--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started playing when I was 10 for…" description: "\"I started playing when I was 10 for Milan, and I quit when I was 41, so it's a long, long career.\" — Paolo Maldini" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95e/paolo-maldini-12350_career_i-started-playing-when-i-was-10-for-mila_2408852.png" --- # I started playing when I was 10 for Milan, and I quit when… ![“I started playing when I was 10 for Milan, and I quit when I was 41, so it's a long, long career.” quote by Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95e/paolo-maldini-12350_career_i-started-playing-when-i-was-10-for-mila_2408852.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95e/paolo-maldini-12350_career_i-started-playing-when-i-was-10-for-mila_2408852.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95e/paolo-maldini-12350_career_i-started-playing-when-i-was-10-for-mila_2408852.png) > “I started playing when I was 10 for Milan, and I quit when I was 41, so it's a long, long career.” [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Maldini recounts his 31‑year football career, emphasizing longevity and dedication. **In simple terms:** Long career due to commitment. Key Takeaway Commitment fuels lasting success. Themes sports career longevity Mood inspirational pragmatic Type biographical motivational When to use this quote - coaching - player development - career planning Key Concepts discipline physical fitness mental resilience Questions to Reflect On - What habits sustain a long professional life? - How does one transition after a lengthy career? A Different Perspective Physical decline eventually limits even the most dedicated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Long career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-career/) [Milan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/milan/) ## Related quotes > [In my country, that's where I started playing. I was a No. 10.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelechi-iheanacho/in-my-country-that-s-where-i-started-playing-i-was-a-no-10/) [Kelechi Iheanacho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelechi-iheanacho/) > [I think Milan lack a bit of renovation and planning for the future. Too often, they focused only on the present, particularly after the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/i-think-milan-lack-a-bit-of-renovation-and-planning-for-the-future/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [In the 1990s, we had seven great teams - Milan, Inter, Juventus, Parma, Lazio, Roma, Fiorentina. If you look at the players, they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/in-the-1990s-we-had-seven-great-teams-milan-inter-juventus-parma/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [Milan is not just a team for me. It is part of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/milan-is-not-just-a-team-for-me-it-is-part-of-my-life/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [Milan has no reservations signing veteran players and has always taken into account the image and communication factors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/milan-has-no-reservations-signing-veteran-players-and-has-always/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [I was lucky enough to play against Maradona. He and Ronaldo, when he was at Inter Milan - they were my toughest opponents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/i-was-lucky-enough-to-play-against-maradona-he-and-ronaldo-when-he/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [I have great respect for the Premier League, but why leave Milan? I've got everything I want here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/i-have-great-respect-for-the-premier-league-but-why-leave-milan-i-ve/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [I was fortunate enough to be with Milan for 25 splendid years. When I arrived, I found a great foundation to build a great club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/i-was-fortunate-enough-to-be-with-milan-for-25-splendid-years-when-i/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [Playing 10 years in the NHL, almost 600 games, there's going to be some wear and tear for everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-comrie/playing-10-years-in-the-nhl-almost-600-games-there-s-going-to-be-some/) [Mike Comrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-comrie/) > [If you're playing for 10 or 15 years, you can't every week run six option plays. It can be around. It can be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/if-you-re-playing-for-10-or-15-years-you-can-t-every-week-run-six/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [I like to be versatile and I can also play in other positions. But I probably would say I do enjoy playing in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-smith-rowe/i-like-to-be-versatile-and-i-can-also-play-in-other-positions-but-i/) [Emile Smith Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-smith-rowe/) > [We could be playing a 10-person room or a 1500-person room, and if the crowd is reacting well, it doesn't matter what size it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fab-moretti/we-could-be-playing-a-10-person-room-or-a-1500-person-room-and-if-the/) [Fab Moretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fab-moretti/) > [I've been playing 10 years and I know it's easier starting the game. You have the opportunity to play much more aggressively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-kukoc/i-ve-been-playing-10-years-and-i-know-it-s-easier-starting-the-game/) [Toni Kukoc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-kukoc/) > [When I was six years old, I was always playing with the 10-year-olds. When I was 10, I was always playing with the 14-year-olds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-murray/when-i-was-six-years-old-i-was-always-playing-with-the-10-year-olds/) [Jamal Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-murray/) > [At first, I was playing in front of 10 people in a park, then 1,000, then 10,000, then 80,000 and you are on television.