Cesare Maldini, a former player and manager with AC Milan and Italy and father of legendary defender Paolo Maldini, has died at the age of 84.
The Maldini family announced this morning that Cesare died “the night between Saturday and Sunday”.
Renowned as a classy defender, Cesare won four Serie A titles and a European Cup as a player with AC Milan and made 25 appearances for the Italian national side during his career.
He later went on the manage AC Milan and also served as assistant manager and manager of the Italian national team, guiding them to a quarter-final in the 1998 World Cup, where they lost on penalties to eventual champions France.
He also managed Paraguay at the World Cup in Japan and South Korea four years later.
His son Paolo, widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time, made 126 appearances for Italy and played over 600 games for Milan in a glittering career in which he won seven Serie A titles and five European Cups amongst a host of other trophies.
Tributes have begun pouring in from across the footballing world.
Addio caro Cesare. Oggi il mondo piange un grande uomo e noi parte della nostra storia. Ci mancherai. pic.twitter.com/vUBSqNI6pU
— AC Milan (@acmilan) April 3, 2016
Con Maldini se ne va una bandiera del calcio italiano. Un abbraccio al figlio Paolo e alla sua famiglia. Ciao Cesare!
— Roberto Mancini (@robymancio) April 3, 2016
Apprendo con tristezza della scomparsa di #CesareMaldini.Sono vicino a Paolo e alla famiglia Maldini. Condoglianze #milan #maldini #rip
— LUCA ANTONINI (@OfficialAnto_77) April 3, 2016
Addio, Cesare Maldini. pic.twitter.com/WrpTUOOCLC
— Torino Football Club (@TorinoFC_1906) April 3, 2016
Il calcio italiano piange oggi una delle sue bandiere. Addio a Cesare #Maldini | Italian football mourns an all-time great: Cesare Maldini
— Udinese Calcio (@Udinese_1896) April 3, 2016
Cesare Maldini est décédé le foot perd encore un grand bonhomme et moi mon plus sympathique ennemi . Respect Mr Maldini .
— Raymond Domenech (@RaymondDomenech) April 3, 2016
