|
==Style of play==
Albertini was a complete, experienced and composed [[midfielder]], who was gifted with stamina, power, technique, and class, which allowed him to be regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/euro2000/teams/italy/squad/773619.stm|title=BBC Sport, Euro 2000 Profile: Demetrio Albertini|publisher=BBC|access-date=20 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="glance">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/1022803.stm|title=Italy squad at a glance|publisher=BBC|access-date=7 November 2015|date=14 November 2000}}</ref> His key strengths as a player were his mentality, his excellent vision, tactical knowledge, ability to read the game, and ball control, but above all, his brilliant passing range,<ref name="AC Milan Hall of Fame: Demetrio Albertini"/><ref name="acmilan.theoffside.com">{{cite web|url=http://acmilan.theoffside.com/2008/7/19/2894616/milan-legends-demetrio-albertini|title=Milan Legends: Demetrio Albertini|website=Acmilan.theoffside.com|date=19 July 2008|access-date=26 October 2015}}</ref> which made him a key member of the Milan and the ItalianItaly national sides of the 90s and early 2000s;<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://www.solocalcio.com/gallery/stelle98/lestelle01.htm|title=Le stelle di Francia 98: da Albertini a Batistuta|website=Solocalcio.com|language=it|access-date=7 January 2016}}</ref> he was also known for his powerful and accurate shots from distance, which also enabled him to contribute to his team's offensive play with goals as well as assists.<ref name="acmilan.theoffside.com"/><ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="Pogorzelski">{{cite web|url=http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2013/06/legends-of-calcio-demetrio-albertini/|title=The Legend of Calcio: Demetrio Albertini|website=Forzaitalianfootball.com|last=Pogorzelski|first=Kevin|date=25 June 2013 |access-date=7 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="ESPN Profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/euro2000/italy/player/Albertini.html|title=Profile: Demetrio Albertini|website=Espnfc.com|author1=Graham Chadwick|date=13 July 2000|access-date=22 February 2017}}</ref> Few players were able to replicate Albertini's precise [[Long ball (Football)|long passing]] and powerful distance shooting adeptness, and many have likened his abilities in these areas to those of [[Ronald Koeman]]. Albertini was also an accurate [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty kick]] and [[Direct free kick|set piece]] taker, who could [[Curl (football)|curl]] the ball well, but also kick with power, and was known for often striking the ball without a run-up during dead ball situations.<ref name="acmilan.theoffside.com"/><ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="Pogorzelski"/><ref name="treccani1">{{cite web |url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/demetrio-albertini/ |title=Albertini, Demetrio |publisher=Treccani: Enciclopedie on line |language=it |access-date=6 June 2018 }}</ref> Although he was fundamentally a hardworking, intelligent, and creative [[Midfielder#Central midfielder|central midfielder]] or [[Playmaker#Deep-lying playmakers|deep-lying playmaker]] with excellent technical ability, he was able to complete himself tactically and improve upon the defensive and offensive aspect of his game play throughout his career, demonstrating his adeptness as a ball-winner; his wide range of skills made him a versatile player, allowed him to play in several other midfield positions, including out on the [[Midfielder#Winger|wing]], due to his [[Cross (football)|crossing]] ability.<ref name="Demetrio ALBERTINI: Metronomo"/><ref name="acmilan.theoffside.com"/><ref name="ESPN Profile"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/sport/alber/alber/alber.html?ref=search|title=Autocritica di Albertini: "Devo dare di più"|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|access-date=20 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="irishtimes.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/metronome-isn-t-marking-time-1.387349|title=Metronome isn't marking time|publisher=Irish Times|author1=Paddy Agnew Euroscene|date=28 October 2003|access-date=22 January 2016}}</ref>
In the Milan side and Italy side, he was seen as the heir to [[Carlo Ancelotti]], and later also as the predecessor to [[Andrea Pirlo]] as the playmaking pivot of the teams' midfield, due to his ability to create goalscoring opportunities or control the game in midfield and set the tempo of his team's play with his distribution, and he was often regarded as the "creative brain" and "metronome" of his teams.<ref name="Demetrio ALBERTINI: Metronomo"/><ref name="irishtimes.com"/><ref name="ESPN Profile"/><ref name="treccani2">{{cite web|url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/demetrio-albertini_%28Enciclopedia_dello_Sport%29/|title=Enciclopedia dello sport: ALBERTINI, Demetrio|publisher=Treccani|language=it|access-date=20 July 2014}}</ref> Many football experts draw parallels between Albertini and Pirlo,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rivistastudio.com/articoli/due-o-tre-cose-su-demetrio-albertini-il-vecchio-pirlo/|title=Due o tre cose su Demetrio Albertini, il vecchio Pirlo|date=8 August 2014 |language=it|access-date=20 October 2014}}</ref> the midfield ace of European and world football, who emerged as his heir in Italian football, both for Milan and for the ItalianItaly national side.<ref name="Pogorzelski"/> Like Albertini, Pirlo is a deep-lying playmaker who also possesses excellent technique, ball skills, vision and passing range, and who is also a set-piece specialist and a goal threat from distance. In addition his footballing skills, Albertini was also known for his correct behaviour on the pitch, and was seen as a symbol and leader for both his club and national sides.<ref name="AC Milan Hall of Fame: Demetrio Albertini"/>
==Personal life==
|
