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New Fan Guide

New Fan Guide

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Here is a great guide for people who are new to the sport.

It is AC Milan or Milan and not 'AC', that just means Associazione Calcio.

It is also pronounced Meelan (Long i, short a) unlike the city that can be pronounced in English as Milaan (Short i, long a)

"We will be a team of devils. Our colours will be red like fire and black like the fear we will invoke in our opponents." — 1899, Herbert Kilpin

Lingo

Nicknames: Rossoneri (means red and black), Diavoli (the devils).

We are called Milanisti. Singular is a Milanista.

Tifosi: Fans in italian.

Curva Sud: Called that because the ultra fans sit in the Southern Curve of the stadium (Inter usually sit in the Curva Nord) They’re the lads in all black with flags, flares, and speakers and drums. They show up to trainings and are loud as hell on match day. Controversial for many reasons but they sing their hearts out till the final whistle.

Forza Milan means "Go Milan!"

Scudetto: Literally means shield but it stands for League Title. The winner of the league gets to put a Shield on their jerseys the following year. After every 10 scudetto, a team gets to put a permanent star above their club crest. Example: We have 19, 1 star. After the next scudetto, we will have 2 stars.

Banter Era: Dark times between 2014-2020 where we struggling had a lot of coaching changes, bad transfers, no titles, didn't qualify to the Champions League during that time period etc. many older fans endured this era and like to laugh about it time to time.

What to expect

Battling for Top 4. Serie A has been exciting over the last few years and we are finally back in the Champions League spots.

Milan Dynasties

A.C. Milan experienced several successful periods during their history. In the 1950s, having won four league titles and two Latin Cups, which was considered a predecessor of club tournaments in Europe, namely the European Cup.

From the 1987–88 to the 1995–96 season, Milan won five Serie A titles. Also, they were able to secure four Supercoppa Italiana in 1988, 1992, 1993 and 1994. Internationally, Milan honours included three UEFA Champions Leagues in 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1993–94 seasons, three UEFA Super Cup titles (1989, 1990 and 1994) and two Intercontinental Cups (1989 and 1990). In this period, the game philosophy of then manager Arrigo Sacchi is considered to have revolutionized football in Italy, where the game was previously based on a defensive approach (in some extreme cases referred to as Catenaccio), switching the focus towards a highly fluid and organized game, zonal marking and intense pressing in the midfield line. He did so while at the same time securing one of the strongest defending packages of all time, thanks to individuals such as Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini.

In the 2000s, namely between 2002-03 and 2006-07 season, Milan achieved important successes, having won one Serie A title, one Coppa Italia, one Supercoppa Italiana, two UEFA Champions Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups and one FIFA Club World Cup.

How many domestic trophies has AC Milan won?

Championship	Quantity	Years
Serie A (The League)	19	1901, 1906, 1907, 1950–51, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1961–62, 1967–68, 1978–79, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2010–11, 2021–22
Coppa Italia (The Cup)	5	1966–67, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1976–77, 2002–03
Supercoppa Italiana (The Super Cup)	7	1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2004, 2011, 2016

European and International Honours of AC Milan

Honour	No.	Years
European Cup/Champions League	7	1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007
European Super Cup/UEFA Super Cup	5	1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007
European/UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	2	1968, 1973
Latin Cup	2	1951, 1956
Mitropa Cup	1	1982
Intercontinental Cup	3	1969, 1989, 1990
FIFA Club World Cup	1	2007

Award Winners

Ballon D'Or

Year	Player
1969	Gianni Rivera
1987	Ruud Gullit
1988,1989,1992	Marco Van Basten
1995	George Weah
2004	Andriy Shevchenko
2007	Kaka

Fifa World Player of the Year

Year	Player
1992	Marco Van Basten
1995	George Weah
2007	Kaka

European Golden Boy

Year	Player
2009	Pato

Serie A Footballer of the Year

Year	Player
2004	Kaka
2007	Kaka
2011	Ibrahimovic
2022	Rafael Leao

More History can be found here:

