It should be an international holiday, his birthday!
BEST WISHES, PAOLO!
6/26/2005 12:19:00 PM
The Milan captain is 37 years old. He is celebrating the event with his wife Adriana and their two children Christian and Daniel, but ideally it is a time for all Milan fans to celebrate with Paolo. Next season will be his 22nd with the club. It has been a life where his faith has never been in doubt. As well as showing he is a great player, Paolo has proven he is a great person, equipped with the character, sensibility and strong personality to have taken over the captain’s armband after a certain Franco Baresi. Maldini has become part of the history of Milan and also in a sense as time has gone by, become more and more of an example to young people. Paolo has taught everyone a lot not only on the pitch but away from it as well. We are all waiting to invite him back for another campaign but in the meantime we all wish Paolo a happy birthday. Best wishes ...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAOLO!
6/26/2005 12:16:00 PM
Happy birthday, Paolo. The Rossoneri captain is 37 today. Plenty of times in the imagination, one can turn back to when he made his debut at 16-and-a-half. That youngster has had some journey up until now, not just with the games won and trophies lifted but also with the time that has passed. Growing up in an exemplary way, thanks to a family with a mentality open to sport, today he is an example to many youngsters that follow the world of football. Not only has he taken his footballing duties seriously and been appreciated for that but has also worked tirelessly away from the pitch for various causes. His great sensibility has made him well-equipped to work on the frontline to help those in need. The Italian Committee for UNICEF, in fact, named him, in December 2001, Ambassador of UNICEF-Italy, promoting him as the figurehead in bringing the sporting world to support UNICEF projects to help young children and infants. However, for the fans it is his exploits on the pitch that have made the greatest impact. He has had the personality and charisma to take the captain’s armband after Franco Baresi who had in turn inherited it from Gianni Rivera.
Then if this was not enough, Paolo was following in the footsteps of his father Cesare. It has been a football dream that turned into a real story which Paolo admitted he thought would never come true when he was young: 'If I had designed my life I would have never imagined that I would be able to map it like this. It is more beautiful than immagination.'
The story continues. Many said it was predestined but he has had to work hard to get to where he is now, showing that nothing has been handed to him on a plate to him. The facts prove this. He has after all, become record appearance holder for both club and country. So it goes on as Paolo travels to his second home at Milanello every day and the Maldini-Milan dynasty may continue with his two sons, Christian and Daniel. One thing, however, is certain, no one wants to see the day Paolo stops playing and therefore we will continue to enjoy his performances, starting from today as he celebrates his 37th birthday, with his wife Adriana and children.