimenticabile.
I could watch that final 10 times in a raw. Baresi has been...no words.
Man, i have to tell you this. I remember those two guys playing, i'm class of '84. I am italian, i am AC Milan supporter. I have seen EVERYTHING about those two guys. Literally. Still, i have rarely seen something this good-especially from non-italian creators/directors.
Chapeau to you: this is how you do a vid about Franco Baresi e Paolo Maldini. Well done!
Thanks! Really appreciate that!
Sciapò
Ronaldo El Phenomeno "the toughest player I faced in my career is Maldini".
"I used to drift to the left side When playing against Ac Milan Because Maldini is not there".
Franco Baresi
“He was very young (Maldini), so I tried to give him some advice. But he needed very little; he was already a great player.”
Maradona : "Maldini doesn't play football he stops other players from playing football".
Ruud Gullit
“Position for position one of the greatest players ever. But unlike certain other great full-backs, he wasn’t world class when just defending or just attacking - he could do both better than most and is an excellent centre-back too.”
Ray Wilkins
“Just an unbelievable athlete. If he wanted to play centre-forward, he could. He literally had it all.”
Brian Laudrup
“He simply never has a bad match. Very difficult to play against, a sublime passer and he’s scored a lot of goals too. Has an incredible physique and is the ultimate role-model. He’ll go down in the history books as perhaps the best left-back ever.”
Emmanuel Petit
“His record speaks for itself, both in terms of quality and longevity. Such a classy defender - so tough to get past - and someone it’s difficult not to admire.”
Marcel Desailly
“A real monster… I find it incredible he has never been World or European Footballer of the Year. Alongside Franco Baresi he was the best defender I’ve ever seen in my career.
Ronald Koeman
“There’s never been a better left-back in the game’s history. Two-footed, and at his peak, brilliant going forward.
“The night Milan annihilated Barcelona in the 1994 Champions League Final, he played centre-half, as Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta were both suspended, and looked like he’d played there all his life.”
Sir Alex Ferguson
“Maldini went through the entire 90 minutes without tackling. That is an art and he is the master of it. He is a great player.”
Alessandro Del Piero
“There are great players and there are world-class players. Then there are those who manage to go beyond that term. Paolo is the perfect example. He is the symbol of Milan.”
Andrea Pirlo
“Paolo Maldini is the best. A defender. A peerless defender. The best defender going. Both physically and mentally, he had everything, and the enjoyment he got from playing was as obvious at 40 years of age as it had been the day I first walked through the door at Milan.”
Ronaldinho
“He was one of the best defenders in Champions League history, but what was so impressive about him is that when he was on the ball he didn’t look like a defender but like an elegant midfield player.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
“Maldini was the best and toughest defender I ever faced. He had everything: he was a complete defender, who was strong, intelligent, and an excellent man-marker.”
David Villa
“He is one of the best players in the history of the game and he represents everything that’s good in football. And above all, he’s a winner.”
Andriy Shevchenko
“The most gifted and hard-working player I’ve ever seen. He was an excellent all-round footballer with true leadership virtues and the rare ability to be reliable in defence and creative in attack.”
Francesco Totti
“I haven’t seen a more determined, loyal player than him. The best captain the Azzurri have ever had.”
Steven Gerrard
“He is the definition of how a captain should be.”
HollowMan : There is levels to Foot Ball, And then there is Paolo Maldini.
I really don't understand how somebody can have the audacity to compare him to anybody that man used to terrify Ronaldo and Maradona !
Ronaldo regularly wiped the floor with him. Evidence is all over youtube. You come across as a bit unhinged by the way................
@@itsinthetreesitscoming7431hat are you talking about? No need to bash someone because they respect a player, and just because R9 scored some goals on him, that doesn’t make him a bad player 😂😂😂
very nice collections!
@@loicb4880 Anyone who knows football will consider Maldini as probably the greatest defender. He was graceful and sublime, the likes of which we may not see again. There was nothing ungainly about him, full of grace.
@@critical_analysis Ramos entered the chat
England fans be like: nah, they're nothing compared to Stones & Maguire.