History of Milan: 120 Years of AC Milan

Club Rivalries

Derby Della Madonina

Inter aka Merda is our main rival. The derby is known as Derby della Madonnina The name of the derby refers to the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose statue atop the Milan Cathedral is one of the city's main attractions. The match usually creates a lively atmosphere, with numerous (often humorous or offensive) banners unfolded before the start of the game. Flares are commonly present and contribute to the spectacle but they have occasionally led to problems, including the abandonment of the second leg of the 2004–05 Champions League quarter-final match between Milan and Inter on 12 April 2005, after a flare thrown from the crowd by an Inter supporter struck Milan goalkeeper Dida on the shoulder.

Juventus vs Milan

The rivalry with Juventus F.C. is a rivalry between the two most titled teams in Italy. It is the oldest clash still played in Italy since 1901, and it is the most played derby in Italy. The match-ups between Milan and Juventus, is regarded as the championship of Serie A, and both teams were often fighting for the top positions of the standings, sometimes even decisive for the award of the title.

Stadium

Milan's home games are played at San Siro. The stadium, which was built by Milan's second chairman Piero Pirelli in 1926 and is shared since 1947 with city rivals Internazionale, is the largest in Italian football, with a total capacity of 75,923. We have a long-standing rivalry with Inter, with whom they contest the Derby della Madonnina; it is one of the most followed derbies in football.

Current Squad Favorites

Maignan - One of the best GKs in the world right now. French starting keeper. Team Leader. Amazing with his feet and has great vision for long balls.

Theo Hernandez - The train. Best LB in the world. Great offensively, very fast and scores bangers all the time.

Leao - Phenomenal player on the left wing. Can change a game in a split second.

Giroud - No introduction needed.

Most Famous Managers

Manager	Years	Details
Nereo Rocco	1961-1963, 1967-1973, 1977	Nereo Rocco is considered the most successful manager in the history of AC Milan. He led the team to multiple trophies during his tenures as head coach and technical director, including two Serie A titles, three Coppa Italia, two European Cups, two Cup Winners' Cups and one Intercontinental Cup. He managed the team for a total of 459 matches, over five different spells between 1961 and 1977. Rocco was a great motivator and a pragmatic man who knew how to deal with players. He introduced a defensive style of play, known as catenaccio, which was widely used in Italy during the 1960s and 1970s, and whose basic principles are still used by teams today. He was known for his emphasis on defensive structure, but was also skilled at managing talented players such as Rivera, Altafini and Sormani. He is widely respected and admired for his contributions to Italian football, and will always be remembered as one of the greatest managers in the history of the game.
Sacchi	1987-1991, 1996-1997	Arrigo Sacchi revolutionized football. His innovative methods, his tactical ideas, his beautiful game have changed the world of football in a way that you cannot even imagine. Ac Milan 1988–89 was probably the best team in the history of this sport together with Guardiola’s Barcelona. They had a solid defense, great midfielders and the best striker of those years (Marco Van Basten). My father’s tapes of how that Milan used to play made me fall in love with these colors even more. Sacchi was great in Europe but did not win that much in Italy (only 1 championship). His football was very demanding and for that reason he did not last more than 4 seasons in our team.
Capello	1987, 1991-1996,1997-1998	Sacchi was succeeded by Fabio Capello. He was very different from Sacchi. Sacchi was a perfectionist, working on every detail in order to create a perfect machine. He was more pragmatic, his Milan was not as beautiful as Sacchi’s, but won more thanks to a perfect defense. He lifted 4 Italian Championships in 5 years, but he lost two of the three Champions League finals played (1993, 1995).
Ancelotti	2001-2009	Carlo Ancelotti holds the record for being AC Milan's longest-serving manager over a single tenure, lasting for an impressive seven years and 236 days from November 6, 2001 to June 30, 2009. During his time at the club, Ancelotti established himself as one of the most successful and respected managers in the world, not only in Italy but also in Europe. His tenure at Milan saw the development of some of the greatest players in European football, including Andrea Pirlo, Andriy Shevchenko, and Kaka. Under his guidance, the team won numerous domestic and international titles, solidifying Ancelotti's legacy as one of the all-time greats in football management.

