Fans wearing red and black AC Milan shirts, former team mates and opponents bade farewell to Franco Baresi as the funeral of the much-loved defender was held at the city's Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio on Tuesday.

New AC Milan coach Ruben Amorim vowed on Tuesday to honour the legacy of club legend Franco Baresi, who died last week, as he sets about reviving the fortunes of the ailing Italian giants.

Football has lost one of its greatest icons, a champion who left an indelible mark on Italian and world sport.

Baresi wore Milan's number 6 shirt with such distinction that the club withdrew the number after his retirement.

Baresi is regarded as an AC Milan icon, having spent his entire 20-year career with the club, winning six Serie A titles and three top European trophies, and captaining the team for 15 seasons before retiring in 1997.