Christian Maldini Jr.
Personal information
Date of birth (1996-06-14) 14 June 1996 (age 27)
Place of birth Milan, Italy
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
2004-2016 AC Milan
2013-2014 → Brescia (loan)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Reggiana 1 (0)
2016–2017 → Hamrun Spartans (loan) 5 (0)
2017 Pro Sesto 4 (0)
2017–2018 Fondi 13 (0)
2018–2019 Pro Piacenza 12 (1)
2019 Fano 12 (0)
2019–2022 Pro Sesto 41 (0)
2022–2023 Lecco 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 September 2023

Christian Maldini (born 14 June 1996) is a former Italian footballer who played as a defender.[1] A left-footed defender, Maldini was capable of playing as a centre-back and as a left-back.[2]

Career

Early career

Maldini started his career at A.C. Milan Primavera but never broke through to the first team. In 2014, he spent half-season on loan at Brescia,[3] but failed to make an appearance for the side. In honour of his late grandfather, Cesare, Maldini was named as the Milan Primavera captain for an Under-19 friendly match against Novara in April 2016.[4]

In July 2016, Maldini left Milan for Reggiana,[5] and subsequently loaned out to Hamrun Spartans.[6] On 18 September 2016, he made his professional debut in the Maltese Premier League, playing as a starter in a 3–1 victory against St. Andrews.[7][8]

Later career

On 23 January 2017, Maldini's loan at Hamrun Spartans was terminated and he was released by Reggiana to join Pro Sesto in Serie D.[9][10]

He spent the 2017–18 season with Serie C club Fondi. On 6 July 2018, he was unveiled as a new player of Serie C club Pro Piacenza.[11]

Pro Piacenza experienced financial troubles in the winter of 2019, and on 5 February 2019 he signed with Fano until the end of the 2018–19 season.[12] In November 2019, he returned to Pro Sesto.[13]

After two seasons at Pro Sesto, in August 2022 Maldini joined fellow Serie C club Lecco.[14] He played just three games as a substitute during the next season, which saw Lecco clinch promotion to Serie B via play-offs.

On 12 September 2023, Maldini announced his retirement aged 27 to pursue a career as a football agent.[15]

Personal life

Christian is the son of former Milan and Italy player Paolo Maldini, and the grandson of Cesare Maldini. His younger brother, Daniel, is a footballer who currently plays for Empoli Calcio.[16] He is of Venezuelan descent through his mother.[17]

References

  1. ^ Christian Maldini at Soccerway
  2. ^ "Maldini, Christian" (in Italian). www.tuttocalciatori.net. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Milan, ceduto il figlio di Maldini: dalla Primavera di Inzaghi al prestito al Brescia" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 27 December 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  4. ^ "Maldini legacy continues at AC Milan". BBC Sport.
  5. ^ "Reggiana, Christian Maldini aggregato alla prima squadra" (in Italian). Milannews.it. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  6. ^ "Christian Maldini all'Hamrun Spartans" (in Italian). A.C. Reggiana 1919. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  7. ^ "Hamrun Spartans vs. St. Andrews". Soccerway. 18 September 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  8. ^ "Spartans came from behind". Hamrun Spartans F.C. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  9. ^ Raj Mahil (23 January 2017). "Paolo Maldini's son Christian joins Serie D side Pro Sesto". Squawka. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  10. ^ "Milan, Christian Maldini riparte dalla Serie D: giocherà nella Pro Sesto" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  11. ^ "Calciomercato - Pro Piacenza, arriva Christian Maldini, figlio d'arte dell'ex capitano del Milan" (in Italian). SportPiacenza.it. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  12. ^ "CHRISTIAN MALDINI E' UN NUOVO GIOCATORE GRANATA" (in Italian). Fano. 5 February 2019.
  13. ^ "MALDINI CHRISTIAN". tuttocalciatori.net (in Italian). Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  14. ^ "Calcio Serie C. Christian Maldini è un nuovo giocatore del Lecco" (in Italian). Lecco Notizie. 2 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Christian Maldini lascia il calcio a 27 anni: farà il procuratore" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 12 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  16. ^ "Maldini, nome da leggenda. Da Cesare a Paolo, e ora Christian e Daniel" [Maldini, legendary name. From Cesare to Paolo, and now Christian and Daniel]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 3 April 2016.
  17. ^ Andrea Camboni (15 July 2008). "Paolo Maldini, quando il calcio diventa mitologia" (in Italian). Fondazione Italiani. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2010.

External links

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