The inheritance of the love of Sansheng III, what does the Maldini family mean to ac Milan of the Rossoneri?
Photo: St. SiroNan Grandstand
Ac Milan's match against Spezia was a carnival of red and black fans. The team's win was, of course, only one aspect of joy, and even if it was only a draw, it would still be a night of nostalgia that will go down in history – daniel Maldini started and scored for no other reason.
From Cesare Maldini, who lifted the first championship in the history of the team with Milan, to Paulo Maldini, the meritorious captain who has guarded the team for 24 years, to Daniel Maldini, who has now won the first goal of his red and black career, the inheritance story of a surname for three generations has evoked the infinite memories of fans.
"I will dedicate my life to Milan and let my son, my son's son... Our family has fought for Milan for generations. Paul Maldini once said that on the day of the expedition to Spezia, sitting in the stands, he saw his son destroying the city for his beloved team, what kind of feelings would he have in his heart? After so many years, the waiting of Milan fans has not changed, just as there is always a Maldini among the players wearing red and black stripes.
(Note: Hereinafter, the elder Maldini or Cesare is used to refer to Cesar Maldini, Maldini Jr. or Paul refers to Paul Maldini, and the Little Pony or Daniel refers to Daniel Maldini.) ）
One city, three generations
Even if you're not a Milan fan, you've heard of Maldini, a surname synonymous with loyalty in the world of football. Maldini the Elder witnessed Milan's first golden age at the European level, while maldini Jr. accompanied the Rossoneri dynasty for two generations and was the iconic figure of "one man, one city". Father and son have played for the same team for 36 years, and both have joined Milan as captains to the top of Europe, which is a football legend.
The story of Maldini and Milan began 67 years ago. Although Cesare's career began in Tristina and ended in Turin, he has dedicated his golden 12 years to the Rossoneri since joining Milan in 1954 at the age of 22. While playing for Milan, the elder Maldini, a defender, made a total of 412 appearances in all competitions, winning four Serie A titles and one Cup.
The most talked about story of Maldini Sr. and Milan is undoubtedly the 1962/63 Champions Cup triumph. At wembley Stadium on 22 May 1963, Cesare's Rossoneri defeated Portuguese giants Benfica 2–1 in the final, becoming the first Italian team to land in Europe. As Milan captain, Cesare also became the first Italian in history to lift the Champions League.
In 1966, maldini the elder, who had embarked on a downward trajectory in his career, left Milan and chose to retire after a season for Turin. And fate is always written full of destiny, a year after retiring, the son of the elder Maldini, Paul, was born. Not many people at the time probably imagined that years later another Maldini would take the stage in San Siro and achieve something even greater than his father.
"When I was nine years old, I started working as a caddy for Milan, and I remember in San Siro, in a Milan match, when Milan scored a goal, a nine-year-old boy behind the goal, his heart was beating violently, the excitement and ecstasy made him unforgettable, this little boy was me." Paul, who dedicated his life to Milan, said that for a long time he was called Little Maldini because of his father's dazzling achievements.
Although he has not felt the style of his father's playing days, the traces of the old Maldini coaching Milan still leave an impression on Paulo's heart. From 1972 to 1974, the retired Maldini took the Milan coaching whip and led the team to win the Coppa Italia and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1972/73. With a coach father who was brilliant as a player, Paul's path to football was a nod. He entered the Milan academy and then began another period of glory for the Maldini family.
On 21 January 1985, in Milan's match against Udinese, Paul wore his red and black shirt for the first time to play an official match – 19 years after maldini the elder left Milan, his son inherited his father's ideals. Later stories were told over and over again, and under the guidance of veteran captain Baresi, Paul quickly grew into a new leader, accompanying the team through two dynastic periods in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Over time, it suddenly becomes apparent that the once young Maldini has also become a trusted captain, and his love for Milan has increased unabated compared to his father. From 1985 to 2009, Paul and Milan won 5 Champions League titles, 7 Serie A titles, 5 Italian Super Cups, 1 Italian Cup, 4 European Super Cups, 1 Club World Cup, and made 902 appearances for Milan, including 419 wearing captain's armbands, which is already an eternal monument to the history of red and black.
