On 20 January 1985, a 16-year-old eyecatching defender debuted for his childhood club. This was no ordinary debut, but a continuation of a regal legacy of the Rossoneri. The young boy's father played over 400 games for AC Milan as a defender. In this time, he won the league 5 times and captained Milan to their first-ever European Cup. So, Paulo Maldini's first steps on a footballing pitch were heavy but firm.
The following season, Paulo Maldini wore the number 3 Rossoneri shirt, previously also worn by his father. The 17-year-old became an integral part of the AC Milan backline, which included legends in Franco Baresi, Filippo Galli, and Mauro Tassotti. Paulo was technically gifted, physically imposing, but most of all, extremely intelligent. Even at the age of 17, there weren't many who could read the game as he did.
While he started out as a right back, Paulo shifted to the left back position as Tassotti was the established right back of Milan. To better adapt, Paulo worked tirelessly on his left foot until there was little difference in quality between his right and left feet. This work ethic would go on to define Paulo's career more than even his talent or his intelligence.
In Paulo's second full season, AC Milan brought in Arrigo Sacchi, who built the 'Immortals' that won the Serie A once and the European Cup twice, altogether winning 8 major trophies from 1987 to 1991. The young Paulo Maldini was an irreplaceable part of the 'Immortals', which is considered one of the greatest defensive units of all time. The back line of Tassotti—Costacurta—Baresi—Maldini was proclaimed defending royalty by the entire world.
The 'Immortals' were succeeded by the 'Invincibles' under new manager Fabio Capello, himself a former AC Milan player. From 1991 to 1996, the Rossoneri won 9 trophies, with 4 Serie A's, 1 Champions League, and 1 European Super Cup. The 'Invincibles' inherited the back line of the 'Immortals' and thrived with it.
Paulo Maldini was a great student of football, beginning from his backyard, where he was taught the fundamentals by his father. Now, he learnt every day under the tutelage of Baresi, Tassotti, and Capello. Under Fabio Capello, Maldini blossomed into one of the greats of his time. In 1994, Paulo was the FIFA Defender of the Year and ranked 3rd in the Ballon d'Or Rankings, the first defender to ever do so.
Through this period, Maldini played more as a third centre back on the left, rather than a traditional left back. While comfortable on the ball, he progressed selectively and focused on defensive solidity and positioning. As Baresi's heir, he excelled at the libero position, the leader of the defence, and its protector. Paulo Maldini was AC Milan's defensive anchor on the left. It is safe to say that there would be no 'Invincibles' without him.
Paulo was handed captaincy upon Baresi's retirement and led AC Milan through its transitional period after Capello left and many key players retired. Between 1996 and 2001, Paulo led his club to a Serie A win, but did not see much success otherwise. Still, under his leadership, the Rossoneri did not despair and remained afloat.
Hope returned with Paulo's former teammate, Carlo Ancelotti, taking the helm as manager. Between 2001 and 2007, Paulo led the star-studded AC Milan to 8 trophies, including 1 Serie A and 2 Champions Leagues. Maldini, now playing as a centre back, paired with Alessandro Nesta to create the world's best defensive partnership of its time.
On 31 May 2009, Paulo Maldini played the last match of his career and capped a 25-year career as one of the greatest players, not just defenders, of all time. His #3 was retired by the club, only to be reinstated in the case one of his sons went on to play for Milan.
To Paulo, one of the greatest things about football was the opportunity to keep learning. Over the 25 years that he played, not once did he stop learning or improving. While his talent brought him to the pinnacle of football, his tiring hard work kept him there for two decades, longer than any other outfield player in the game. He was a perfectionist in anything to do with football and pushed himself till the end of his career. A testament to this is the near-perfect season he played for Milan in 2002-2003, long after his physical prime.
Paulo's greatest strength was his mind. His intelligence and his constant learning made him one of the greatest readers of the game. It was this aspect of his game that made him arguably the greatest defender of all time. Paulo was always in the right place and was never caught out of position. And so, he hardly ever went to tackle players. In his own words, "If I have to make a tackle, then I've already made a mistake."
To Maldini, the best defenders prevented danger before a tackle became necessary. Of course, this was second nature only to a man who was no mere mortal. No other defender would be able to read the game and anticipate the threat quite like Paulo could. Naturally, because he understood the game so well, Paulo was phenomenal on the ball. With a ball at his feet, he resembled an elegant midfielder, not a mere defender who was good with the ball.
Another facet of the greatness of Paulo was his calm and gentlemanly demeanour on and off the pitch. It is unheard of for a defender to have just three red cards in a career spanning over a 1,000 games for club and country. This calmness defined his playstyle, which never involved outmuscling the opposition or rashly tackling for the ball. In all situations, he kept the presence of mind to read the game and position himself accordingly.
Maldini's philosophy encompasses many fields:
Tactical — Paulo read the game and anticipated it earlier than any defender of his era. He prioritised positioning and pressure over the risk of tackles and physical entanglement.
Work Ethic — Paulo, through his 25-year career, worked with a discipline and dedication that was unparalleled by any of his teammates. Until he hung up his boots at the age of 41, he kept learning and trying to improve.
Demeanour — Paulo was always calm and introspective on the pitch, and kind and helpful off it. This was part of what made him a great leader and 'Il Capitano'.
Loyalty — Paulo Maldini remained at his boyhood club for 31 years. He joined the Rossoneri youth system at the age of 10 and retired from football at the age of 41. He loved Milan and remained in service to it through the highs and the lows.
Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Nazario, Thierry Henry, Roberto Baggio, Patrick Viera, and Ronaldinho — all these greats of the game considered Paulo Maldini to be the most difficult challenge of their careers. Yet, this is only one aspect of what made Paulo Maldini a Great of The Game.