The evergreen and handsome AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini is the undisputed captain of a glittering team of football legends — players who have resisted the lure of greener pastures and stayed loyal to their clubs. Maldini's team includes the likes of Pele, Alfredo de Stefano, George Best, Gerd Muller, Franco Baresi, Ryan Giggs, Alessandro Del Piero, Raul Gonzalez, Steven Gerrard, Oliver Kahn and John Terry. A mesmerising 12, including a goalkeeper. Maybe, in the various leagues of the world — in Europe, Africa, Asia and everywhere that the beautiful game is played — there could be many more such dream teams. Of course, the list drawn up isn’t exhaustive by even the shortest stretch of imagination.
Importantly, for a game known to lure only the best of talent and where money rules the roost, Maldini leads a pack of stars who remained loyal to their clubs. So unflinching has been this support to their clubs that they come to be identified with them much like Presidents and Prime Ministers are with countries. Indeed, these examples over the years renews belief that there are men out there who have been and remain faithful. No amount of money has been able to lure these men from their bearings, from the clubs at which they grew and made themselves not just popular but also legends in their lifetimes.
Maldini first kicked a ball for the Rossoneris way back in 1984. He still continues to do so in the same colours. Honest ‘leopards’ don't change their ‘spots’, or should we say ‘stripes’. To represent just one team for more than 25 years on the trot at such a high level of the game is an achievement unsurpassed in possibly other sports as well.
Maldini made his league debut in 1985 at the age of 16. Now 40, the stylish and dependable defender is still around and kicking whenever called upon. It is a tribute to his physical prowess, mental strength and almost childish enthusiasm that keeps him going. Maldini has so far won seven Champions League titles with AC Milan which remained undefeated for almost a decade. He has also been part of every Italian World Cup campaign since he was first picked for the national team.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento or Pele made his debut as a 15-year old for Santos. Pele played in the famed white and black colours right till 1974 and never donned the colours of any other club. It was only after retirement that he played for New York Cosmos. The Brazilian parliament enacted legislation declaring Pele a ‘national treasure’ who could not be taken out of the country. Pele scored a total of 1,282 goals and went on to become arguably the greatest footballer ever. Santos retired the No 10 jersey that Pele wore and made so famous.
At the heart of the AC Milan and Italian defence, Franco Baresi's exploits are legion. Similar is the case with Alfredo de Stefano, Gerd Muller, Del Piero and Oliver Kahn.
Players like Ryan Giggs, Raul Gonzalez, Steven Gerrard and John Terry carry forward the ‘faithful’ tradition in the modern era. The Brazilian Kaka, also of AC Milan, recently turned down a multi-million pound offer from Manchester City to stay with the Italian giants. In India, there is the story of double Olympian Ahmad Khan, who stayed put with East Bengal for 13 seasons from 1949-50 onwards.
The loyalty of these players proves that some human traits never change, that football is not a world of opportunists.
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