One Scudetto, one Coppa Italia, one Serie B title and UEFA Cup top goal scorer. AC Milan Women’s head coach Maurizio Ganz had a coveted career as a player.
The 52-year-old moved into management in 2014 after a thirty-year stint on the pitch – where he featured in 40 matches for the Rossoneri.
Speaking exclusively to Skrill News, Ganz revealed the most cherished memories of his career including the best players with whom he’s shared the dressing room.
“My best memory with AC Milan is the 1998-99 season when we won the Scudetto,” he said.
“But there are two games that I would like to replay: the final of the Italian Cup in '98, when we lost against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome; the other is the Italian Super Cup against Parma when we lost at the San Siro in '99.
I would have liked to have had two more trophies on the club's wall; it would have been great.”
Ganz’s move from rivals Inter to the Rossoneri ahead of the 1998/1999 season allowed him to play with some of the best players in Serie A history.
He said: “The two strongest players I've ever played with are Paolo Maldini as a defender and Ronaldo as a striker. It is impossible to compare them to anyone else.”
When asked about where Milan superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic stands in the pecking order of world greats, Ganz added: “He is a player who has no ranking.”
He did, however, reveal a touching moment for himself and his family involving the Swedish striker. “I’m very proud of a beautiful memory that binds us: my son Simone Andrea made his AC Milan debut in 2011 during a UCL match against Bate Borisov,” he said.
“He played 10 minutes right next to Ibra, whom I consider one of the strongest strikers of the world. That was the very best day ever for me.”
Ganz took over as the head coach of AC Milan Women ahead of the 2019/2020 season. Despite a string of good results, his side narrowly missed out on a Champions League spot after it was awarded to Fiorentina based on goal difference alone.
His team currently sit second in Serie A, losing just one match in ten. With many opinions from fans about the rise of the women’s football, particularly in comparison to the men’s game, Ganz is of the belief football is football and encourages fans to get involved.
He said: “There is no men's, women's or youth football. When wearing the Rossoneri colours, every fan must feel part of this world, of this great family.
It doesn't matter who is playing, the six-year-olds, 15-year-old kids or the two first teams, the most important thing is a sense of belonging.
They cheer for AC Milan and for the Rossoneri colours. So I invite everyone to follow the women's team too because it is really interesting.”
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