History of AC Milan facts for kids

The history of A.C. Milan is about a famous Italian football club from Milan, Lombardy. People often call it A.C. Milan or just Milan.

How Milan Started and Grew

The AC Milan team in 1907

A.C. Milan began in 1899 as Milan Foot-Ball and Cricket Club. It was started by an English person named Herbert Kilpin who lived in Italy. The club says it was founded on December 16, but some history suggests it might have been a few days earlier. The club's first president was Alfred Edwards, a British diplomat. At first, the club had both a cricket and a football team.

The team chose red and black as its official colors. Milan quickly became well-known under Kilpin's leadership. They won their first trophy, the Medaglia del Re (King's Medal), in January 1900. They also won three national leagues in 1901, 1906, and 1907. The 1901 win was special because it stopped Genoa from winning every year.

In its first ten years, Milan won many important trophies. These included two more King's Medals, the Palla Dapples 23 times, and the FGNI tournament five times. This last competition was not officially recognized by the Italian Football Federation.

In 1908, a disagreement about signing foreign players caused a split. This led to the creation of F.C. Internazionale Milano, Milan's city rivals. One of Milan's founders, Giovanni Paramithiotti, even became president of Internazionale.

In 1909, Piero Pirelli became the club's new chairman. He stayed in charge for 19 years, a record until Silvio Berlusconi took over much later.

The Years 1910 to 1949

In 1916, Milan won the Federal Cup. This was a national trophy that replaced the Italian league, which was stopped because of World War I. This cup is not counted as an official Italian title. In the next two seasons, Milan won important regional tournaments during the war. They won the Coppa Lombarda in 1917 and the Coppa Mauro in 1918. In the Coppa Mauro, they beat Inter with a huge 8-1 score.

In 1919, the team changed its name to Milan Football Club. After their early successes, Milan didn't win as many big trophies. They usually finished in the middle of the league table, but always stayed in Italy's top division.

Two key players during this time were Louis Van Hege, a Belgian forward who scored 97 goals, and Renzo De Vecchi, a defender nicknamed il figlio di Dio (the son of God).

Between the two World Wars, Milan always stayed in the first division. However, they never finished higher than third place. This happened in 1937-38 and 1940-41. In 1924, Vittorio Pozzo, who later coached Italy to win the World Cup, became Milan's manager. But his time at Milan was not successful, and he was fired after two seasons.

In 1926, chairman Piero Pirelli built a new stadium just for Milan. The San Siro became Milan's home from then on. The first game there was a derby against Inter, which Milan won 6-3. One of Milan's goal scorers that day was Giuseppe Santagostino, a top player in the 1920s. He scored 103 goals for the club.

Milan's performance in the Italian football league since the 1929/30 season.

The 1930s marked Milan's first time playing in international competitions. They took part in the 1938 Mitropa Cup. Between 1935 and 1939, Milan reached the Coppa Italia semifinals four times but lost each time.

The most important player of this decade was Aldo Boffi. He was the top scorer in Serie A three times (in 1938-39, 1939–40, and 1941–42). He scored a total of 136 goals for Milan, making him the club's 5th all-time top scorer.

In 1939, a new Italian name, Associazione Calcio Milano, was given to the team by the government. After World War II, part of this name was kept, and the team became Associazione Calcio Milan, which is its official name today.

The 1950s: A Golden Era Begins

The famous Gre-No-Li trio: Gunnar Gren, Gunnar Nordahl, and Nils Liedholm

After World War II, Milan was almost always one of the top three teams in Serie A. They won the Scudetto (Italian league title) in 1951, their first since 1907. This great Milan team included the famous "Gre-No-Li" trio. These were three Swedish players: Gunnar Gren, Gunnar Nordahl, and Nils Liedholm, all of whom had won Olympic medals. The team also had talented players like Lorenzo Buffon, Cesare Maldini, and Carlo Annovazzi.

