Description
Match worn or issued AC Milan long-sleeved home shirt by the club’s number 3 Paolo Maldini in the 1997-1998 season. The shirt is signed by the living AC Milan club legend Maldini. It has no league patch on the right sleeve. Therefore, this shirt was either worn in or issued for a friendly match or the patch was taken off. Milan only wore shirts with league patches in official matches this season, both in the Serie A and Coppa Italia.
AC Milan’s 1997-98 season was a disappointing campaign for the club, as they struggled to compete at the highest level despite a talented squad. Under Fabio Capello, returning for a second stint as manager, Milan finished 10th in Serie A, failing to qualify for European competitions. The team also had an early exit in the UEFA Cup, being eliminated in the quarter-finals by Borussia Dortmund.
Despite signings like Patrick Kluivert and Leonardo, Milan lacked consistency. Key players included Paolo Maldini, Demetrio Albertini and George Weah. The club’s underperformance led to Capello’s departure, marking a period of transition before Milan’s return to dominance in the 1998-99 season (Serie A champions) and later in the early 2000s.
Paolo Maldini was an iconic Italian defender who spent his entire 25-year career at AC Milan, becoming one of the greatest defenders in football history. Known for his elegance, tactical intelligence, and leadership, he played as a left-back and later as a center-back. Maldini won seven Serie A titles and five Champions League trophies, cementing his legacy as a Milan legend. He also earned 126 caps for Italy, playing in four World Cups and three European Championships. After retiring in 2009, he later took on a leadership role at Milan, continuing his deep connection with the club.
This shirt has all the characteristics of a match shirt: the correct player size name and number from felt material on the back; correct first team player size XL, but above all (1) the taped seam above the neck labels with “Lotto” texts in red font and (2) the size label underneath the Lotto x AC Milan brand label in the neck. These last two characteristics are only seen at match shirts, not in commercially available fanshop shirts.
Years: 1997-1998
Size: XL
Condition: Very good
Brand: Lotto
Sponsor: Opel