@ gaming bros that's a joke about how nowadays english players are over-hyped by the english media
Pengland
@@srbtlevse16 who's scored more pens in the euros itlay or England? Exactly if you're calling us pengland call Italy pitaly
Bottleland
@@ToczicA2i9 it's coming rooooomeeeeeee it's coming roooooooooome
Maldini at 40 years of age was still incredible. Barresi was just perpetual motion. If Italy could just have these two in their current side! How European football would change!,
I have never been more inspired in my life by a footballing performance than Franco Baresi’s performance in the World Cup Final against Brazil.
"If Italy won it would've been unfair to Brazil. Brazil winning was unfair to Baresi"
Considering the way he recovered from such an injury as well, that performance is simply unequalled. Romario commented that to be "the most ruthless monitoring of his career". Incredible, simply incredible.
agree with that - he was brilliant against a great player who was on fire in that tournament - completely bossed him.
Paul McGrath against that same Italian team was even better
@@johnnybrubaker who?🤣
the greatest defensive partnership ever formed
I fell in love with the ART of defending by watching Maldini.
What a privilege to watch him all these years 🔴⚫🔴⚫🔴
Love your channel dude
Same when I first got into football when I was younger maldini really made me appreciate defending. In my opinion he’s the greatest defender
@@_d.v.j.l_2624 He made defending look so easy
I remember that 94 final with Barcelona, I was expecting Barcelona to destroy Milan. Barcelona had legends like Stoichkov and Romario who for me was the best striker in the world. Milan killed them that day, Barca didn’t even get a sniff, it was a dominant performance.
Barcelona was destroyed in 20 minutes that day!
And Baresi didnt even play as he was injured
That often times happens when you underestimate your rival
And Milan's two best players were both out injured (Baresi and Van Basten)
they where the best because they had laudrup
everything about this channel makes it perfect for late night binges... the voice, music, even font... absolutely captivating channel, cheers Football Iconic
Damn thanks man! Appreciate it!
@@FootballIconic thanks for this video, it was a pleasure to watch. I’ve had many issues with “football history” channels, as many butcher names or simply don’t care if a fact is checked or not. It’s just annoying when you know something could’ve been done better. This hit different, I’ve felt the dedication.
And between me and you, please continue on this path so that I don’t have to listen to Raymar Football and his “Arrighio Sacci” again ffs. Cheers man
Man i hope Daniel Maldini will become a starter for Milan
Would love it for him to become an elite player
He seems like he’s improved his decision making in the training match vs Nice, today! 🤞
best 2 defenders ever, Maldini only got 69 yellow cards, that as far as i know the lowest any defender ever got in such a long playing carrer, that show the level of technique he had
because he hardly ever involved himself in a tackle, he famously said that as a defender if you have to make a tackle, it means you've made a mistake (i.e. in your positioning and reading the game)
Lahm had less, but that because both were extremely clinical in tackles.
@@Krishnakumar-wl7ih True, Lahm had 49 and never got send off
Maldini had 92 official yellow card my g
it also showed what you used to get away with back then....
They played in an era where defending was considered an artform. And they were grand masters. #Artists
As an Italian I hear the name maldini and swell with pride. I support Juve myself but just hearing their names is a matter of national honor.
IMAGINE how talented you had to be to score against a defense of MALDINI, COSTACURTA, BARESI, TASSOTI
Basically r9 at his prime
@@reuszn8942 r9 did not play against that 4, Maradona did
ask Aldo Serena, Klinsmann, Careca, Rudi Voeller, Baggio, Vialli
@@TSP9999 I know but I'm telling if he did play he would score
@@reuszn8942 oh ok, yup he will score no doubt
Paolo Maldini was my all time favorite player growing up in the early to mid 90s. I was lucky enough to see him play in the 1994 WC when i was 10.
Maldini
Yep loved him
Maldini was my favorite defender of all time. At milan from 1986 - 2009 what a player
1985
Not only did this video teach me so much about Maldini and Baresi, it also tought me hugely about how good AC Milan actually were back in the day, absolute mental side, rediculous stuff, a team like that in the modern day would shock the world. P.s. it also tought me quite abit about the history of Sirie A as a whole!
I'm a Englishman myself and I remember watching the serie a in the nineties and oh how I wish Maldini and Baresi played in the prem they was formidable as a pairing they're the goats of defending
You should try making videos on coaches. Include whatever career they had as a footballer then how their coaching career went. I'm sure there a lot of interesting characters in that area.
Great idea. Tons of interesting coach stories!