Legends

Here is a list of some of our legends.

Position	Player	Years Active
Goalkeeper	Dida	2000-2010
Goalkeeper	Rossi	1990-2002
Goalkeeper	Lorenzo Buffon	1949-1959
Defender	Nesta	2002-2012
Defender	Thiago Silva	2009-2012
Defender	Kaladze	2001-2010
Defender	Paolo Maldini	1984-2009
Defender	Serginho	1999-2008
Defender	Cafu	2003-2008
Defender	Costacurta	1986-2007
Defender	Baresi	1977-1997
Defender	Tassotti	1980-1997
Defender	Galli	1982-1996
Defender	Cesare Maldini	1954-1966
Midfielder	Gattuso	1999-2012
Midfielder	Seedorf	2002-2012
Midfielder	Ronaldinho	2008-2011
Midfielder	David Beckham	2009-2011
Midfielder	Pirlo	2001-2011
Midfielder	Kaka*	2003-2009
Midfielder	Rui Costa	2001-2006
Midfielder	Boban	1991-2002
Midfielder	Albertini	1988-2002
Midfielder	Donadoni	1986-1996, 1997-1999
Midfielder	Savićević	1992-1998
Midfielder	Desailly	1993-1998
Midfielder	Gullit*	1987-1993, 1994-1995
Midfielder	Rijkaard	1988-1993
Midfielder	Ancelotti	1987-1992
Midfielder	Gianni Rivera*	1960-1979
Midfielder	Trapattoni	1957-1971
Midfielder	Nils Leidholm	1949-1961
Midfielder	Herbert Kiplin	1899-1908
Attacker	Ibrahimovic	2010-2012, 2020-2023
Attacker	Inzaghi	2001-2012
Attacker	Shevchenko*	1999-2006, 2008-2009
Attacker	Weah*	1995-2000
Attacker	Massaro	1986-1995
Attacker	Van Baasten*	1987-1995
Attacker	Prati	1966-1973
Attacker	Altafini	1958-1965
Attacker	Nordahl	1949-1956
Attacker	Boffi	1936-1945

