Cafu

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Cafu's arrival at AC Milan in 2003 marked a new chapter after his successful tenure at AS Roma. He signed a deal that kept him with the club until the end of the 2007–08 season, a period defined by European triumph and domestic success. In 2004, he secured his second Serie A title (Scudetto) with Milan, following a dense title race where he had previously helped Roma win their first in decades. His most defining moment came in the 2006–07 UEFA Champions League campaign; after revealing on UEFA.com that he did not want Milan to face his former club Roma in the quarter-finals (Milan drew Bayern Munich instead), he finally claimed a long-awaited winners' medal in the final rematch against Liverpool. This victory capped off a trophy haul that included the 2007 UEFA Super Cup and the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup, his third world title at club level.

In Their Own Story

On 16 May 2008, the announcement came that Cafu would leave AC Milan alongside compatriot Serginho. In his final professional match, a 4–1 victory over Udinese, the veteran right-back scored a goal to cap off his five-year tenure in Milan. His departure was marked by high regard from the club's vice-president Adriano Galliani, who stated the door would remain open for Cafu to return to work at the club. The journey there had been emotional; he had turned down a lucrative offer from Yokohama F. Marinos to join the Rossoneri. Even amidst personal difficulties and injuries that reduced his appearances in the 2005–06 season, his impact remained significant. He was part of a squad that navigated through the Champions League knockout rounds, notably avoiding a clash with Roma due to Cafu's candid wish expressed just days before the draw, ensuring Milan advanced to lift the trophy.

Reader's Guide

For fans tracking Cafu's career at AC Milan, it is essential to note his specific achievements between 2003 and 2008. He won two Serie A titles (one with Roma in 1997-2001 era, one with Milan in 2004), a Supercoppa Italiana, the UEFA Champions League (2006–07), the UEFA Super Cup (2007), and the FIFA Club World Cup (2007). His goal-scoring record at Milan includes the final goal of his career against Udinese. He made history as part of a team that reached three consecutive European finals (2005, 2006, 2007), though he lifted the trophy only in 2007. Fans should remember his transition from Roma, where he was an integral member under Fabio Capello and Zdeněk Zeman, to Milan, where he solidified his legacy as a Hall of Famer. His tenure ended not with a whimper but with a goal in his last match, cementing his status as one of the greatest full-backs to ever wear the Rossoneri shirt.

Did You Know?

• Cafu scored a goal in his final professional match for AC Milan during their 4–1 victory over Udinese on 16 May 2008.
• He publicly stated in a UEFA.com chat that he did not want AC Milan to be drawn against his former club, AS Roma, in the Champions League quarter-finals; Milan drew Bayern Munich instead.
• Cafu turned down a move to Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos before signing for AC Milan in 2003.
• He won three world titles at club level: one with São Paulo (Intercontinental Cup), and two with AC Milan (UEFA Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup).
• Cafu is a member of both the AC Milan and AS Roma Halls of Fame.