Farewell to the captain who defined an era and did more than just write Milan’s history. A tribute to the former number 10: “He knew how to show his teammates the way”

“I loved the city, as a man from the north who’d moved to the south. After a couple of months of settling in, I was able to listen, joke and chat with people. I’ve always felt as down-to-earth as they are,” recalls the Dutchman

“When we played man-to-man marking, hearing was our primary weapon. We’d stick close to the centre-forward and, by listening to his breathing, you could tell whether you could close him down early or not,” explained the former Milan captain

Ten photos summarising the career of the captain of AC Milan and the Italian national team

In Padua, on 27 August 1995, the Stadio Euganeo fell silent for a few moments. The Captain had scored. The story of the last goal scored by Milan’s number 6

The former Milan defender and captain was 66 years old. His career got off to a poor start, during one of the most disastrous periods in Milan’s history. He played two seasons in Serie B, experiencing a rollercoaster of highs and lows, yet he never once questioned his commitment to the Rossoneri. And for one simple reason: is there any other shirt like it? Then came the great victories

Ever since football began, alongside incidents of mob violence, the game has always been regarded as an art form in the regions around Buenos Aires and Rosario. Yet at this World Cup, the Selección has tried to present itself almost exclusively as a rough and aggressive side