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Cesare Maldini is the head of a long tradition of football players who have marked a true era in world football. The Maldini family can be considered as football royalty mainly because of what Cesare did during his career. As a player he represented AC Milan and played the 1962 World Cup in Chile of which he represented the all-star team that year. He also won the 1962-1963 European Cup with Milan.
But Perhaps the most impressive achievement Cesare had throughout his life, was bringing Paolo Maldini to the world. The AC Milan legend won every single trophy there is to win with the Rossoneri and became his club's most revered player and one of the best defensive players in football history. All those milestones were reached thanks to the teaching Paolo got from his father Paolo, during the funeral service his son was present with all the family.
On social media he wrote a heart felt letter to his father on his farewell: "We just want to thank you for the wonderful and unique journey we had together. It will make us smile every time we think of you. We were close in every moment, not knowing that you were going. When you left us an extraordinary thing happened: we were inundated with messages of affection for you, not banal sentiments, touching ones. You left a little bit of yourself in all these people. Thank you, Papa."
Other Italian football legend wanted to pay homage to Cesare, people like Roberto Baggio feel grateful to him for having his support during hard times: "Every time we met I was hugging him and I was apologizing for not giving him the chance to become world champion. However, he always smiled and told me honestly not to be worried about it."
Dutch legend Clarence Seedorf also has a fond memory of Cesare and all the time he spent with his son Paolo: "He was always available and very kind all the time. Paolo is a friend for me, it is always sad to see the whole family suffering. It was a touching ceremony, a wonderful tribute that Cesare Maldini and his family truly deserved."
Finally, Juventus' director Giuseppe Marotta wanted to remember him and thank him for everything he did for Italian football: "I used to watch Maldini as a player together with Scirea when matches were broadcasted in black and white. As a coach he showed great values, I knew him very well and he was an example for me from a managerial point of view. He was able to transmit tranquility and his death represents a very important loss in the football world. Today’s football is only business and lost the original identity that Cesare Maldini interpreted."
Photo credit: Getty Images