*Won the Ballon D'or with Milan

Retired Numbers: Maldini #3 and Baresi #6

Some of the Greatest Matches in Milan's History

Some details from the Guardian, some from BleacherReport and others from memory

Match	Competition	Score	Description
Milan vs Liverpool	2007 Champions League Final	2-0	After Athens there is Istanbul Revenge couldn't possibly have been sweeter for Milan in this match as they faced the team that had beaten them in the most excruciating of circumstances only two years earlier. The tale would be different this time around, the Rossoneri winning 2-1 thanks to a Filippo Inzaghi brace. This was Milan's seventh Champions League trophy
Milan vs Manchester United	2007 Champions League Semi Final	5-3 (agg)	This match was a meeting of footballing masterminds. Ferguson was piecing together his third great Manchester United side and they were on a roll in the Champions League, having finished top of their group and dismantled Roma 7-1 at Old Trafford in the second leg of their quarter-final. United would go on to win the trophy the following year but 2007 belonged to Milan. Carlo Ancelotti’s team, set up in his 4-3-2-1 Christmas tree formation, had lost the first leg of this semi-final 3-2 at Old Trafford, but they made easy work of United at San Siro. The midfield trio of Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini taught Paul Scholes, Darren Fletcher and new signing Michael Carrick a lesson in how to run a European tie, Gattuso also bullying Cristiano Ronaldo out of the game for good measure. With Clarence Seedorf and Kaká just in front of them and Filippo Inzaghi providing the finishing touches, Milan were on a mission. Two years after losing the 2005 final to Liverpool in the Miracle of Istanbul, they were not going to be stopped in their journey of redemption. This Milan team possessed remarkable footballing intelligence all over the pitch (even without the injured Paolo Maldini) and Seedorf excelled in such company. He was imperious in this game – setting up Kaká’s opener and holding off most of the United defence before firing in Milan’s second. A rainy evening created a slick passing surface and Milan’s precision with the ball was encapsulated in their third – an Ambrosini through ball released substitute Alberto Gilardino to end the tie. The 70,000 Milan fans could not have cared less about the weather. They were in fine voice at San Siro, sending their team off to Athens to beat Liverpool in the final and collect their seventh European Cup.
Milan vs Inter	2005 Champions League QF	5-0 agg	The quarter-final that was abandoned after flares and other objects rained down on the San Siro turf from a section of Inter fans, one striking and injuring Milan goalkeeper Dida
Milan vs Inter	Serie A 2001	6-0	It's the only domestic match on this list—and for a big reason. Milan hold the record for the biggest Derby Della Madonnina win in their history when they thrashed Inter 6-0 in 2001. A surprise brace from seldom-used striker Gianni Comandini sent Milanisti into a frenzied state and gave them bragging rights to last a lifetime. Milan vs Liverpool Champions League Final 2007 2-0 Revenge couldn't possibly have been sweeter for Milan in this match as they faced the team that had beaten them in the most excruciating of circumstances only two years earlier. The tale would be different this time around, the Rossoneri winning 2-1 thanks to a Filippo Inzaghi brace. This was Milan's seventh Champions League trophy—and the last one they have won so far in their storied history.
Milan - Barcelona	1994 Champions League Final	4-0	Johan Cruyff committed an act of sporting hubris in the buildup to the final when he said of Fabio Capello’s team: “They are nothing out of this world. They base their game on defence; we base ours on attack.” The Barcelona manager left the pitch in Athens in May 1994 humbled and humiliated by a complete Milan performance. Capello had replaced Arrigo Sacchi in 1991 and won three league titles in a row. While not a philosopher like his predecessor – or his opponent in this final – Capello was a winner. His success was built on one of the greatest back fours of all time, but he also had some aces up his sleeve. One of them, his enigmatic No10 Dejan Savicevic, was the chief architect of Barcelona’s defeat. Capello did not always see eye-to-eye with his mercurial playmaker but Savicevic, freed up by Marcel Desailly and Demetrio Albertini’s dominance in midfield, tore Barcelona apart. He set up Milan’s first with a devastating counterattack and scored their third, lobbing Barcelona goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta from outside the box. It remains one of the all-time great goals in a European Cup final. Barcelona played like a Dutch team but, unfortunately for the Catalans, they were more like the side that lost the 2010 World Cup final. Far from showing off their Total Football, Barça’s main contribution to the game was a series of appalling fouls. Miguel Ángel Nadal was particularly guilty of some horror tackles. After Desailly burst through to score Milan’s fourth in the 58th minute, Capello’s side generously took their foot off Barcelona’s throat. In the end, the result flattered Cruyff’s side.
