AC Milan

AC Milan
Clubname	AC Milan
Founded	16 December 1899
Ground	San Siro
Capacity	75,817
Owner	RedBird Capital Partners
Chairman	Paolo Scaroni
Manager	Stefano Pioli
League	Serie A
Current	2023–24 AC Milan season

AC Milan. Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as AC Milan or simply Milan, is a professional football club based in Milan, Italy. Founded in 1899 by English expatriates, it is one of the most successful clubs in world football, having won numerous domestic and international titles. The club has a historic rivalry with Inter Milan, with whom they share the San Siro stadium, and boasts a global fanbase known for its passionate support.

History

The club was founded on 16 December 1899 as the Milan Cricket and Football Club by Alfred Edwards and Herbert Kilpin. It won its first Italian championship in 1901, and after a period of success, a dispute over foreign players led to the formation of Inter Milan in 1908. The post-war era saw the rise of the legendary Gre-No-Li trio—Gunnar Gren, Gunnar Nordahl, and Nils Liedholm—who propelled the team to multiple Serie A titles in the 1950s. The 1960s brought European glory under Nereo Rocco, with victories in the European Cup in 1963 and 1969, led by stars like Gianni Rivera and José Altafini. The club faced relegation to Serie B in 1980 due to a match-fixing scandal but returned swiftly. The late 1980s and 1990s, under the ownership of Silvio Berlusconi and management of Arrigo Sacchi and later Fabio Capello, marked a golden era, with a dominant squad featuring Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, and Frank Rijkaard winning multiple Serie A titles and European Cups. This period included an unbeaten league season in 1991–92 and back-to-back UEFA Champions League triumphs in 1989 and 1990. After a relative decline in the 2000s, a resurgence culminated in another UEFA Champions League victory in 2007 under Carlo Ancelotti, with players like Kaká and Andrea Pirlo. Recent years have seen a change in ownership to Elliott Management Corporation and subsequently RedBird Capital Partners, with the club winning the Serie A title again in the 2021–22 season under manager Stefano Pioli.

Honours

The club is among the world's most decorated, with a vast collection of trophies. Domestically, it has won the Serie A championship nineteen times, along with five Coppa Italia titles and seven Supercoppa Italiana crowns. On the continental stage, its record is exceptional, having secured the UEFA Champions League seven times, second only to Real Madrid. It has also won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup twice and the UEFA Super Cup five times. In global competition, it has been crowned champion of the Intercontinental Cup three times and won the FIFA Club World Cup once in 2007. These achievements cement its status as a perennial powerhouse in both Italian football and European football.

Stadium

Since 1926, the club has played its home matches at the San Siro, officially known as Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. The stadium is located in the San Siro district of Milan and is shared with rivals Inter Milan. With a current capacity of 75,817, it is the largest stadium in Italy and has hosted numerous major events, including matches during the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Champions League final. Known for its distinctive architecture and electrifying atmosphere, especially during the Derby della Madonnina, there have been longstanding plans for the clubs to build new, separate stadiums, though the future of San Siro remains a topic of significant debate.

Players

The club's history is defined by legendary players who have left an indelible mark on football. Iconic defenders include Franco Baresi, who spent his entire career with the club, and Paolo Maldini, a symbol of loyalty and excellence. Attacking greats such as Gunnar Nordahl, Marco van Basten, Andriy Shevchenko, and Kaká have thrilled fans and won the prestigious Ballon d'Or. The midfield has been orchestrated by maestros like Gianni Rivera, Frank Rijkaard, and Andrea Pirlo. The current squad features international stars like Olivier Giroud, Theo Hernández, and Rafael Leão, continuing the tradition of fielding world-class talent. The club's youth academy, known as the Primavera, has produced talents such as Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini, emphasizing a commitment to development.

Rivalries

The club's primary and most intense rivalry is with Inter Milan, known as the Derby della Madonnina. This intracity clash divides Milan and is one of the most followed derbies in world football. Matches against Juventus are also highly charged, often referred to as a clash between Northern Italian powerhouses, and is considered one of the classic fixtures in Serie A. Another significant historical rivalry exists with A.S. Roma, with matches often having implications for the Scudetto. In European competition, there have been notable and repeated clashes with clubs like Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Liverpool F.C., creating memorable chapters in UEFA Champions League history.

Management and ownership

The modern era of the club was profoundly shaped by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who owned the club from 1986 to 2017, overseeing its most successful period. His presidency saw the appointments of transformative managers like Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello. Following Silvio Berlusconi's sale, the club was owned by Li Yonghong before being taken over by the American hedge fund Elliott Management Corporation in 2018. In 2022, control was transferred to another American investment firm, RedBird Capital Partners, led by Gerry Cardinale. The current chairman is Paolo Scaroni, and the first-team is managed by Stefano Pioli, who led the club to the Serie A title in 2022. Key figures in the sporting area have included legendary former players like Paolo Maldini, who served as technical director.

Category:Association football clubs established in 1899 Category:Serie A clubs Category:Sport in Milan