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-golo-kante/at-first-i-was-playing-in-front-of-10-people-in-a-park-then-1-000/) [N'Golo Kante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-golo-kante/) ## More by Paolo Maldini > [Even though I am not going to coach in the future, if I had to pass on a recommendation, it would be to base…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/even-though-i-am-not-going-to-coach-in-the-future-if-i-had-to-pass-on/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [I was fortunate enough to be with Milan for 25 splendid years. When I arrived, I found a great foundation to build a great club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/i-was-fortunate-enough-to-be-with-milan-for-25-splendid-years-when-i/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [In the Champions League, you can focus on a single game and play in exactly the style you need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/in-the-champions-league-you-can-focus-on-a-single-game-and-play-in/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [Sergio Ramos has everything to become the best defender in the world, if he is not already.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/sergio-ramos-has-everything-to-become-the-best-defender-in-the-world/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [It would be great to lift the Champions League trophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/it-would-be-great-to-lift-the-champions-league-trophy/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [I won my first Champions League in 1989, and I won my last one 18 years later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/i-won-my-first-champions-league-in-1989-and-i-won-my-last-one-18/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [Too much tension can do bad things to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/too-much-tension-can-do-bad-things-to-you/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [Baggio is a unique player. It should not surprise you that he gets the most press. But you must remember that it takes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/baggio-is-a-unique-player-it-should-not-surprise-you-that-he-gets-the/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [You cannot choose your opponents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/you-cannot-choose-your-opponents/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [I was lucky enough to play against Maradona. He and Ronaldo, when he was at Inter Milan - they were my toughest opponents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/i-was-lucky-enough-to-play-against-maradona-he-and-ronaldo-when-he/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [I will not play a farewell game with the national team. I would like to thank the federation for expressing an interest. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/i-will-not-play-a-farewell-game-with-the-national-team-i-would-like/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [If I have to make a tackle then I have already made a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/if-i-have-to-make-a-tackle-then-i-have-already-made-a-mistake/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [Once Liverpool go ahead, they are dangerous because it becomes hard to find space to break them down, especially if you are not playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/once-liverpool-go-ahead-they-are-dangerous-because-it-becomes-hard-to/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [Sometimes when you have difficulties qualifying, you can still go and play a good World Cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/sometimes-when-you-have-difficulties-qualifying-you-can-still-go-and/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [Ahead of a semi-final, there is always the same buzz. You know you are very close to reaching the final, but there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/ahead-of-a-semi-final-there-is-always-the-same-buzz-you-know-you-are/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) [Explore all 55 Paolo Maldini quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) ## More Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started playing when I was 10 for Milan, and I quit when I was 41, so it's a long, long career.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paolo Maldini" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/i-started-playing-when-i-was-10-for-milan-and-i-quit-when-i-was-41-so/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Career" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/i-started-playing-when-i-was-10-for-milan-and-i-quit-when-i-was-41-so/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95e/paolo-maldini-12350_career_i-started-playing-when-i-was-10-for-mila_2408852.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95e/paolo-maldini-12350_career_i-started-playing-when-i-was-10-for-mila_2408852.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95e/paolo-maldini-12350_career_i-started-playing-when-i-was-10-for-mila_2408852.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I started playing when I was 10 for Milan, and I quit when I was 41, so it's a long, long career.” — Paolo Maldini", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Paolo Maldini", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I started playing when I was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/i-started-playing-when-i-was-10-for-milan-and-i-quit-when-i-was-41-so/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/i-started-playing-when-i-was-10-for-milan-and-i-quit-when-i-was-41-so/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```