In recent days, Sky Sport organised a “Carramba-style surprise” for the 60th birthday of Alessandro Costacurta. During the studio link-up with the former Rossoneri player, Billy was also joined by Paolo Maldini, legendary captain, friend, and former teammate of Costacurta. Together, the two joked and recalled some amusing aspects of their long and successful careers.
Billy, which coach did you have in your career that you think is the most underrated?
“I got on very well, perhaps it was just the right moment historically for him, with Alberto Zaccheroni. When he arrived, I probably didn’t realise at first that he was coming. For me as a central defender, and probably also for Paolo, he allowed us to have many tactical options. In that respect he was underrated; he gave us players lots of ways to play, and I liked that.”
And the worst coach instead?
"I’ll tell this anecdote. When Fatih Terim arrived, he created a situation of discomfort within the team when, before a Torino FC-AC Milan match, he didn’t inform me that I wouldn’t be called up, that I would be left at home. The way that team usually operated was a bit different. He hadn’t told me, so I packed my bag and got on the bus, but then someone came to tell me that Terim hadn’t selected me. In that respect, Terim was the worst coach of my Milan, the Milan I played for."
Paolo Maldini then added:
"Sometimes coaches arrived at a difficult moment historically; it’s no coincidence that he lasted less than all the others. But I have a very good relationship with coach Terim. He’s a friend, but these things happen… Also Óscar Tabárez, who was a great gentleman, arrived at a very difficult time; the failure wasn’t so much his, but that of the whole environment. However, from a certain point of view, the relationship with certain players, who have already made history, needs to be handled in a different way.”
