India, Aug. 4 -- Franco Baresi was more than the captain of AC Milan. For almost two decades, he represented the loyalty, authority and defensive excellence upon which one of European football's greatest teams was built. The legendary Italian defender spent his entire professional career with Milan, captaining the club for 15 seasons and helping them win six Serie A titles and three European Cups. Baresi, who died last week at the age of 66 following a period of illness, was given an emotional final farewell in Milan on Tuesday as thousands of supporters and several generations of football greats gathered to honour him.

The funeral was held at the historic Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, where supporters dressed in Milan's red and black colou...