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15-03-2006, 18:32
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#1 |
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Moderator
Join Date: 07 2005
Location: California, USA
Fave Players: Capitan Maldini, Kaka', Nesta & Gli Invecibili
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Tribute to Billy Costacurta
Ladies and gentlemen,
Alessandro Costacurta, 5, Billy, Il Professore, one of the greatest Milan players of all times, will retire at the end of this season... most of us know... but it seems like we think that will be in a long time, and we only have 9 season games, and hopefully, another 5 UCL games left... with him not being a regular starter anymore, in 14 games, we will be lucky if we see him play in 5 of those... For those who are younger than 20, and never knew of Milan without Costacurta, and the best defensive line in history along with Baresi, Maldini, Tassotti, Galli... from the Sacchi days... we need to let you know who this "old guy" as some have called him is... Billy was captain of the Primavera team when a much younger Paolo Maldini arrived... together, they've been the leaders of Milan for over 10 years now, since Franco Baresi retired... His contribution to the team, is not only with his minutes on the pitch, but with the reason they call him Il Professore (the Teacher)... he has helped develope some of the best players in the world during their time at Milan... not only defenders, because his lessons are not only technical, but most importantly, personnal... Kaka' has recognized that is thanks to Billy's advice that he has been able to become a more complete midfielder... once who's primary task is to generate offensive plays, but who knows how and where to defend... He is not the captain just because Maldini's legacy is also too big to even try to measure or compare... he's not the coach, because he understand his role as a mature and experienced player... We have seen him cover CB and RB this season, when required... he's still a great player... think of him in the 90's when he was at his peak... Destiny got in the way, he was banned for the 1994 UCL final against Barcelona, and a month later, for the 1994 WC final against Brazil... But that same destiny should be saving a good surprise for him in his final season... I like to dream awake... I have a fantasy... Paolo and Billy, dressed in our white uniform, in Paris, each one of them holding one EAR of the UCL trophy and lifting it up together, while a bunch of red and black papers fly in the air, and the glorious Champions League hymn plays in the background... Because we're privileged to have the opportunity to see a legend, of Milan, of Italian football in general, a world class player who has remained loyal to a club for over 20 years. One, who, like Maldini or Baresi, was never involved in any scandal, who was never seen hitting a fellow player, insulting an opponnent, or a referee, or critizicing his coach... Because a player, and a person, like him can not go unnoticed, is that I say: Grazie, Billy!!!
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Borriello: Forget Belen, forget your internal ghosts... go back to scoring!!! |
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15-03-2006, 19:33
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#2 |
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Moderator
Join Date: 11 2005
Location: Chicago
Fave Players: San Paolo
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Great post SANT, a great tribute to a truly incredible player. There really is nothing more I can add to this, except that even the mention of Billy and Paolo holding the Champions League Trophy in Paris brought tears to my eyes
 We will definetely miss him. Thank you, Billy, for everything  |
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15-03-2006, 21:57
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#3 |
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Moderator
Join Date: 03 2001
Location: M-O-N-T-R-E-A-L
Fave Players: The Ministry of Defence: Paolo, Billy, Sandro
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According to recent reports Billy may be offered to extend his contract for another year
 "Never too old to rock n roll" 
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"Certi sogni non finiscono mai." Alessandro Costacurta, Rossonero per Sempre. |
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16-03-2006, 07:55
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#4 |
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BANNED
Join Date: 10 2003
Location: Memel, Lithuania
Fave Players: Costacurta Giggs & Rui Costa
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You almost made me cry, Santiago
 I bet you guys that from the day he declares ahout his retirement I will use his avatar for a one year long with no exceptions. |
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16-03-2006, 10:01
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#5 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: 08 2005
Location: Macedonia
Fave Players: Maldini, Baresi, Pandev, Van Basten, Kaka
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Quote:
How i would love this to happen man, it would be a dream come true winning the CL in his last season and imagine the view Paolo and Billy holding the trophy great post Sant, and i hope he'll extend his contract for another year 
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A.C. MILAN & F.K. VARDAR  Life ends when you stop Dreaming; Hope ends when you stop Believing; Love ends when you stop Caring; so Dream, Believe and Care. Life is really beautiful! |
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17-03-2006, 17:10
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#6 |
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BANNED!