@@FootballIconic Guus Hiddink please 🙌🙏. Also great video like usual
@@FootballIconic heynckes
Please do
"How good was Zanetti really"
I miss Maldini and Zanetti battles on the backs
YES MAN
Good but...
Not as good as Maldini
Attacking Zanetti better
Zanetti overrated
@@nashpanache2577 in what world is Zanetti overrated lmao
If anyone doesn't put Franco Baresi in their greatest team of all time then they probably didn't see the man play to see how good he really was.
Paulo Maldini took off where Franco Baresi finished in the centre of defense, and he was stellar at that too, along with being the finest Left Back i've ever had the pleasure to watch.
The great AC Milan team of the late 80's and early 90's were astonishingly brilliant, they had talent all over the pitch and were a formidable attacking and defensive team...they could certainly play.
Great video 👍
Agreed!
There is one further point to be considered. The players these two guys had to fight against were people such as Zico, Platini, Maradona, Batistuta, Klinsmann, Matthäus, Paolo Rossi, Ronaldo, Vialli, Mancini, Careca, Baggio, Del Piero, Trezeguet,. Mainly: the best around the world in the years between 1985 and 2005.
TIMING they had that in abundance . AWESOME PLAYERS 💎💎!!
Bucket loads
Especially Baresi..!! It’s no wonder people started comparing Nesta to Franco, after his move from Lazio to Milan.
I loved Italian football as a kid. Maldini and Roberto Baggio are 2 of my favourite players ever.
Immortals.
Same for me! The only non serie A fav player is michael laudrup.
Same add aleandro del piero to that list
Maybe do one on Deco. 2 Champions League, 2 La Liga titles, a Premier League medal and 2 FA cup,…In my opinion, the greatest player in that Porto squad which won the CL.
Deco 🤷♂️ yeah but.....
@@davidmckibben2122 what
Maldini was special his ability to read the game was something that many other players fail to do. He had good height and was interchangeable to centre of midfield and left back, his also had great timing, his goal scoring added to his game immensely. I played right wing for the beginning of my armature career never missing a game and later moved to right back. I used to record all games shown on TV with AC Milan featuring, just so I could watch Maldini and tried to break down what he did well and how he tackled. I had blistering speed and teams who had players who knew my speed would not play down the right hand side of the pitch. I also was good in the air and had good heading ability. What I lacked most was the ball control that Maldini had and showed with great flair. For me Maldini wasn't just good he was great an all around ability player. I always wondered why he never played as a defensive midfield player as im sure he would of been seen as even more of a great.
Baresi maybe slightly better tackler than Maldini..
But overall, I think Maldini is better than Baresi but its very close..
Hmm, I’d say the opposite - Maldini being the better tackler, and Baresi being better at interceptions & timed runs against strikers (seriously, the man came FLYING towards the ball, foreseeing the play early and then closing in before anyone else!), no? 😃
@@bcbitchkkv everyone's entitled to a opinion but I believe maldini is still better
I love Maldini but that little libro was better. Happy to have seen them both play.
Yeah Maldini was slightly better than baresi
In my opinion, Baresi was better. Both greats, though. Baresi was like the conductor of the back line. The best central defender I ever saw.
Thank you for the video. This is one of the best videos about players careers I watched on CZcams.
I'm a Milan supporter myself and I was so lucky to be a kid/teen in those years. As a football lover I enjoyed that time so much, you can imagine. Anyway, this is such an excellent video that only a real student of the game and history of the game could put together. There are quite a few things that many wouldn't even know or remember. Incredibly well done!
How has this guy only got 40k… quality content man!
I'm 42, italian and interista....i'm so happy to lived those magic 80s of great icons like them.
Football was so magic.
It’s so unreal how almost everyone passes on such an iconic club. Franco&Paolo are legends without a doubt. I’m a Milan fan to the bone, and yes we had a lot of ups and downs but we back...league championship clinched...now it’s time to get back in the top 5 in Europe. Forza Milan 4 life. ❤️♠️♦️♣️🇮🇹
Fantastic, informative video and extremely enjoyable to watch. Baresi and Maldini were my favorite defenders growing up and heavily influenced my playing style as an attacking defender.
Such a great video man - thanks for this, for the stats, and the memories. Forza Milan!! 🔴 ⚫️
Fantastic video. Great work. I'm a Milan fan and you couldn't have covered it any better.
