Post by Feet2mee (@samuel_odumu)

Italy and AC Milan great, El Capitano has died aged 66.

Baresi joined the AC Milan youth set-up after the Inter Milan youth academy opted to select his older brother, Giuseppe. In 1977/78 season, he made his Serie A debut and formally joined the starting 11 the following season. Alongside his brother Giuseppe, he was selected for the 1980 European Championships where Italy finished fourth.

Following the totonero match-fixing scandal in 1980, AC Milan was demoted to the Serie B with Franco opting to remain with the team. They won the Serie B title in 1981 and returned to the Serie A only to get relegated (following poor outing that season) again in 1982. Despite their poor performances, Franco was amongst the Italian National team that won the FIFA World Cup in 1982, despite not playing in any game.

In 1982, aged 22 - Franco was announced AC Milan captain, and held the armband for 15 seasons, only handing over to Paolo Maldini in 1997 after his retirement. It was always a fierce rivalry with his older brother during the Milan derby, especially as both of them were captains of their respective teams. They both played the same position as sweeper or centre-back. Giuseppe played 16 seasons for Inter and was captain from 1988-1992 winning the Serie A, Coppa Italia and UEFA Cup. Giuseppe was selected ahead of Franco for the Mexico '86 World Cup.where Italy failed to defend their trophy losing to Michel Platini's-inspired France (2-0) in the second round.

In the late 80s-early 90s, with the influx of stars like Jean Pappin, Frank Rijkaard, George Opong Weah, Marcel Desailly, Brian Laudrup, Ruud Gullit, Carlo Ancelotti, Marco Van Basten and others, Milan dominated under coaches Arrigo Sacchi and later Baresi's ex-teammate, Fabio Capello. Milan won the Serie A in 1988 conceding only 14 goals. Milan won the European Cup (now known as UEFA Champions League) in 1989 and defended it in 1990. Baresi finished runner-up to teammate, Van Basten in the 1989 Ballon d'Or race and was named Serie A footballer of the Year in 1990.

In what is still regarded as the World's greatest ever defence, Franco built the "Berlin Wall" alongside Alessandro CostaCurta, Mauro Tassotti and Paolo Maldini. They helped win the Serie A in 1992 (undefeated throughout the season), 1993 and 1994 (conceding only 15 goals). They also won the SuperCoppa Italia in three consecutive seasons in '92, '93 and '94 seasons.
In these times, Milan also reached the UEFA Champions League finals three times in a row, losing to Olympic Marseille in 1993 (1-0), beating Cruyff's Barcelona Dream Team in 1994 (4-0) and losing 1-0 (in 1995) to an Ajax side that had Finidi George, Edwin Van der Saar, Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids, etc.

Baresi was one of the stand-out players as Italy picked up Bronze on home soil in the 1990 World Cup, losing the semis to a Maradona-inspired Argentina on penalties. Italy went five games without conceding a goal.

Called up by his former Coach Sacchi, Baresi was Italy captain in the 1994 World Cup, losing one of the penalties that sank Italy against Brazil in the final.

Baresi capped another Serie A title in 1996 (his sixth)

Known as little Baresi in reference to his older brother; Franco who played all his professional games at AC Milan won 6 Serie A titles, 3 European Cups/UEFA Champions League titles, 2 InterContinental cups, 3 European Super Cups, 4 SuperCoppa Italia and 2 Serie B titles.

At International level, he participated in the 1980 Euros, the 1984 Olympics and won a Gold (1982), Silver (1994) and Bronze (1990) medals at three FIFA World Cups. Known for tackling ability, technical vision and mastery of the off-side trap, Baresi's shirt number 6 was retired by Milan in 1997.

He scored 31 goals, 21 coming from the spot.

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