Maldini: Steven is similar to Baresi
Steven Gerrard's quiet but commanding approach to leadership has drawn comparisons from Italian legend Paolo Maldini to the unassuming yet unflinching Franco Baresi.
Though they took up different positions on the pitch, the core values of the two men are startlingly similar - honesty, integrity and determination to help one club produce its best.
For Gerrard and Liverpool, read Baresi and AC Milan.
The latter spent two decades with the Serie A giants, 20 years of composed performances in defence and search for perfection, captaining his teammates through a period of relentless success.
Baresi said: "For people to look up to you, your behaviour needs to be beyond reproach. Training, hard work and an excellent relationship with supporters are guiding principles that should never be taken lightly."
Those words encapsulate everything about the Reds' skipper, a sentiment felt keenly by Maldini, himself a defender of near incomparable standards, dedication and achievements.
Speaking to LFCTV for the 'Gerrard: My Liverpool' documentary which premieres on Saturday, and an interview that can be enjoyed in the latest episode of #LFCWORLD, the 46-year-old delivered a carefully-formulated analysis of the Huyton-born superstar.
He said: "What I have always liked of Steven is that on the pitch he was very quiet, but was capable of inspiring all his teammates with great strength, not so much with words.
"I had another example of a captain that was, let's say silent but easy to be followed through his behaviours, and that was Franco Baresi.
"The real example - and that is what I've learned from players like Steven and Franco Baresi - is to do rather than talk. And he was indeed one who did a lot and since he also had great talent, he was easy to follow.
"His story is one of those stories to be told, one of those fairytales - just like it happened to me - to be narrated to your children and grandchildren."
Five-time European Cup winner Maldini could be forgiven for harbouring bittersweet thoughts of Gerrard.
This Monday brings the 10th anniversary of the night in Istanbul when the midfielder kickstarted the greatest comeback in the competition's history - at the expense of Milan.
A rare Maldini goal in the opening seconds had laid the foundation for Carlo Ancelotti's charges to rack up a 3-0 advantage by half-time inside the Ataturk Stadium.
The lead seemed unassailable until Gerrard contorted his neck to power a header past the reach of Dida and persuade his teammates that all was not lost.
Somehow, a couple of hours later the No.8 was taking hold of the Champions League trophy and lifting it gleefully into the air while Kopites across the globe entered dreamland.
"I think Steven has been and is an absolutely complete player, because he had personality, technique, he could set the play and also defend, and he could score goals - penalty-kicks, free-kicks. So really a modern, complete player," Maldini said.
"I have a very clear memory of the final we lost in Istanbul, when he was helping his teammates with difficulties in defence.
"He started playing at the back and tackled every single player of Milan.
"It was a very special game during which we actually dominated Liverpool for 110 minutes out of 120.
"But I must say that what probably made the difference was his example for all his teammates, especially after reaching a draw, in being able to defend and resist, and at the end reach a result that was sincerely and absolutely unexpected after the first 45 minutes."