AC Milan and Italy great Franco Baresi has died at the age of 66, the Italian club announces.

Franco Baresi has died at the age of 66, with AC Milan saying their former captain's "example and integrity will be forever etched into the club's DNA". Baresi spent his entire 20-year playing career with the club from 1977 until he retired in 1997, winning six Serie A titles and three European Cups/Champions Leagues. Regarded as one of the greatest defenders to play the game, Baresi captained Milan for 15 seasons, making 719 appearances and scoring 33 goals. He was capped 81 times by Italy and was part of the squad which won the 1982 World Cup. He played and was captain in the 1994 final, which Italy lost to Brazil. Baresi was made honorary president of Milan in 2020, and his number six shirt was retired when he finished his playing career. In the 1993-94 season, Baresi and AC Milan manager Fabio Capello lifted a third consecutive Serie A title, the Champions League and the Supercoppa Italiana Baresi formed part of one of European football's most celebrated defences alongside Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta and Mauro Tassotti. He also lifted four Supercoppa Italianas, two European Super Cups and the Intercontinental Cup twice.