Inter Milan facts for kids
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| Full name | Football Club Internazionale Milano S.p.A. | |||
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| Founded | 9 March 1908 (as Football Club Internazionale) | |||
| Ground | Stadio Giuseppe Meazza | |||
| Capacity | 75,817 (limited capacity) 80,018 (maximum) |
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| Chairman | Giuseppe Marotta | |||
| Head coach | Simone Inzaghi | |||
| League | Serie A | |||
| 2018–19 | Serie A, 4th of 20 | |||
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Football Club Internazionale Milano, often called Internazionale or just Inter, is a famous Italian professional football club from Milan, Lombardy. In English-speaking countries, people often call them Inter Milan. Since 1947, Inter has shared the San Siro stadium with AC Milan, which is the club Inter originally separated from. The San Siro is the biggest stadium in Italy, holding 75,817 fans! The big rivalry between these two Milan clubs is called the Derby della Madonnina, and it's one of the most watched football rivalries in the world.
Inter was started in 1908 after some players left the Milan Foot-Ball and Cricket Club (now AC Milan). They wanted to create a new club that would welcome players from all over the world. Inter won their first championship in 1910. Since then, the club has won 37 trophies in Italy, including 20 league titles, nine Coppa Italia cups, and eight Supercoppa Italiana cups. From 2006 to 2010, Inter won five league titles in a row, which was a record at the time! They have also won the European Cup/Champions League three times. Their most recent Champions League win in 2010 was special because they also won the Coppa Italia and the Serie A title in the same year, achieving a rare "seasonal treble" – winning three major trophies in one season! The club has also won three UEFA Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, and one FIFA Club World Cup.
Inter has the highest attendance for home games in Italy and the fourth-highest in Europe. Since May 2024, the club has been owned by an American company called Oaktree Capital Management.
Contents
- Inter Milan's Journey: A Club History Overview
- Team Colors and Badge: What They Mean
- Inter Milan's Home: The San Siro Stadium
- Fans and Rivalries: Who Inter Plays Against
- Inter Milan's Trophies: Honours and Achievements
- Club Records and Statistics
- Meet the Players: Inter Milan Squad
- Who Manages Inter: Technical Staff
- Club Leaders: Chairmen and Managers
- Club Business: Corporate and Financial Information
- Team Gear: Kit Suppliers and Shirt Sponsors
- See also
Inter Milan's Journey: A Club History Overview
How Inter Milan Began: Early Years (1908–1960)
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Inter was founded on 9 March 1908 as Football Club Internazionale. A group of players left AC Milan because they wanted to include more foreign players. The name "Internazionale" (International) shows their goal to welcome players from all over the world. The club won its first championship in 1910 and a second in 1920. The captain and coach of the first winning team was Virgilio Fossati, who sadly died in World War I.
In 1922, Inter almost got moved down to a lower league, but they managed to stay in the top division by winning two play-off matches.
Later, during the Fascist era in Italy, the club had to merge with another team, Unione Sportiva Milanese, and was renamed Società Sportiva Ambrosiana for political reasons. For a short time, they even had to wear white jerseys with a red cross, inspired by the flag of Milan. But in 1929, the black and blue jerseys were brought back, and fans kept calling the team "Inter." Eventually, the club's name officially changed to Associazione Sportiva Ambrosiana-Inter.
Inter won their third championship in 1930, which was the very first season of the Serie A league. They won their fourth in 1938. Inter also won their first Coppa Italia (Italian Cup) in 1939, led by Giuseppe Meazza. Meazza is one of the greatest Italian players ever, winning two World Cups with the national team and scoring a club record 284 goals for Inter. The San Siro stadium is officially named after him! A fifth championship came in 1940, marking a decade where Inter, Bologna, and their rival Juventus were the top teams.
After World War II, the club's name went back to Internazionale. They won their sixth championship in 1953 and their seventh in 1954, winning two years in a row for the first time. This team was coached by Alfredo Foni and featured amazing strikers like István Nyers and Benito Lorenzi.
In 1955, Angelo Moratti became Inter's new owner. He laid the groundwork for one of football's greatest teams, bringing in young talents like Mario Corso and signing key players like Giacinto Facchetti and Armando Picchi under the guidance of Argentinian coach Helenio Herrera in 1960.
The Golden Age: Grande Inter (1960–1967)
In 1960, manager Helenio Herrera joined Inter from Barcelona. He quickly transformed Inter into one of Europe's top teams. He used a special defensive tactic called "catenaccio" (meaning "door bolt"), which focused on strong defense and quick counterattacks. Herrera's team won three Serie A titles in four years, two European Cups (now the Champions League), and two Intercontinental Cups in a row! Because of his success, he was nicknamed "il Mago" ("the Wizard"). Key players in this amazing team included goalkeeper Giuliano Sarti, defenders Tarcisio Burgnich and Giacinto Facchetti, playmaker Luis Suárez, wingers Jair and Mario Corso, and forward Sandro Mazzola.
