MILAN - What more can you add about a champion who's won everything and about whom everything's been said?



Javier Zanetti turns 40 today. He is a man who has broken dozens of records over the years, an imperious figure even during the only serious injury of his career, which he is currently battling. A humble, unbelievably consistent performer, his faith has made him a very generous and loyal man. We've almost forgotten the day he arrived in Milan as a kid, with a suitcase in hand, 18 years ago, before over time becoming the perfect example of a captain.



He was born to do the job, to wear the armband, and destined (for now) to make 845 appearances for the Nerazzurri, scoring 21 goals.

Zanetti was born in Buenos Aires on 10 August 1973, making him a Leo. Astrologists associate the sign with strength, generosity and pride. He encompasses all of that, and we love Javier because he's part of a dying breed. He's an important figure and we all felt a little lost without him when he missed the last few games of last season. He returned to training a fortnight ago, on American soil, but in actual fact he never stopped, diligently following his rehabilitation programme.

His wife Paula told us an anecdote of one summer many years ago. So long, in fact, his three kids hadn't even been thought of: she and Javier were on a backpacking trip through the desert and he would run up and down the sand dunes with a rucksack on his back to stay in shape.

Happy birthday skipper. We await your return to action. You'll always have a very special place in our hearts: that's our gift to you.





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BUON COMPLEANNO CAPITANO!