Milan and the football world said a final farewell to Franco Baresi, one of the finest defenders in history, at his funeral in the Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio. The former Italy and Milan player died last week at the age of 66, drawing huge crowds and former teammates to pay their respects.
Final farewell at Sant'Ambrogio
A giant Milan flag flew beside Baresi's coffin in the square facing the basilica as fans saluted the funeral cortege. One banner read: “Immortal legend, inimitable flag that will never stop waving. Goodbye, Captain.”
Former Milan players Marco van Basten and Roberto Donadoni helped carry the coffin, while other teammates including Mauro Tassotti and Paolo Maldini examined a wreath on the coffin. Daniele Massaro and Dejan Savicevic were also present, with Massaro holding a commemorative replica of Baresi's captain's armband.
Club and football community unite
The club paid tribute with a wreath reading “AC Milan to our Captain, forever,” and another wreath came from Fifa. Roberto Baggio and his wife Andreina Fabbi attended, as did Clarence Seedorf. Milan's current players Christian Pulisic and Santiago Gimenez were there, despite the team being on a pre-season tour with fixtures in Australia and Indonesia this week.
Gerry Cardinale, founder of Milan's majority owner RedBird Capital Partners, Italy's Sport Minister Andrea Abodi, and Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala also attended the funeral. The basilica was full of mourners, and shirts bearing Baresi's No 6 flanked his coffin.
A career devoted to Milan
Baresi spent his entire 20-year career with Milan, during which time they won six Serie A titles, three European Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, and four Italian Super Cups. After 719 appearances for Milan, he retired at the end of the 1996-97 season, when Milan retired his jersey.
