Top 10 Amazing facts about Paolo Maldini

Paolo Maldini. Photo by Yelena Rybakova for Soccer.ru. Wikimedia commons.

Top 10 Amazing facts about Paolo Maldini

Paolo Cesare Maldini was born on 26 June 1968 in Milan to Cesare Maldini and Maria Luisa De Mezzi.

He is an Italian former professional footballer who played for AC Milan and the Italy national team.

Maldini became the first defender ever to win World Soccer magazine’s annual World Player of the Year Award after winning his third championship league title.

He was renowned for his technical ability, athleticism, sliding tackles, stamina, composure, and fast energetic forward runs.

He was also an excellent crosser of the ball, and was an effective attacking threat, scoring and assisting several goals throughout his career. Today he is the technical director and co-owner of USL Championship club Miami FC.

Here are 10 Amazing facts about Paolo Maldini:

1. Maldini was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame

The Italian Football Hall of Fame was established in 2011 and is housed at the Museo del Calcio in Coverciano, Italy.

It was established by the Italian Football Federation and Football Museum Foundation. It aims to promote the heritage, history, culture, and values of Italian football.

The hall of fame celebrates football personalities that have had an unforgettable impact on the history of Italian football.

In 2012 Maldini was inducted into the hall of fame for his remarkable skills as a defender in Italian league history.

2. His father was also a professional footballer

Paolo Maldini. Photo by Christophe95. Wikimedia Commons

Paolo Maldini’s father was an Italian professional football manager and player who played as a defender.

He was known for his cautious, traditional, and conservative approach. He captained Milan and represented the Italy national team later becoming a coach.

As a manager, he used a solid, defensive-minded catenaccio-inspired system as the head coach of the Italian national side, a system which had been widely used by his mentor.

He coached his son both in the Italy under-21 side and the senior team. He also coached Paolo’s son Daniel Maldini who is still a professional footballer.

3. Maldini was the first defender ever shortlisted for the FIFA World Player of the Year award

The FIFA World Player of the Year was an esteemed award presented annually to players deemed to have performed exemplary during the previous calendar year.

The association football award was given by the sport’s governing body, FIFA at the FIFA World Player Gala.

Coaches and captains of international teams and media representatives selected the player to be shortlisted for the award.

Paolo was the first defender ever to be selected for such an honor. Maldini who was considered to have been one of the greatest defenders of all time was selected for his prowess on the field. He was described as an icon and gentleman of the game.

4. He was awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republicans

Paolo Maldini. Photo by Рыбакова Елена. Wikimedia Commons.

The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic is the highest-ranking honor in the country for excellence acquired by the nation.

The senior Italian was established in 1951 by the second president of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi. The post-nominal letters for the order are OMRI.

The award recognizes achievements in the fields of arts, economy, literature, public service, philanthropy, humanitarian activities, and long and conspicuous service in civilian and military careers.

He was awarded this honor for his excellence as the first defender ever to win his third Champions League title and reach the 1994 World Cup final.

5. He only received three red cards throughout his entire career

A red card in a football game is used to discontinue a player who has broken the rules of the game.

The red card is held up in the air by the referee when a foul has been made by a player who will not be allowed to continue.

Maldini was known for his calm and composed manner on the pitch Even though he was vocal with a commanding presence on pitch.

He had a special ability to read the game and preferred intelligence and elegance to physicality and aggression when defending.

He was a disciplined player who abided by the rules playing with grace and tenacity and was regarded as a correct player. He only received three red cards throughout his entire career.

6. Paolo was selected as a defender in the FIFA World Cup Dream Team

The FIFA World Cup Dream Team is an all-time FIFA World Cup all-star team established for fan participation.

It was published by FIFA in 2002 after conducting an internet poll of fans to select a World Cup dream team. In the poll, Maldini was selected as the defender.

He is loved and revered for his impressive coordination, tactical versatility, and ability with both feet. He restricted the offensive play of his opponents through his positioning and marking.

He was able to play anywhere along the backline, and have a long and successful professional career, both with Milan and Italy.

7. He is the technical director for Milan

Paolo Maldini. Photo by Foad Ashtari. Wikimedia Commons

Paolo retired from active playing in 2009 at the age of 41 after spending spent all 25 seasons of his playing career in the Serie A with Milan.

He returned to the club in August 2018 a few weeks after Milan’s change of ownership in favor of Elliott Management Corporation.

He accepted an offer to become the club’s sporting strategy & development director.

He started working alongside new sporting director Leonardo and got promoted to the technical director on the 14th of June 2019.

His contract later expired on the 1st of July 2022 he renewed his contract with the club for additional two years as technical director.

8. He was a brand ambassador

Paolo has appeared in commercials for the American sportswear company Nike additionally wearing Nike Tiempo football boots at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He was featured in a Nike commercial titled Good Vs Evil in a gladiatorial game set in a Roman amphitheater in 1996. Maldini has also starred in EA Sports’ FIFA video game series. He was on the cover for the Italian edition of FIFA Road to World Cup 98 and was named in the Ultimate Team Legends in FIFA 14.

9. Maldini has his own fashion label

Paolo Maldini. Photo by Yelena Rybakova. Wikimedia Commons.

Paolo Maldini created a fashion label and runs it with his friend and former Italy and Milan teammate Christian Vier.

The brand called Sweet Years was created in 2003 with a simple white t-shirt and a simple but effective symbol.

Their brand marked the 00s Italian off-the-pitch style. The project was directed to a specific audience and to that Italian ideal TV celebrity.

The label has grown since with Paolo and Vier still managing the brand, as international ambassadors, maintaining a strong connection with those golden years of Milanese football.

10. His son is also a professional footballer

Maldini’s second son Daniel Maldini is an Italian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Serie A club Spezia, on loan from AC Milan. 

He is the third generation to appear in the Club Milan although His elder brother Christian played for Milan’s youth teams and went on to play professionally at a lower level.

He began playing as a defender like both his father Paolo and grandfather Cesare and later change to playing in offensive roles.

He now mainly plays as a free-roaming attacking midfielder. This position suits his playmaking ability, dribbling skills, ball control, and vision.