Footy fans everywhere, rejoice: the player that can easily be defined as one of the best defenders ever to walk the face of this Earth, has extended his contract with AC Milan for one more year. I am talking of course of Azzurri & Rossoneri legend Paolo Maldini.

At nearly 40 years of age (his birthday’s on June 26), Maldini will officially become one of the oldest modern players of the beautiful game. Not many players in Serie A can claim that record, especially when they’re not wearing goalkeeper gloves and playing for Lazio (n’est-ce pas, Mr. Ballotta?). Out of memory, the most recent player to have gone over 40 years of age and still played somewhat competitively, is former Sampdoria legend Pietro Vierchowod (who retired in the year 2000 at 41 years of age). Coincidentally, Vierchowod was also old enough in 1982 to be named on Italy’s World Cup-winning team, even though he did not play a single match in that tournament. 

The only difference: Vierchowod was playing with Piacenza at the time he retired. Maldini on the other hand, will still be playing on one of the top clubs in Europe (albeit not in the Champions League) and still remains one of the most reliable center-backs/left-backs the beautiful game has to offer. 2008-09 will thus be Maldini’s 24^th season with the Rossoneri. “My decision” Maldini said, “was to stop playing at first, but the management asked to keep on playing and after speaking with the coach and my teammates, I decided to continue for one more year. Playing football is something I enjoy doing and think myself capable of continuing to do well.”

Music for our ears Paolino.

[biography data & statistics courtesy of Gazzetta dello Sport]
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		Bio data
		Born
		MILAN – 26/6/1968
		Height	Weight
		187 cm	85 Kg
		Technical notes
		Role:
		Defender
		Serie A debut
		20/1/1985, UDINESE-MILAN 1-1
		National team debut
		31/3/1988, YUGOSLAVIA-ITALY 1-1

2007/2008	Serie A	Coppa Italia	Champions League	UEFA Cup
Matches	17	-	4	-
Starter	15	-	2	-
Subbed IN	2	-	2	-
Subbed OFF	4	-	-	-
.
Goals	1	-	-	-
Minutes played	1379	-	252	-
Goal average per match	0.06	-	-	-
Goal average per minute	1379	-	-	-
Yellow Cards	1	-	1	-
Red Cards	-	-	-	-
Match Rating (/10)	6.00	-	7.00	-