Watch: Baresi gets Niels Liedholm Award – 'He was a very important figure'

AC Milan and Italy icon Franco Baresi received the Niels Liedholm award in Cuccaro Monferrato this afternoon in recognition for his distinguished career.

Baresi is widely regarded to be one of the best defenders in the history of football, having spent his entire 20-year career with Milan, captaining the club for 15 seasons. With Milan, he won three Champions League titles, Serie A six times, the Supercoppa Italiana four times, the European Super Cups twice and the Intercontinental Cups twice.

He received the Niels Liedholm award in Cuccaro Monferrato today thanks to his achievements and being a leader of all the defences he was part of but also for his ability to honour the shirt he wore with tenacity, loyalty and great attachment.

“He was a very important figure in my career. He gave me my debut when I wasn’t even 18 years old, he saw further than anyone,” he said on stage.