Italy’s legendary AC Milan defender and national team manager Cesare Maldini died on Sunday, age 84, the club announced on Twitter.

“Goodbye dear Cesare. Today the world loses a great man and we lose a page of our history. You will be missed”, said the Milanese club’s tweet.

AC Milan archrivals Inter expressed their condolences on Twitter as well.

“Cesare Maldini was someone who made football great in Milan and Italy. He was a great opponent in great matches”, Inter said.

Born in Trieste in 1932, Cesare Maldini moved to AC Milan when he was 21 and played as defender for Rossoneri – the Red and Blacks – until 1966.

When playing for AC Milan, he won four Serie A titles and one UEFA Champions League title.

Later, as club manager, Maldini led AC Milan to the European Cup Winners’ Cup and the Italian Cup in the 1972-73 season.

Additionally Cesare took Italy’s under-21 team to capture the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 1992, 1994, and 1996. Then he managed Italy’s national team.

Maldini took “Azzurri” (the Sky Blues) to qualify for the 1998 FIFA World Cup held in France. Italy were eliminated by their hosts France on penalties in quarter-finals.

His son Paolo – another AC Milan legend – spent his entire 25-season-career with Rossoneri before retiring in 2009.

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Anadolu Agency