Franco Baresi: Ruud Gullit’s Tearful Pride
From one legend to another: Ruud Gullit paid tribute to his captain, Franco Baresi, who died Friday morning at the age of 66 after a long illness. Together with Sacchi’s and later Capello’s stellar Milan teams, the two champions won it all.
“Rest in peace, Franco Baresi. Forever my captain,” wrote the former Dutch star on Instagram, posting a photo of himself wearing the historic No. 6 on his back. Among the many former teammates paying tribute to him is Daniele Massaro: “It’s hard to find the words when someone who was part of your life passes away. To the world, you were the Captain, a soccer legend. To me, you were Franco. The friend with whom I shared unforgettable years, emotions that only those who’ve experienced a locker room can understand, moments that time will never erase.”
“Today the pain is great, but even greater is the gratitude for having had you by my side along a stretch of my journey. What will remain are the memories, the laughter, the hugs, the silences, the mutual respect, and everything that can’t be captured in a photograph. Goodbye, Franco, my friend. Rest in peace. 6xsempre libero.”
Fulvio Collovati also shared a special memory: “He arrived at Milanello very young, and we immediately shared a room for six years. We struggled in our early years on the field before winning the Scudetto in 1979. Liedholm made him a starter at age 18, and we won the title: it was easy to see the qualities of a world-class player in him. He was a champion of humility, just like his brother. Life made him suffer from a young age, but it gave him so much as a soccer player. He was a man of few words, but on the field he even gave orders to Rivera—and I witnessed it myself.”
Among the most touching messages is that from Paolo Maldini, who shared years of glory with Baresi in the Rossoneri colors. In an open letter posted on his Instagram profile, the former fullback wrote: “Today I feel the same way I did whenever, for whatever reason, you couldn’t take the field alongside us: how will we manage without our Captain? You taught me to fight until my last breath, what it means to be devoted to the jersey, and the value of being a true leader. You did so by example, every day: few words, but so many deeds. You protected me when I was a child, guided me as a teenager, and inspired me as a man. You were the greatest soccer player I’ve ever had the honor of playing with. A warm embrace to your entire family, especially your wife Maura and your sons, Edoardo and Giannandrea. We’ll miss you, Captain. But the light of your star will continue to guide us forever.”
