The Players Behind the Shirt || AC Milan No. 3 and No. 6
In a slight sidestep from my usual article focussing on the more recent history of a shirt number, these 2 numbers at AC Milan are no longer worn by any player.
Franco Baresi was at AC Milan for an incredible 20 years, playing an astonishing 719 official matches and winning countless trophies between 1977 and 1997 including:
- 6 Serie A
- 3 Europeans Cups / Champions Leagues
- 2 European Super Cups
His iconic number 6 shirt was retired with him in 1997, his time at the club deemed so significant that no other player would wear the shirt again.
Similarly with Paolo Maldini, in a career spanning 25 years with the Italian giants, playing an even more incredible 902 matches you would be forgiven for thinking that the No. 3 had ever been worn by anybody else. Again, winning countless trophies including:
- 7 Serie A
- 5 European Cups / Champions Leagues
- 4 European Super Cups
- 1 Club World Cup
I remember the great AC Milan team whilst I was growing up with the likes of Gullit, Rijkaard and van Basten. At that time, I remember Maldini being without question the best left back in the world.
So 2 squad numbers retired by AC Milan due to the legendary status achieved at the club. This made me curious as to which other shirts have been retired and the list is long.
Some notable names that stand out to me are:
- Temur Ketsbaia (No. 14) - Anorthosis Farnagusta (but best known for this goal celebration (it's towards the end))
- Karel Poborsky (No. 8) - Dynamo České Budějovice
- Bobby Moore (No. 6) - West Ham United
- Roberto Baggio (No. 10) - Brescia
- Javier Zanetti (No. 4) - Inter Milan
- Diego Maradona (No. 10) - Napoli
- George Weah (No. 14) - Liberia
- Johan Cruyff (No. 14) - Ajax
- Henrik Larsson (No. 17) - Helsingborgs
So many shirts retired and there will be shirts I've not mentioned that will hold a significance to you.
Not all shirt retirements are appreciated though - When Jude Bellingham left Birmingham City for Borussia Dortmund, they retired the number 22 shirt in recognition of the 17 year old. This isn't a joke.
Bellingham, roughly 40 appearances v. Maldini, roughly 900 appearances. Let's not make a mockery of retiring shirt numbers!!
Previous Articles:
Barcelona No. 10
Liverpool No. 7
Manchester United No. 7
Number 14 seems to be surprisingly popular!