Franco Baresi, AC Milan Legend and World Cup Winner, Dies at 66

Franco Baresi, one of the greatest defenders in football history and a legendary figure at AC Milan, passed away at the age of 66 after a prolonged battle with cancer. He underwent lung tumor surgery in August before his death. Baresi was a World Cup champion with Italy in 1982 and captained AC Milan from the 1982/83 season at just 22 years old, leading the defense for 15 years during the era of coach Arrigo Sacchi.

Baresi was a key part of a defensive line that included Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta, Mauro Tassotti, and Christian Panucci. Under his leadership, Milan conceded only 14 goals in the 1987/88 season. He won the UEFA Champions League three times with Milan (1988/89, 1989/90, and 1993/94), including the memorable 4-0 final victory over Barcelona in 1994. He also secured six Serie A titles and was runner-up in the Ballon d'Or voting, a rare achievement for a defender, which led Milan to retire his jersey number in his honor.

Internationally, Baresi represented Italy from 1982 to 1994, earning 82 caps and being named to the 1990 World Cup All-Star Team. He was recognized as AC Milan's and Serie A's Player of the Century by the Italian Footballers' Association. Known for his versatility as both a central defender and sweeper, Baresi was instrumental in Sacchi's tactical system.

After retiring, he briefly coached Milan's youth teams, including the under-20 squad. Baresi is also known in Israel as the second name mentioned in Eric Einstein's song "Ve'eleh Shemot." He is survived by his son, Edoardo Baresi.