Milan won more Serie A titles in 1955, 1957, and 1959. From 1947–48 to 1956–57, Milan always finished in the top three in the league. One of their most impressive wins was a 7–1 victory against Juventus in Turin in 1950, where Gunnar Nordahl scored three goals.

Béla Guttmann became Milan's manager in 1953. In his second season, Milan was at the top of Serie A after 19 games. However, he was fired because of disagreements with the club's board. He famously told reporters, "I have been sacked even though I am neither a criminal nor a homosexual. Goodbye." After this, he always made sure his contracts said he couldn't be fired if his team was leading the league.

This decade also saw Milan's first European successes. They won the Latin Cup in 1951 and 1956. Milan was also the first Italian club to play in the new European Cup in the 1955-56 season. They reached the final two years later but lost to Real Madrid.

The 1960s: European Champions

Milan won another league title in 1961–62 under manager Nereo Rocco. He was a clever coach known for inventing the catenaccio tactic, which focused on strong defense. The team had a young Gianni Rivera and José Altafini. The next season, Milan won their first European Cup by beating Benfica 2–1. This was the first time an Italian team won the European Cup.

AC Milan players celebrating after winning the European Cup Winners' Cup final in 1968

Even with early success, Milan won fewer trophies in the 1960s. This was mainly because of strong competition from Helenio Herrera's Internazionale, their city rivals. Milan's next Scudetto came in 1967–68. This was thanks to the goals of Pierino Prati, who was the top scorer in Serie A that season. They also won the European Cup Winners' Cup against Hamburger SV, with two goals from Kurt Hamrin.

In the next season, Milan won its second European Cup, beating Ajax 4–1. In 1969, they won their first Intercontinental Cup by defeating Argentina's Estudiantes La Plata in two exciting games.

The 1970s: The First Star

In the 1970s, Milan won three Coppa Italia trophies. They also won their second Cup Winners' Cup in the 1972–73 season, beating Leeds United 1-0. In 1972, they reached the semi-final of the UEFA Cup but lost to Tottenham Hotspur.

Milan's main goal was to win their tenth Scudetto. This would earn them their first stella ("star") on their jersey, a symbol for ten league titles. For three years in a row, in 1971, 1972, and 1973, Milan finished second in the league. They had memorable battles with Inter and Juventus. The 1972–73 season was their best chance, but they lost dramatically to Hellas Verona on the last day.

Milan finally won their tenth Scudetto in 1979. This team was led by Gianni Rivera, who retired from football after this big win. This year also saw the first full season for a young player named Franco Baresi.

After this success, the team had a difficult period. In 1980, the club was involved in a scandal called Totonero. This involved a group paying players and officials to fix match results. As a punishment, Milan was sent down to Serie B (the second division) for the first time.

The 1980s: Berlusconi and Dutch Stars

In 1980–81, Milan easily won the Serie B championship and quickly returned to Serie A. However, they had their worst season ever in 1981–82 and were sent down again. In 1983, Milan won the Serie B title for the second time in three seasons to return to Serie A. They finished sixth in 1983–84.

After financial problems and a lack of success, Milan was bought on February 20, 1986, by Silvio Berlusconi, a businessman from Milan. He saved the club from going bankrupt. Berlusconi brought in a promising coach, Arrigo Sacchi, and three amazing Dutch players: Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, and Ruud Gullit. He also signed Italian stars like Roberto Donadoni, Carlo Ancelotti, Giovanni Galli, and Paolo Maldini.

Marco van Basten was part of the Dutch trio that brought glory back to Milan.

Sacchi and Milan won the 1987–88 Scudetto after a great comeback against Diego Maradona's Napoli. The next season, in 1988–89, Milan won its third European Cup. They beat Steaua București 4–0 in the final. They also won their second Intercontinental Cup against National de Medellín with a goal in the last minute of extra time.

The 1990s: The Invincibles

Milan won the European Cup again the next season, beating Benfica 1–0. They then won their second Intercontinental Cup in a row, and third overall, against Olimpia Asunción in 1990. This team was nicknamed Gli Immortali ("The Immortals"). Many experts have voted this team as the best club side of all time.