Yes, Paul, who has always had red and black in his heart, is the No. 3 who witnessed the rise of the Milanese dynasty, the No. 3 who accompanied Milan through the trough, the No. 3 who embraced the glory of old Trafford, the No. 3 who lost and stubborn in Istanbul, the No. 3 who completed redemption and revenge on the shore of the Acropolis, and the No. 3 who was crushed under the young man of Bremen and watched the goal conceded. If Cesare wrote the beginning of the family's epic, what Paul did was bring it to a climax.
History always has the beauty of symmetry, Maldini a father and son, the same milan captain, one played for 12 years, one fought for 24 years, the number of appearances of the two representing Milan is 1314 games, in the eyes of Chinese fans like a beautiful fairy tale. Moreover, loyalty has always been the label of the Maldini family, and it is also the faith that Milan fans cling to in their hearts, which makes the surname Maldini have a more special meaning.
Maldini's name represents not only the good times at the peak of the team, but also the ultimate embodiment of Milan's spiritual connotation. Therefore, when Paul retired, the club decided to seal his No. 3 shirt, and there was only one condition for opening up - the Maldini family has a successor who can regain the responsibility and love represented by the surname. So, from the moment Paul retired, Milan fans waited for the rise of another Maldini.
A surname, a city, waiting for the third generation to inherit that pure will.
The son inherits the father's aspirations and is always a beautiful fairy tale
Whoever is Paul's son is destined to be under enormous pressure, and Christian Maldini knows it – he is Daniel's older brother, 25 years old and once the "Maldini successor" that fans are looking forward to. The Milan Sport newspaper once commented on Christian, who may become a Milan player: Maldini's heir is the luckiest and most unfortunate, and the little Maldini must bear the pressure that no one else has.
Similar to his father's upbringing, Christian, born in 1996, was sent to the Milan academy at the age of 9, but unlike his father's attributes of a non-reversible left-back, he was a right-footed right-back. Christian did give hope in his youth team, even scoring a goal in his debut for Milan's youth team in 2014, but he left the game with an injury in the 36th minute and has been with him ever since.
Suffering a low point at a young age, Christian's promotion was extremely limited, which forced Milan to give him up. In the 2015/16 season, Christian officially started his career in Serie D side Regina, but even so, he did not play, either on loan or visa-free, and always mixed with low-level teams. After several turns, Christian, whose characteristics are basically formed, now represents Procesto in Serie A, like a "crowded" posture.
Paul's grand duke has little hope of wearing a Milanese shirt, and fans naturally turn their attention to his second son, Daniel, a teenager born in 2001, whose more formal name is "Little Pony" or "Daniel", and who has nicknames such as "Prince" and "Egg Boss" in the mouths of red and black fans. The slightly playful title also seems to reflect a mentality of the fans - with Christian's experience of "injuring Zhongyong", they have a tolerant public opinion environment for the three generations of Maldini.
Compared with his brother, Daniel grew up to be more low-key and smooth, scoring goals in the Milan Junior Division in the 2009/10 season, winning the championship with the Milan U13 team, and being selected for the Italian U15 youth team in 2016, which proved his ability and talent. However, Daniel's talent is different from his grandfather and father, he is an attacker, most of the time on the field to play the front.
As he grew older, Daniel's exposure grew. In the 2016/17 season, wearing the number 10 shirt, he and Milan's U16 echelon won the league championship. At the beginning of the 2018/19 season, Milan and Prosperianza played a friendly match in Milanello, and Daniel played his brother for the first time in this so-called "Maldini derby", at this point, the expectations of the Maldini family inheritance completely shifted to Paul's second son.
Over the past few seasons, the "Maldini Element" has returned to Milan, Paul returned to club management in the summer of 2018 and the young Daniel was called up to the first team for the first time in 2019/20. On February 3, 2020, Milan drew 1-1 with Verona in Serie A, the Little Horse made his Milan career debut, becoming the first post-00 player in team history, and he admitted in a post-match interview that he "dreamed come true".
The dreams of teenagers are always good, just as the so-called son inherits his father's ambitions, until death, Daniel was 18 years old when he made his debut, which is surprisingly consistent with his father Paul. In the context of Milan, which aspires to revival, it provides an extremely favorable environment for young people to grow up, so why can't the little ponies dream more?