Gods of the game both of them. Legendary isn’t quite enough. Great video, thank you 👏🏻
Maldini was start of modelling in football. If i had a pound for every picture of his green eyes in various suits, shirts, pre/post/mid games..ice cool, red hot etc etc etc id be a millionaire!
Im sure older fans may point to some before but Maldini paved way for Beckham, Zlatan to be fashion icons etc.
Making my day with these god damn
Both absolutely have to be top 10 (really, top 5) all-time without a doubt. As a duo, simply an anomaly
Keep it up man ima keep telling you!!! You are awesome at making consistent content and I love it, I don’t get tired watching your videos. Not too long and also very entertaining!!! I love it man please keep it up
Thanks man for this great video clip.
Forza Milan ⬛️🟥⬛️🟥⬛️🟥⬛️
Most people in this comment section still fail to realize that Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini NEVER played side-by-side as centre-backs in AC Milan, where Paolo Maldini was the left-back, Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta were the centre-backs, and Mauro Tassotti as the right-back, with Sebastiano Rossi as the goalkeeper, which contributed to the infamous "Gli Invicibli" AC Milan side in 1991-1992. They only did so in FIFA World Cup 1994, where they finished runner-up to Brazil, with five goals conceded from seven matches.
as an italian I can’t wait to watch this video …banger incoming🔥
Ikr me too
great vid looks very professional. you are like the tifo of football documentaries
What a great video! As a CB, these guys were massive inspirations for me growing up.
me too
Man these videos are too good to come out only once a week
Great work my guy!
Just a bangin channel that deals with extraordinary football players .would love to see a fergie team from scotland in the eightys.if that's even possible
Video ideas and videos in general been top tier keep it up bro👍
Cheers!
I'm glad I got to watch AC Milan with both playing...they had an incredible team...
Your channel is so entertaining. I love your videos bro, keep it up!
I enjoyed your video. I’m looking at the position my 12yr old daughter is playing. She is a defender by nature but the strikers get most of the attention. This video is inspiring to those who are defenders and center backs. Thanks🙏🏼
Nice vid as always.
Despite missing pen in the 94 World Cup final. Baresi still marked Romario out of the game and Baresi was 50% fit at best
fax
Actually Romario and Bebeto missed a lot of easy chances.
@@Suyez stop lying there was no “easy” chances in that game let alone many chances at all and the cane during extra time. And again you’re missing the whole point about Baresi playing whilst injured having to have pain killing injects into both ankles before the game.
@@mikebooth9545 They were a great duo but Romario and Bebeto were equally good. But they wasted a lot of chances.
They weren't impenetrable like many nostalgic fans believe.
@@Suyez again you making shit up to suit your bs argument. Nobody said they were impenetrable. Fact is Baresi was less than 50% and marked Romario out of the game the only real chance they had was when paliuca made a few errors
Greay video, would love a video on Giggs incredible career
Another great video
Just bought a classic ac milan kit got baresi on the back so excited to wear it
Great video again
One of the most likeable videos, again
Your content is amazing dude
both firm members of my personal dream team; never to be removed. absolute legends
Thank you for finally highlighting the two most formidable and classiest defenders footballers in history. Ramos, Pepe and other jokers please take note, yeah!! I said it, these two were classy, worked hard and never went to lowlife tactics as the aforementioned. Miss them dearly.
Dude your vids are amazing
And please do not forget Mauro Tassoti and Christian Panucci, and most importantly, Alessandro "Billy" Costacurta, the unsung hero who was lucky enough to win trophies with both of them in three different decades.
Galli is not to be forgotten as well!
👍To both comments!
Love your content! Was wondering how long it takes you to put together one of these videos. Keep putting out the content
Yo Jack! About 20 hours give or take. Really depends
@@FootballIconic I appreciate all that work, your videos are pretty clean so I figured it took a solid amount of time
They showed the art of defending also keep up the great content 👑
I love you content bro, its always class
Cheers man!