When Sacchi left Milan in 1991 to coach the Italian national team, Fabio Capello took over. Under Capello, Milan continued to be successful and became known as Gli Invicibili ("The Invincibles"). They had an amazing 58-match unbeaten run. The Invincibili had one of the strongest defenses in football history with players like Mauro Tassotti, Franco Baresi, Alessandro Costacurta, and Paolo Maldini. They also had Marcel Desailly and Roberto Donadoni in midfield, and Dejan Savićević, Zvonimir Boban, and Daniele Massaro in attack.

Milan's starting lineup in their win against Barcelona in the 1994 Champions League Final

Milan won three Scudetti in a row from 1992 to 1994, including an undefeated season in 1991–92. They also reached the Champions League final three years in a row. In 1993, Milan lost to Marseille. In 1994, Milan famously beat Barcelona with a sensational 4–0 win. In 1995, Milan lost to Ajax. Then, in 1995–96, with stars like Roberto Baggio, Marco Simone, and George Weah, Milan won its 15th Italian championship.

After Fabio Capello left in 1996, Milan had a tough time. They tried different managers and signed new players, but they struggled in the league. They finished 11th in 1996–97 and 10th in 1997–98.

In 1998–99, Alberto Zaccheroni became the new manager. Milan signed him and two of his players from Udinese, Oliver Bierhoff and Thomas Helveg. With a new 3–4–3 playing style, Zaccheroni led the club to its 16th Scudetto.

Despite winning the league, Milan didn't do well in the Champions League the next season. They only won one game in the group stage. They finished third in Serie A, not really challenging for the title.

The 2000s: European Dominance Returns

In the 2000–01 Champions League, Milan started strong, beating Beşiktaş and Barcelona. But their form dropped, and they lost to Juventus and Leeds United. In the second round of the Champions League, they struggled and the manager, Zaccheroni, was fired.

Cesare Maldini, father of captain Paolo, took over. Milan immediately improved, winning 4–0 against Bari. They also had a historic 6–0 win against city rivals Inter, a score that has never been repeated. However, Milan's form dipped again, and they finished sixth in the league.

For the 2001–02 season, Milan signed more star players like Rui Costa, Filippo Inzaghi, and Andrea Pirlo. Fatih Terim was the new coach, but after five months, he was replaced by Carlo Ancelotti. Ancelotti successfully led Milan to a fourth-place finish, earning a spot in the Champions League.

In 2003, Milan won their sixth Champions League trophy. On their way to the final, they beat their city rivals Inter in the semi-finals. They then beat another Italian rival, Juventus, in a dramatic penalty shoot-out in the final. That same season, Milan finished third in Serie A and won both the Coppa Italia and UEFA Super Cup. The team earned the nickname "I Meravigliosi" ("The Amazings").

May 2004: celebrating the 17th scudetto in Piazza del Duomo

In 2003–04, Milan set a points record to win the Scudetto. The team had a strong attack led by Andriy Shevchenko, creative play from Kaká, and solid defense from Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini. However, they were surprisingly beaten 4–0 by Deportivo La Coruña in the Champions League quarter-finals, despite winning the first game 4–1.

The 2005 Champions League final ended in a terrible defeat for Milan. They were leading Liverpool 3–0 at half-time but conceded three goals in just six minutes. They eventually lost 3–2 on penalties. Milan finished second to Juventus in Serie A that season.

In 2005–06, Milan had a great Serie A season, winning 28 games. However, their success was affected by the Calciopoli scandal. Milan was punished by having 44 points taken away from their season total. This was later reduced to 30 points. They also started the 2006–07 season with an 8-point penalty. Despite this, they were still allowed to play in the Champions League.

Milan reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2006 but were eliminated by eventual champions Barcelona.

In 2006–07, Milan started with an 8-point penalty. After a slow first half, new players like Massimo Oddo and Ronaldo helped the team. Milan finished fourth in Serie A, qualifying for the next Champions League.

