Former Milan and Italy legend Franco Baresi has passed away at the age of 66. The former Rossoneri centre-back had undergone surgery to remove a pulmonary nodule and had been prescribed treatment by a cancer specialist in 2025.
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Baresi a bona fide legend
The use of legend is often overused when talking about football players. However, in Baresi’s case, the label fits perfectly.
He joined Milan’s youth set-up in 1972 and was part of the Rossoneri defence until he hung up his playing boots in 1997. When he called it quits on his playing career, Milan retired his iconic number six shirt.
During that time, he made 719 appearances in all competitions, establishing himself as one of the best defenders in the beautiful game in his prime.
His Milan career was trophy-laden, as he won the Scudetto on six occasions, with his last title-winners’ medal coming in the 1995/96 campaign.
Baresi was also part of the defensive foundations of the Rossoneri team that won the European Cup in 1989 and 1990, and the Champions League-winning team of 1994.
An Azzurri stalwart
Baresi’s consistency and brilliance at the back also saw the defender become a stalwart for the Italian national team, winning 81 caps from 1984 until 1994.
Although he was part of the Italy squad that won the World Cup in 1982, he didn’t appear in the competition.
However, he was part of Italy’s team that came third in the 1990 World Cup, and finished as runners-up in the 1994 edition in the USA. He was even included in the Team of the Tournament in the 1990 World Cup.
Life after playing
Baresi returned to football in June 2002 as the director of football at Fulham. However, he reportedly clashed with the Cottagers’ head coach Jean Tigana and left the role in August of the same year.
He returned to Milan in 2004 and coached various Rossoneri youth teams. Baresi’s role at the club changed in 2008, as he became one of the club’s directors, working alongside the marketing team.
Then in 2017, the club stalwart became an ambassador for the Rossoneri, before being named an honorary vice-president of the club in 2020.
Franco Baresi dedicated his life to football, and will always be remembered by those lucky enough to watch him pull on those Milan and Italy shirts.