When I was on the pitch, I gave everything and perhaps expressed all the things I couldn't express away from football," Baresi would later say. Baresi remained loyal, helping guide the club back to the top flight each time. "The Johan Cruyff of defenders," van Basten said of his former team-mate. I can't complainAfter retiring in 1997, Baresi remained closely associated with Milan, serving as vice-president before working with the club's youth teams and later in ambassadorial roles. His niece, Regina Baresi, went on to captain Inter Milan's women's team, ensuring the family name remained prominent in the game.