Milan's starting lineup against Liverpool in Athens

The 2006–07 season is best remembered for Milan's Champions League performance. They won their group and then beat Celtic and Bayern Munich. In the semi-finals, they played Manchester United. Milan lost the first leg 3-2 but won the second leg 3-0 at San Siro, reaching the final.

Milan advanced to the final, where they faced Liverpool again. The match was played in Athens, and Milan won 2–1 with both goals from Filippo Inzaghi. This victory confirmed Milan as one of Europe's top clubs.

After winning their seventh European Cup, Milan continued their international success. They won the 2007 UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla. Milan's Champions League win also allowed them to play in the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup, which they won. This gave them their 18th international trophy, tying the world record.

However, these trophies were a small comfort for a disappointing domestic season. Milan had a slow start in Serie A and finished fifth, missing out on the 2008–09 Champions League. This was their first time missing the tournament since 2001–02. Milan was also eliminated early from the 2007–08 Champions League by Arsenal.

For the 2008–09 season, Milan signed many new players, including Ronaldinho and David Beckham (on loan). Despite these big names, the season started poorly. The team improved and even reached first place for a week, but eventually finished third behind rivals Inter. They were also eliminated early from the UEFA Cup.

A notable moment of the 2008–09 season was the retirement of club legend Paolo Maldini. He played his entire 25-year career for Milan.

The 2009–10 season started with a new coach, former Milan player Leonardo. Milan also sold Kaká for a world-record transfer fee. The season began poorly, but results improved after wins against Roma and Real Madrid. The team saw a comeback for players like Ronaldinho. Milan was eliminated from the Champions League by Manchester United and lost the Serie A race to Inter. Leonardo resigned at the end of the season.

The 2010s: A New Scudetto and Challenges

For the 2010–11 season, club president Silvio Berlusconi strengthened Milan. They signed Zlatan Ibrahimović on loan, Robinho from Manchester City, and Kevin-Prince Boateng on loan. Massimiliano Allegri became the new coach.

After a mixed start, Milan began playing well and reached the top of the Serie A table in November. The new signings, Ibrahimović and Robinho, were very successful. The defense, with Alessandro Nesta and Thiago Silva, was also one of the best in Serie A.

Milan faced many injuries in late 2010 and early 2011. They signed more players in the winter transfer window, but many were unable to play in the Champions League because they had already played for other teams. This, along with injuries, led to Milan's elimination from the Champions League by Tottenham Hotspur.

However, in the league, Milan continued to perform strongly. They had important wins against Inter and Napoli. On May 7, after a 0–0 draw with Roma, Milan officially won their 18th Scudetto.

In the 2012–13 Champions League, Milan won their home game against Barcelona 2–0. But it wasn't enough, as they lost the return game 4–0. A third-place finish in the league secured a Champions League spot for the next season.

The 2013–14 Serie A season saw the return of club icon Kaká. Despite this, Milan had a poor start, losing four of their first ten matches. After a 4–3 defeat to Sassuolo, coach Massimiliano Allegri was fired. Another club icon, Clarence Seedorf, took over as manager. Seedorf was still playing football but ended his contract to become coach. He led Milan to a five-match winning streak and a win against Inter. However, Milan finished eighth in the league, and Seedorf was also fired.

In Europe, Milan qualified for the 2013–14 UEFA Champions League group stages. They finished second in their group but were knocked out by Atlético Madrid in the Round of 16.

Milan hoped for a better 2014–15 season under new coach Filippo Inzaghi. They started with good wins and were at the top of Serie A in October 2014. But their performance declined, and they finished tenth. Inzaghi was then fired.

For the 2015–16 season, Siniša Mihajlović became the new coach. Club president Silvio Berlusconi spent a lot of money on new players, including Carlos Bacca and Alessio Romagnoli.

The club had a ten-game unbeaten run from December to February, reaching fifth place in Serie A. They also reached the final of the Coppa Italia. However, a series of bad results led to Mihajlović being fired. Cristian Brocchi took over for the rest of the season. Milan finished seventh in Serie A, just outside the European spots. They lost the Coppa Italia final to Juventus, missing out on a Europa League spot.

