Franco Baresi is the star of this week’s edition of Sportweek by La Gazzetta dello Sport, and the AC Milan icon spoke about a number of topics about his past at the club and the present moment.
Baresi is 64 years of age and he has spent 50 of them at Milan; 20 as a player, 15 as captain of the club. His record reads 719 official appearances, with six league titles, three Champions Leagues, two Intercontinental Cups and several other awards.
He is the first player to enter the newly formed Milan Hall of Fame (sponsored by Emirates, taking over from the old Hall of Fame) and on Tuesday 22nd his second book comes out, ‘Ancora in gioco’ (written with Federico Tavola, Sperling & Kupfer).
It is a travel diary of places, people and memories of his time as a player and the Milan that he knew, one that is far away from being replicated at present at least in terms of dominance on the global stage.
Baresi was the cover star of the Sportweek magazine and he spoke at length about various topics including his new book, why he isn’t seen much at Milanello and the issues surrounding the club at the moment.
Why, two years after the release of your autobiography ‘Libero di sognare’, did you feel the need for a new book? Is it a way to celebrate 50 years of Milan?
“My 50th birthday gave me the inspiration, then the publisher insisted on a story that went beyond my career as a footballer, which lasted 20 years. Then there are another 25 as a coach, manager, now vice-president, ambassador of the club.
“I wanted to tell the experiences I had around the world in this last role above all. Travels open the mind, and in my case they are like a mirror that reflects who I was and what I represent for others, what I have actually managed to convey to them.”