Always loved the pair of them and they are the two players I uses as examples for my son as both defenders but as footballers too. Professional, loyal, commanding and earning the respect of their opponents as well as their team mates. 1994 CL Final probably the greatest one ever because of the context (Barcelona were destroying people in the CL that year). How many defenders make the Ballon D'Or podium...almost none....the fact that these two are arguably the best defenders ever and still couldn't win it shows how bias the awards system is.
superb playersalways great to watch when ever the game was being broadcast
Great video like always, my dad grew up a Milan fan and I can see why he appreciated defensive football.
Ask your dad about Van Basten, Gullit, Virdis, Lentini, Savicevic, Papin, Boban, Weah, Ganz, Leonardo, Bierhoff, Shevchenko, Rui Costa, Kaka, Inzaghi, Crespo, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Pirlo, Pato, Cafu, Serginho, Ronaldinho and other attacking minded ACM players.
haha the last thing that Milan team was was "defensive"....
@@itsinthetreesitscoming7431 That's funny because I remembered match Milan was up a goal and they just needed to run out the clock. The defense line were passing the ball back and forth between the MFs. After awhile, Baresi takes a shot at goal and scores....🤯
The Bosman Rule really destroyed Italian Calcio (That match-fixing scandal actually did.) 😔
@@charlesray9674 So you remember one match in which you observed them playing defensively and that makes them a defensive team?
Ok.
@@itsinthetreesitscoming7431 🙄 I didn't say they were. I was praising the offensive capabilities of Baresi. They were playing tiki taki with the ball; just probing for a good opportunity for a shot on goal. You were think that Massaro, van Basten, or any of the midfielders would take the shot, but it was Baresi who buried it in the upper corner.
(In other words, I was praising the firepower that team had. They were good defending, but they could slice open opponents.)
Your videos are great ....i would suggest you make insta reels or stories to roll the people in
i didn't witness the greatness of maldini and baresi but stories and videos like these are enough to convince me they were the best
Our HS coach was from germany we lived in rural us farm town we had no access rly to european ball, said coach had us defenders watch tape of these guys. I remember seeing Maldini anchor the entire milan side for 90 minutes commanding performance, then seeing the stats he had like 2 tackles. Guy was always in the best position at almost all times
Costacurta was centre-back partner to Baresi. Maldini was almost exclusively at left-back in his early years. After Baresi retired, Maldini had phases at centre-back and phases at left-back depending on the other the other defenders in the squad
The great teams were always built from the back. While fans rave about forwards as the best ever players like Maldini and Baresi were clinical in defending. I admired this pair and can think of other defenders who were brilliant like Gaetano Scirea and Daniel Passarella. Commentators now rave about full backs who play high calling them wing backs: this is nothing new. Giacinto Facchetti the Inter full back scored many brilliant goals as did Celtic full back Tommy Gemmell.
Really superb, amazing we get this quality of analysis for free. Late 80s/90 Italian football sets all standards, IMHO. The Spanish teams cannot defend.
Baresi was so modern, like 20 years ahead. So fast and aggressive, a true leader.
This is the kind of content that becomes addicting.
Oyi, Tinashe. Great video, massive fan. Could you kindly make a vid on Lucio? Thanks mate
One of the best ever. Sadly forgotten.
My man you’re the best. What a tremendous video of these legends
cheers man!
@@FootballIconic when u doing messi
The question already excites me...
INCREDIBLE.
Solid proof of how "offense wins matches but defense wins championship". The unwritten rule of any sports game
Best defensive duo I ever seen
Baresi 1994 Final's performance, should be taught in Football Schools. Really, he came from an injury and nullified almost alone Brasil.
I personally watched the Maldini - Nesta twin in CB and they were also pretty darn good.
thats an insane stat. I miss these guys.
I remember them well… can’t find the words to say how good they were
Agreed these two are the greatest defenders ever. Unbelievable statistics.
Maldini ...one of my childhood football idols!!
Ho avuto il privilegio di seguire tutta la loro carriera e sempre con la maglia del Milan 🖤❤🖤❤🖤❤
@football iconic Can you make a video on the single best PL CB season ever? Would love to see a comparison of JT, Rio Ferdinand, Vidic, Adams, Sol Campbell, Kompany and any other big name or underrated name I'm missing!
I'd love to see your all time team for a certain league or best players in a certain era
Absolute icons of the game.
Maldini is one of my top 3 all time players. The reason I became a CB/LB. Clean tackles and outsmarting the faster striker was my skill set. Obviously he did it at the highest level, longer than anyone else in football history.