Serie A: 5 Players from the 1990s who Deserve More Credit

#5 Demetrio Albertini, AC Milan, 1988 – 2002

Demetrio Albertini and Alessandro Del Piero

Demetrio Albertini played for AC Milan for most of his career and was instrumental in their success during the 1990s. However, his importance to the club's on-field dominance of both Italian and European football during that era often goes under the radar — outside of his native Italy (obviously) — and that's why he's included here.

“He played in front of Tassotti, Costacurta, Baresi, and Maldini, one of the best backlines world football has ever seen, but his role as guardian of their blockade is often overlooked due to his quiet demeanor and lack of ego.” (the Gentleman Ultra)

Regarded as the metronome of l Rossoneri, the Italian engine ran the show for AC Milan during his fourteen years at the club. He was usually deployed as a deep-sitting midfielder and was tasked with sweeping up in front of the defense, winning back possession, and laying the ball off to the array of attacking talent that surrounded him (George Weah, Dejan Savicivic, Roberto Baggio, et al.)

However, Albertini was so much more than that! His array of passing was magical to behold at times; his tactical awareness was second to none; he had an incredible motor, enabling him to influence proceedings from the first minute to the last in both attack and defense; he could shoot; he could assist; he was powerful and prepared to fight for every ball — the man could do it all, and any club in history would have been lucky to have had him at its disposal.

By the time he finally decided to leave the San Siro in 2003 (following a loan stint in La Liga at Atletico Madrid), Albertini had won l Scudetto five times and had chipped in with 21 goals in 293 appearances. Truly one of the game's great unheralded players (outside of his native Italy).

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