AC Milan legend and former Italy coach Cesare Maldini has died at the age of 84.

The father of fellow Milan and Italy icon, Paolo, Maldini played over 400 matches for the Rossoneri between 1954 and 1966, winning four Serie A titles and the European Cup in 1963.

Milan said in a statement on their official website: "All of Milan, all the people and the Milan figures express condolences to Mrs Maldini, their children and grandchildren."

Goodbye dear Cesare. Today the world loses a great man and we lose a page of our history. You will be missed. pic.twitter.com/2OFgVCQiaz - AC Milan (@acmilan) April 3, 2016

Capped 25 times for Italy, the defender went on to become Milan manager between 1972 and 1974 and the national team manager from 1996 to 1998.

Later, he led Paraguay to the 2002 World Cup finals.

The Italian football federation announced on its website that a minute's silence would be observed at all matches in the country on Sunday and Monday to mark Maldini's death.

Federation president Carlo Tavecchio said in a statement: "He left us -- a great man and an absolute hero of football. As a player and as a coach he tied his name to the history of Italian football.

"After becoming the first Italian to lift the European Cup he helped many Azzurri players to grow, embodying perfectly the spirit and the role of federation coach."

Information from the Press Association was used in this report.