AC Milan legend Franco Baresi has passed away at the age of 66. Baresi, who spent his entire career with the Rossoneri, is being remembered as one of Italy's finest defenders.
Gianni Rivera, another Milan icon, called Baresi "The greatest defender Italy has ever produced." Paolo Maldini, who inherited the Milan armband from Baresi, described him as "The greatest player I ever had the honour of playing with."
Baresi captained AC Milan from the age of 22 until his retirement 15 years later. His loyalty to the club saw him stay through two relegations, one due to a betting scandal. He won six Serie A titles and three European Cups with Milan, and his number 6 shirt was retired in his honour.
He was a key figure in Arrigo Sacchi's revolutionary AC Milan side, transforming Italian defending with a fast, aggressive, and organised approach. Marco van Basten, his former teammate, called him "the Johan Cruyff of defenders," noting how Baresi changed football.