Abbiati first came to be recognised for his excellent performances for Milan during the title run-in in the 1998/99 season.

He displaced Rossoneri favourite Sebastiano Rossi late in the season as his team pipped Lazio to the Scudetto.

The next season his form continued to rise and he won a last-minute call-up to the Euro 2000 squad following Gianluigi Buffon's broken hand.

He jetted into Holland at the last moment having just helped the Under-21s to glory in their European Championships.

He failed to play in Euro 2000 and will probably be third choice again in the Far East.