Join Date: 12 2005
Location: Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
Fave Players: Van Basten, Maldini, Savicevic, Platini, Zico
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A very beautiful text by Sant, congratulations!
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18-03-2006, 07:27
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#7 |
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BANNED!
Join Date: 09 2004
Location: amman, JORDAN
Fave Players: maldini, sheva, baggio, weah, mvb, cruyff
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excllent post sant... nothing lef to say but Grazie Billy ... rossonero per sempre!!!
its so sad to see our legends leaving so suddenly! |
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18-03-2006, 12:44
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#8 |
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Registered User
Join Date: 03 2006
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Respect all!
Agreed his current role at milan is not as good but he has served us for more seasons than maldini has.
he definitely deserves alot of respect and personally I think even his jersey number should be retired once he signs off from san siro ( as a player only!) Im listening to 'OLD MAN' - Neil Young and I am pretty emotional right now! good too see that we have members who consider players like billy. good job SANT 
__________________
You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can't do something themselves, they wanna tell you that you can't do it. You want something? Go get it. Period.
Last edited by rahul.acm; 18-03-2006 at 12:50. |
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18-03-2006, 13:16
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#9 |
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BANNED!
Join Date: 09 2004
Location: amman, JORDAN
Fave Players: maldini, sheva, baggio, weah, mvb, cruyff
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i hate the retiring numbers policy... if baresi's number is gonna be retired, then same with maldinis, and same with billys .. and it would be kind of an insult not to retire the number of deme since hes just as loyal, and maybe sheva later on.... that leaves out the numbers 3,4,5,6,7 ... for what??? i think a tribute match along with a huge banner that hangs off the top of the SS is a much smarter choice .. ala american sports...
when u retire important numbers like 10 for juve incase of DP, its not as encouraging for kids who want to be the stars of their boyhood teams knowing that their favorite number for their favorite player is unavailable. its stupid!! |
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18-03-2006, 13:23
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#10 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: 03 2006
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Retirement policy
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Baresi's no. is retired. Even Billy has spent his career at milan and even he deserves this respect. and when kids come to know about these numbers being retired they will realize how much players mean to club and the fans!
__________________
You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can't do something themselves, they wanna tell you that you can't do it. You want something? Go get it. Period.
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18-03-2006, 13:24
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#11 | |
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Moderator
Join Date: 11 2005
Location: Chicago
Fave Players: San Paolo
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 Its a great point you make, you can't retire very single legend's number at a club like Milan, otherwise we will have no normal numbers left to wear, and every body will be #57, # 83 and such  |
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18-03-2006, 13:34
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#12 | |
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BANNED!
Join Date: 09 2004
Location: amman, JORDAN
Fave Players: maldini, sheva, baggio, weah, mvb, cruyff
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Quote:
rahul... so billy spent a year on loan at monza... that means his number shouldnt be retired?! or is it an exception??? .. if so, then sheva should have his number retired eventhough he started at dinamo kiev... at inter, if their gonna retire someones number it should be zanetti... but he didnt start there did he?? its a stupid thing to do.. u can show how much a player is appreciated in other ways |
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18-03-2006, 14:02
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#13 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: 03 2006
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Just one year!!
Quote:
__________________
You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can't do something themselves, they wanna tell you that you can't do it. You want something? Go get it. Period.
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18-03-2006, 14:05
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#14 |
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Registered User
Join Date: 06 2003
Location: England
Fave Players: Keano (ret), Rooney, Maldini
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In England players get testimonials for 10 years (give or take) service, I cant think of many shirts that have been retired here, the only one i remember is Foe's no.23 at man City, though that isnt so much for his contribution over the years but more a remembrance as he died in tragic circumstamces.
Instead a great player can contribute to the magic of a shirt, at Utd it is the no.7 as that was worn by Bestie, Coppell, Robson, Beckham and now Ronaldo. When a new player gets the shirt it is a sign of faith from the club that they can emulate the greats before them, and a motivator to the player who has something to live up to
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'Well, Clive, it's all about the two Ms - movement and positioning.' - Big Ron |
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18-03-2006, 15:55
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#15 |
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Registered User
Join Date: 03 2006
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Point accepted!
Point Accepted!
__________________
You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can't do something themselves, they wanna tell you that you can't do it. You want something? Go get it. Period.
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