Maldini, Three Lives III
The debut goal of the little ponies, Milan fans have been waiting for a long time. Although he entered the First Team of Milan in 2019/20, Daniel, who still needs to be honed in the past two seasons, has played more of a role of "feeling the atmosphere of the top league". Last season, he only made a total of 5 appearances in Serie A, averaging only 5 minutes per game, and the only "long appearance" occurred in the Europa League, but that was all.
Because of this, many Milan fans believe that the team should let the little ponies go out to practice as soon as possible to avoid missing the golden age of the rise. However, this summer, Milan was unfavorable in the forward position in the case of sending away Char khanoglu, and Daniel was left in the team by chance. Playing in the most understaffed position in the team, Daniel certainly has more opportunities than ever before, and in the Champions League group match with Liverpool, he came off the bench to feel the top stage.
(Daniel debuted in the Champions League at an early age match grandpa and father are early)
Compared with the top giants, Milan's squad depth still needs to be improved, this season facing a double-front battle, Pioli must consider rotation, consecutive weekly double matches between Venice and Spezia, is the best time to let the main force recharge their strength to fight for the Champions League. By chance, the Little Ponies were given their first Serie A start against Spezia – the first Serie A start for Maldini in 4,500 days. It was this inadvertent act of planting willows that made a historic moment.
In fact, in the battle with Spezia, Daniel still exposed his lack of ability, and he should have attacked in tandem, and the overall rhythm of his teammates was not very in tune, and even favored a two-striker from the running position. Of course, one can't expect a teenager under 20 years old who is starting serie A for the first time to perform perfectly. At the very least, we see the Maldini family's "genetic mutation", but this mutation is not thorough enough, as an attacker, Daniel completed the most 4 steals in the game.
After the game, whoscored gave Daniel 7.3 points, behind Salmales and Kalulu in the starting lineup, and the Milan Sports newspaper also gave a 7-point rating, tied for the highest in the team. The greenness visible to the naked eye is undeniable, but the first debut of the little ponies can be called more complete. After all, he became the Martini who scored for Milan after 4927 days, and the family's legacy was continued on him.
There is no doubt that Daniel's goal is more symbolic than practical, and when Paul, who shows a fatherly smile in the stands, has also changed from "little Maldini" to "old Maldini", people have to admit that the years have taken away a lot of things at the same time, leaving more emotional continuations. 13 years later, there are players wearing Maldini shirts again to score goals for Milan, and the time traveled has hooked up with a variety of waiting and wandering. Milan fans in front of the screen, everyone is Paulo.
(After his son scored, Paul Maldini smiled happily))
In today's increasingly fierce football competition, Daniel may not be able to achieve the great achievements of his grandfather and father, but is this really so important? Although competitive sports are about success and failure, loyalty and faith are never priceless. Little Pony, who is less than 20 years old, still has enough room to grow, even if he can only be a rotating "sapper" in the end, whether he can continue to fight for the Red and Black Faith in the name of Maldini, whether he can inherit the No. 3 is no longer so important.
In the past, whether it was victory or defeat, peak or low, red and black fans never panicked when they saw the no. 3 figure with the captain's armband. After a long period of precipitation, the surname Maldini has been linked to the sense of security of Milan fans. In the past, this sense of security was reflected in the competitive level, and in the moment when Milan is seeking revival, this sense of security is placed in the spirit, reminding them that the red and black heritage has never been far away.
'I'm sure my future will still be red and black, but I won't be a coach, maybe a manager, but the future I really want to see may be related to my son: 40 years from now, Milan will have a Maldini.' On the occasion of his retirement, Paul had said so. Now that he's the director who's been working hard for Milan's renaissance, and his son has opened the scoring account of his red and black career, what could be more wonderful story?
"I love you, there are more than just lifelong promises. I love you, but it also solidifies my three lives. This is a quote from The Legend of Numbers describing Paul. The 19-year-old pony, wearing the number 27 jersey, is the 3rd power of 3, as if it has a deep meaning of fate. Old Maldini has gone west, Little Maldini has entered the management, Little Pony has begun to fight on the battlefield, where there is a loyal inheritance, the red and black fire will continue, and the sky of San Siro will not be dimmed forever.
Outside of money, football is always purely moving. The inheritance of three generations of Maldini's ancestors has never been passed before, and it is difficult to have a successor, and what the three lives and three generations tell is that love will never end.