Franco Baresi, a living legend of AC Milan, has spent an astonishing 50 years with the club – 20 as a player, 15 as captain. With 719 official appearances, 6 Serie A titles, 3 European Cups, and 2 Intercontinental Cups, Baresi is the first Rossoneri to enter the newly established Milan Hall of Fame. On the occasion of his second book release, “Still in the Game,” Baresi reflected on his career, values, and the enduring legacy of AC Milan in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
When asked about the motivation behind his new book, Baresi explains, “The fifty years gave me the inspiration, then the publisher insisted on a story that went beyond my playing career, which lasted twenty years. Then there are another twenty-five years as a coach, manager, today vice president, club ambassador. I wanted to tell about the experiences I’ve had around the world in this last role especially. Travels open the mind, and in my case, they’re like a mirror reflecting who I’ve been and what I represent for others, what I’ve actually managed to convey to them.”
Baresi’s journey with Milan began in 1974, in the simplest of ways. “An observer had received good reports about Travagliato, where I played, and had come to see us. After that, he organized a trial. The first one didn’t go too well, at least for me. But they gave me a second chance, and I took advantage of it,” he recalls.
On his leadership style, Baresi emphasizes the importance of leading by example rather than through words. “I never started shouting. There’s no need. When things weren’t working, I set an example with daily behavior. Many small actions put together that you end up transmitting to your teammates: to their philosophy, culture, to their way of working in training. The message gets across that the team, the club comes first.”
Reflecting on his childhood, Baresi shares, “It was equally difficult. I lost my mother at 13 and my father at 17. We children, three boys and two girls, had to grow up quickly. The people who remained beside us had the patience to wait for us, support us, respect the times of formation and growth of each of us.”
When asked about his faith, Baresi responds, “I grew up in a Christian family. Above all, I have faith in human behavior, in the things people do. Then, when you have examples in your family, it comes naturally to follow them. Even in religious matters.”
Baresi’s advice to young players reflects his own journey: “Every child must follow their own passion and believe in it to the end. I did it. I had a path to follow and I did it. Then you need talent and the luck to find the right people to bring out the best in you.”
On the current Milan team, Baresi emphasizes the importance of understanding the club’s history and values. “There’s no Milan of today or yesterday, it’s just Milan: by its nature, Milan always aims for the maximum. We need to remember this and behave accordingly,” he states.
When asked how he would explain who Franco Baresi was to a 20-year-old who never saw him play, he humbly responds, “I’d tell them to go look at the football cards… Seriously: I’d tell them he was a player who is part of Milan’s history.”