In 2016–17, Vincenzo Montella was hired as the new manager. Montella won the 2016 Supercoppa Italiana, Milan's first trophy in five years. He also brought the club back to European competition after three years.

On November 27, 2017, Vincenzo Montella was fired. Gennaro Gattuso became the new head coach. Under Gattuso, Milan went on a ten-match unbeaten run in the league. They finished sixth in Serie A and were runners-up in the Coppa Italia. They also reached the Round of 16 in the Europa League.

Milan qualified for the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League but were later banned by UEFA due to rules about club finances. The ban was overturned after an appeal. However, on June 28, 2019, Milan was again excluded from the Europa League for financial rule violations.

The 2018–19 season was a period of change under new club president Paolo Scaroni. New players arrived, and others left. Milan had a positive first half of the season, placing fifth. In January 2019, new players like Lucas Paquetá and Krzysztof Piątek joined. This led to a great run of form, and Milan reached third place. However, their form dropped again, and they finished fifth, missing the Champions League. They also lost in the Coppa Italia semifinals. Manager Gennaro Gattuso resigned after the season.

For the 2019–20 season, Marco Giampaolo became the new manager. The team made many changes to its roster. The preseason was not great, and the start of the regular season was poor. After a string of bad performances, Giampaolo was fired and replaced by Stefano Pioli.

The first few months under Pioli were mixed. The lowest point was a 5-0 loss to Atalanta. Milan was 10th in Serie A at the season's midpoint. In January 2020, Alexis Saelemaekers, Simon Kjær, and Zlatan Ibrahimović returned to the team. Milan's form improved until the Serie A season was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy.

When the season restarted in June 2020, Milan drew with Juventus in the Coppa Italia semifinals and were eliminated. However, in Serie A, Milan became one of the best teams in Europe. They went undefeated for the rest of the season, with big wins against Lazio and Juventus. The team finished sixth in Serie A, qualifying for the Europa League.

The 2020s: Champions League Return and Scudetto Triumph

Entering the 2020–21 season under Stefano Pioli, Milan had high hopes to finish in the top four and return to the Champions League. New players like Brahim Díaz and Sandro Tonali joined.

Milan started the season very strong, continuing their momentum from the previous year. They had many wins, including a 2–1 victory against Inter, a 3–1 win against Napoli, and a 3–2 win against Lazio. They went unbeaten until a loss to Juventus in January. Milan qualified for the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League group stage and finished first in their group. However, they were eliminated from the competition in the Round of 16 by Manchester United.

After their first Serie A defeat in January, Milan's form became inconsistent. They won against lower-ranked teams but lost to rivals like Atalanta and Inter. They also had an embarrassing 2–0 loss to Spezia. In the winter transfer window, players like Mario Mandžukić and Fikayo Tomori joined. Milan was eliminated from the Coppa Italia quarter-finals by Inter.

Milan's form improved in the final five matches of the Serie A season. They made a strong push to qualify for the Champions League. They had impressive wins against Benevento (2-0), Juventus (3-0), and Torino (7-0). They finished the season with a 2–0 away victory against Atalanta. This win secured a second-place finish for Milan in Serie A, their highest since 2011–12. It also meant their return to the Champions League for the first time since 2013–14.

Rossoneri fans celebrating their 2021–22 Serie A win in Piazza del Duomo, Milan

For the 2021–22 season, Milan signed players like Giroud, Mike Maignan, and Messias. Milan started the season well, winning 10 of their first 11 matches. They took the lead in the league from Napoli in March 2022. Milan went on to win their last six games of the season and were crowned with the League title on May 22. This was their first Scudetto since 2011. Milan collected 86 points, their best total since 2005–06, and conceded only 31 goals, the fewest in the league.

Images for kids

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  1963 European Cup Final starting lineup

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  1969 European Cup Final starting lineup

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  1989 European Cup Final starting lineup