Former striker Andriy Shevchenko has revealed an anecdote about Paolo Maldini, while also naming several AC Milan legends in his five-a-side team.
Shevchenko played for Dynamo Kyiv, AC Milan, Chelsea and the Ukraine national team in his illustrious career and is rightly regarded as one of the best strikers to ever play the game, hitting his peak with Milan.
He won five league titles in a row before signing for Milan, and it was with the red and black shirt that he really hit another level. The Ukrainian won the UEFA Champions League in 2003 and he received the Ballon d’Or in 2004.
After ending his career with Dynamo he decided to go into management, first coaching the Ukraine national team and then Genoa in a spell that didn’t go too well. Now, he is looking for the next opportunity.
Shevchenko spoke on 1vs1, a new social media brand of Footballco, and he retraced some of the key moments from his career with Calciomercato.com relaying his comments.
What was Manchester 2003 like?
“Manchester was an incredible emotion, I still smile a lot because it’s something that happens to you once.”
What was Maldini like as a team-mate and opponent?
“I played my first match against the Italian national team [Ukraine vs. Italy, March 1995] I played against Paolo Maldini, I can’t help but mention him. That day I wasn’t playing as a striker yet, I was playing a bit on the right.
“We played in Ukraine I played against Paolo and I understood that he was too strong a player, I went to the coach and said: ‘Can I change flank?’. I went to play a bit on the left but Paolo was a complete player, for me he is the strongest defender there has ever been.”
Who are the five toughest defenders you have faced, in addition to Maldini?
“Jaap Stam, another very strong player, intelligent, he had physical strength, he was a very intelligent player. John Terry, Thuram and Zanetti, he has to be there.”
Name us your top five team-mates…
“The best goalkeeper I played with? Dida. Defender Paolo Maldini, midfielder Andrea Pirlo. Forward? I played with Ricky Kakà, let’s say not a forward but an attacking player. Best coach? Lobanovskyi.”
And the perfect footballer…
“Francesco Totti’s right foot, Messi’s left foot, Cristiano Ronaldo’s heading, Mbappé’s speed, Ronaldo Il Fenomeno’s dribbling, Didier Drogba’s physical power.”
Miss the days milan as superpower
Yes same here van hasten Guillet Frankie rikard
Were does one stop . How I miss watching these players.
Futsal starting xi
-Dida-
-Maldini-
-Kaka- -Pirlo-
-Shevchenko-
As a futsal and football goalkeeper myself I agree, this has to be my best 5 aside as well.
And since there is no offside in Futsal, Inzaghi would be an angel of death if not for Shevchenko up front.