The History of Milan
From 1899 to today, over a century of Rossonero passion
The Early Years (1899–1950)
The birth of a legend and the first triumphs of Italian football
Foundation of Milan
On 16 December 1899, Herbert Kilpin and Alfred Edwards founded the Milan Football and Cricket Club. The club colours, red and black, were chosen to represent the fire of passion and the fear of opponents.
First Italian Championship
Milan won their first national title in the Federal Championship, establishing themselves from the very beginning as one of the leading forces of early Italian football.
Second National Title
Milan won the second Federal Championship, consolidating their position in the Italian football landscape.
Third National Title
A third championship won in just a few years, Milan confirmed themselves as the absolute protagonists of Italian football in the early twentieth century.
Inauguration of San Siro
The new Milan Football Stadium was inaugurated, which would become known as San Siro. The stadium, commissioned by president Piero Pirelli, would host Milan's home matches for nearly a century.
The Renaissance Era (1950–1970)
The Gre-No-Li Trio, Gianni Rivera and the first European cups
Return to Victory
After a long period without titles, Milan returned to winning the championship thanks in part to the legendary Swedish trio Gre-No-Li: Gunnar Gren, Gunnar Nordahl and Nils Liedholm.
Scudetto with Nordahl and Liedholm
Milan won another Scudetto, confirming themselves among the dominant teams of the Italian championship. Even after Gren's departure (1953), the Swedish legacy lived on: Nordahl, Milan's all-time top scorer in Serie A with 210 goals, and Liedholm remained key protagonists.
The Arrival of Gianni Rivera
At just 17 years old, Gianni Rivera arrived at Milan from Alessandria, where he had made his Serie A debut at the age of 15. He would become the symbol of the club for nearly twenty years, winning the Ballon d'Or in 1969 and accumulating over 500 appearances in the Rossonero jersey.
First European Cup
Milan won their first European Cup by beating Benfica 2-1 in the final at Wembley, London. Altafini scored both goals, giving Milan the first European trophy in their history.
Cup Winners' Cup
Victory in the Cup Winners' Cup against Hamburg with a 2-0 result. Milan continued to establish themselves on the international stage.
Second European Cup and Intercontinental Cup
Milan thrashed Ajax 4-1 in the European Cup final in Madrid and also won their first Intercontinental Cup. An unforgettable season guided by the genius of Gianni Rivera.
The Seventies and Eighties (1970–1986)
Winning the star and the years of transition
Two Consecutive Coppa Italia Titles
Milan won two consecutive Coppa Italia titles, proving they were still competitive at the national level during a period of ups and downs for the club.
Tenth Scudetto — The Star
Milan won their tenth Scudetto, earning the right to wear the star on their jersey, a symbol representing ten victories in the Italian championship. A historic milestone for the Rossonero club.
The Berlusconi–Sacchi–Capello Era (1986–1996)
Milan's golden age: European dominance and the Invincibles
The Arrival of Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi purchased Milan, ushering in a new era of ambition and investment. The club was transformed from a struggling team into a world football powerhouse.
The Dutch Trio
In 1987, Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten arrived, followed by Frank Rijkaard in 1988. The Dutch trio, together with Italian champions such as Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini and Carlo Ancelotti, would form one of the strongest teams in the history of football.
Scudetto with Arrigo Sacchi
Arrigo Sacchi's Milan won the Scudetto with a revolutionary style of football based on pressing and team play. Sacchi's Milan is considered one of the most innovative teams in the history of football.
International Treble
A legendary season: Milan thrashed Steaua Bucharest 4-0 in the European Cup final in Barcelona, then won the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup. The Rossonero European dominance had begun.
Second Consecutive European Cup
Milan beat Benfica 1-0 in Vienna with a goal from Frank Rijkaard, winning a second consecutive European Cup. Once again, the UEFA Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup followed.
Fabio Capello and the 58-Match Unbeaten Run
Fabio Capello succeeded Arrigo Sacchi and Milan went on a run of 58 consecutive matches unbeaten in Serie A, a record that would stand for decades. The club won the Scudetto without losing a single league match.
Champions League Final
Milan reached the final of the first edition of the Champions League but were defeated by Olympique Marseille in Munich. A bitter defeat that would soon be avenged.
The Perfect Final
Capello's Milan beat Cruyff's Barcelona 4-0 in the Champions League final in Athens, in what is remembered as the "perfect final". Goals by Massaro (brace), Savicevic and Desailly. In the same year they also won the Scudetto.
Scudetto
Milan won another Scudetto under the guidance of Fabio Capello, closing a decade of dominance in Italian and international football.
The Ancelotti Era (1999–2009)
From the magical nights of Manchester and Athens to the revenge for Istanbul
Scudetto
Milan returned to winning the Italian championship under the guidance of Alberto Zaccheroni, delivering a title the Rossonero fans had waited three years for.
Champions League in Manchester
Carlo Ancelotti's Milan won the Champions League by beating Juventus on penalties in the all-Italian final at Old Trafford, Manchester. In the same year they also won the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Super Cup.
Scudetto
Milan won their seventeenth Scudetto, confirming themselves as the strongest team in Italy in the first half of the 2000s.
The Night of Istanbul
The Champions League final against Liverpool in Istanbul remains one of the most incredible matches in football history. Milan went 3-0 up in the first half with a goal from Maldini and a brace from Crespo, but Liverpool came back in the second half and won on penalties. A deep wound that would remain in Rossonero memory.
The Revenge in Athens
Milan took their revenge by beating Liverpool 2-1 in the Champions League final in Athens, with goals from Inzaghi (brace). The UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup followed, completing a year of international triumphs. It was Milan's seventh European Cup / Champions League title.
Modern Milan (2010–Today)
Renewal, challenges and the return to glory
18th Scudetto
Massimiliano Allegri's Milan won the eighteenth Scudetto and the Supercoppa Italiana, led by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho and a young and ambitious squad. It was the last Scudetto before a long period of rebuilding.
Filippo Inzaghi's Retirement
Filippo Inzaghi hung up his boots, closing an extraordinary career in the Rossonero jersey. The last of a generation of champions who defined an unforgettable era.
End of an Era
Alessandro Nesta retired definitively from professional football after a brief spell at Chennaiyin FC in India, while Kaká left Milan for the last time, ending his second period in the Rossonero jersey before retiring in 2017. With them, the chapter of the great champions who made Milan a legend of world football was definitively closed.
Change of Ownership
After thirty years, the Berlusconi era came to an end. Milan passed to Chinese ownership led by Li Yonghong. The last trophy of the Berlusconi era had been the Supercoppa Italiana, won in December 2016 on penalties against Juventus in Doha.
The Elliott Fund
Elliott Management Corporation acquired Milan, launching a project of financial restructuring and sporting revival based on developing young talent.
19th Scudetto — The Return
In the 2021-22 season, Stefano Pioli's Milan won the nineteenth Scudetto, becoming Italian champions again after eleven years of waiting. A thrilling campaign led by players such as Rafael Leao, Theo Hernandez, Mike Maignan and Olivier Giroud, which brought back the enthusiasm among the Rossonero fans.
Champions League Semi-Final
In the 2022-23 season, Milan returned to the Champions League spotlight by reaching the semi-final, where they were eliminated by Inter in the derby. A European run that reignited the international dreams of the Rossonero fans.