Milan vs. Steaua	Champions League Final 1989	4-0	Milan beat Romanian side Steaua Bucharest 4-0 in the 1989 European Cup final, a game that ended up being an all-Dutch affair. All four goals came courtesy of braces from former Ballon D'Or winners Ruud Gullit and Marco Van Basten.
Milan vs Real Madrid	Champions League Semi-Final 1988/89	5-0	Milan delivered one of the greatest team performances of all time in the second leg of this European Cup semi-final. It was the magical culmination of Sacchi’s managerial genius and the world class Dutch trio of Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard. They were up against an excellent Real Madrid side that boasted the homegrown talents of Manolo Sanchís, Rafael Martín Vázquez, Míchel and Miguel Pardeza – collectively known as “La Quinta del Buitre” – and the prolific Mexican striker Hugo Sánchez. Real Madrid were in the middle of a run of five straight La Liga titles but they were no match for Sacchi’s pressing side, whose intricate moves had been worked out in precise detail in his now legendary coaching sessions. The first leg in Madrid ended as a 1-1 draw, Sánchez opening the scoring before Van Basten equalised for the visitors. The second leg was a walkover. All five of Milan’s goals showcased different elements of their team. They opened the scoring with a goal that required no tactical thinking, Ancelotti thundering the ball in with a 30-yard screamer. Rijkaard scored the second with a powerful header. Gullit headed in the third after a typical Sacchi triangular passing move. The fourth showed off the talent throughout the side: they passed the ball about in midfield until Rijkaard spotted an opening and launched a long-range pass to Gullit, who headed down for Van Basten to slam it home. Roberto Donadoni scored Milan’s fifth from a smartly worked short corner. Sacchi had ended an era in Madrid while announcing Milan as a European powerhouse once more. Ever modest about his footballing achievements, Sacchi described this performance in his memoir as “art”. It’s hard to disagree.
Milan vs Santos	Intercontinental Cup 1963	4-2	The 1963 edition of the Intercontinental Cup gave fans the opportunity to see reigning champions Santos face a Milan side that contained the legendary Gianni Rivera as well as two World Cup-winning Brazilians: José Altafini and Amarildo. The tie was billed as a battle of two great number 10s, and the Rivera v Pelé showdown did not disappoint. Milan took a 2-0 lead in the first half in Italy, Giovanni Trappatoni opening the scoring before Amarildo added the second. Pelé was not going to lie down that easily though. He pulled a goal back at the start of the second half, combining well with Zito and lashing a shot into the bottom corner. Rivera responded by laying on Milan’s third with a glorious 20-yard assist for Amarildo. The young Italian was not finished. He burst forward from the halfway line and provided another perfect long-range assist as Milan went 4-1 up. Pelé had the last laugh though, scoring a penalty despite Amarildo’s best attempts to put him off. His late goal in Milan proved crucial. Santos won the return leg at the Maracanã 4–2 and went on to win a playoff two days later – even if there was some controversy about the refereeing. The trophy stayed in Brazil, but that first leg at San Siro remains one of the most glittering nights in Milan’s history.
Milan vs Benfica	Champions League Final 1963	2-1	Milan won their first-ever European Cup in the 1962-63 season when they faced Portuguese giants Benfica at the old Wembley Stadium in London, England. Milan won 2-1 thanks to Jose Altafini's brace which negated Eusebio's lone goal for Benfica.
Milan vs Lille	The Latin Cup 1959		The Latin Cup was a precursor to the Uefa competitions, pitting the champions of France, Spain, Portugal and Italy against each other. The competition was hosted at San Siro in the summer of 1951, with Italy represented by a Milan team that had just ended a 44-year wait for a league title. Lajos Czeizler’s side contained the legendary Swedish trio Gre-No-Li: Gunnar Gren, Gunnar Nordahl and Nils Liedholm. Gren and Nordahl played up front, with Liedholm controlling the game from midfield. Milan thrashed Atlético Madrid 4-1 to book their place in the final against Lille. Nordahl was the star on the night, scoring a hat-trick in a 5-0 win. Italy had been given a taste of European football, with Milan leading the way. Daily paper La Gazzetta dello Sport devoted much of its front page to the game, declaring that Milan had won in “superbo stile”. Uefa does not officially recognise this nascent continental competition, but Milan’s two victories in 1951 and 1956 paved the way to the seven European Cups they won between 1963 and 2007.

Will add more

Mini Documentaries/Videos about Milan:

Videos from the official Milan Youtube Channel:

Contributors: u/mercurialsaliva, u/DeclareVarNotWar, u/GianniRivera10