Franco Baresi dead: Legendary World Cup winner dies aged 66 as tributes flood in | Football | Sport
Legendary Italian World Cup winner Franco Baresi has died aged 66, with tributes from across the world of football starting to flood in. The AC Milan superstar is considered one of the greatest defenders of all time, and was part of the Italy side that won the World Cup in 1982.
However, last year Baresi was diagnosed with a pulmonary nodule and underwent lung surgery as a result. Unfortunately, the illness got the better of him, and he was confirmed to have passed away at just 66.
In a statement posted to social media, AC Milan said: “The entire history of AC Milan is in tears following the passing of Franco Baresi. His example and integrity will be forever etched into the Club’s DNA, just as his iconic number 6 shirt is. The condolences AC Milan extends to Franco Baresi’s family at such a difficult time are shared by every Rossonero, who feels this loss as their own.”
Napoli replied: “President Aurelio De Laurentiis, Mr. [Max] Allegri, the executives, and all of SSC Napoli express their deepest condolences for the passing of Franco Baresi, a flag and legend of Milan and of the entire panorama of Italian football. To his family, the sincerest closeness from the entire Azzurri club.”
A particularly touching tribute given the then Napoli player Diego Maradona once said this about Baresi after a match: “After the end of one of the matches I asked for his shirt and I wore it in the middle of the San Paolo [Napoli’s] stadium as a kind of respect and appreciation for the best defender I have faced in my career in football and that’s enough.”
Meanwhile, Juventus added: “There are people who, with their talent, enter history. And others who, with their humanity, remain there forever. Franco Baresi was both. Class, style, leadership, and respect on and off the field. An example for generations of players and fans, loved and admired by all football enthusiasts. His memory will live on forever. Juventus Football Club stands in solidarity with the Baresi family and @acmilan in this moment of profound sorrow.”
The confirmation of his death comes just two days after Milan released a statement denying social media rumours that he’d passed away. Baresi is considered a club legend at the San Siro outfit, having come through the club’s academy before featuring 716 times for his boyhood club.
As a Rossoneri player, Baresi won six Serie A titles, three European Cups and three UEFA Super Cups. What’s more, he was also part of the Milan team that won the Intercontinental Cup in back-to-back seasons.