In 1964, Inter reached the European Cup Final and faced Real Madrid, a team that had won many titles. Inter won 3–1, with two goals from Mazzola, becoming the first team to win the tournament without losing a single game! They also won the Intercontinental Cup, becoming the first Italian club to win this trophy.
A year later, Inter won the European Cup again in the final against Benfica, thanks to a goal from Jair. They also beat Independiente again in the Intercontinental Cup, becoming the first European team to win this competition two times in a row. Inter almost won the "Treble" that year, as they also won the Serie A title, but they lost the Coppa Italia final.
In 1966, Herrera's team won their tenth Serie A title, earning them their first "Star" on their jersey, which is given for every ten league titles. In 1967, Inter reached the European Cup Final again but lost to Celtic. This marked the end of the "Grande Inter" era, as Angelo Moratti sold the team and Helenio Herrera left.
More Trophies and Challenges (1967–2004)
After the amazing 1960s, Inter continued to win. They secured their eleventh league title in 1971. Inter also reached the European Cup final again in 1972 but lost to Johan Cruyff's Ajax.
Inter won their twelfth league title in 1980 and added two more Coppa Italia trophies in 1978 and 1982, led by striker Alessandro Altobelli, who scored 209 goals for the club, second only to Giuseppe Meazza.
In the 1980s, Inter signed famous foreign players like Hansi Müller, two-time Ballon d'Or winner Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, and Argentinian Daniel Passarella. Important Italian players like Walter Zenga (who was voted World's Best Goalkeeper three years in a row), Giuseppe Bergomi, and Alessandro Altobelli also played for Inter during this time.
Led by German stars Andreas Brehme and Lothar Matthäus, Inter won the 1989 Serie A championship with a record number of points. They also won their first Supercoppa Italiana at the start of the next season.
The 1990s were a bit tougher for Inter in the league, but they still found success in Europe, winning the UEFA Cup three times: in 1991, 1994, and 1998.
In 1995, Massimo Moratti became the new owner. He invested a lot in the team, breaking the world transfer fee record twice to sign amazing players like Ronaldo from Barcelona in 1997 and Christian Vieri from Lazio two years later. Among Moratti's first signings was Javier Zanetti in 1995, who would become a club legend, playing a record 858 games for Inter and serving as captain for 13 seasons.
Despite these big signings, the 1990s were the only decade in Inter's history where they didn't win a Serie A championship. In 1998, Inter won their third UEFA Cup, beating Lazio 3–0 in the final in Paris.
The early 2000s also brought challenges. In 2000, Inter reached the Coppa Italia final but lost to Lazio. This match is also remembered for a serious injury to Ronaldo, which kept him out for a long time. In 2001, Inter was eliminated from the Champions League early and had a tough league season.
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In the 2001–02 season, with new coach Hector Cuper and players like Francesco Toldo and Marco Materazzi, Inter came very close to winning the league title, but lost on the final day. Ronaldo then left for Real Madrid and was replaced by Hernan Crespo.
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In the 2002–03 season, Inter finished second in the league, and Crespo set a new record for goals in the Champions League group stage. They reached the Champions League semi-finals against AC Milan, but were eliminated. In January 2004, Massimo Moratti stepped down as president, and club legend Giacinto Facchetti took over.
The Unprecedented Treble and Beyond (2004–2011)
On 8 July 2004, Inter appointed Roberto Mancini as their new head coach. Key players like Esteban Cambiasso, Julio Cesar, and later Walter Samuel and Luis Figo joined the team. In his first season, Inter won the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana. In 2006, they won the Coppa Italia again.
Inter was awarded the 2005–06 Serie A championship after Juventus was moved down to a lower league due to a scandal, and other clubs, including AC Milan, had points taken away. In the next season, Inter went on an incredible run of 17 consecutive victories in Serie A, winning their second consecutive league title (and first on the field since 1989) with a record 97 points!
In 2008, José Mourinho became the new head coach. In his first season, Inter won the Supercoppa Italiana and their fourth consecutive league title.
The summer of 2009 set the stage for perhaps the greatest season in Inter's history. They signed key players like Diego Milito and Thiago Motta, and traded Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Samuel Eto'o and money. They also signed Wesley Sneijder.
Inter went on to win the Champions League in 2010, beating strong teams like Chelsea, CSKA Moscow, and Pep Guardiola's Barcelona. In the final, they defeated Bayern Munich 2–0 with two goals from Diego Milito. This season, Chelsea, Barcelona, and Bayern all won their domestic championships, showing how strong Inter's wins were. Inter also won the 2009–10 Serie A title (their fifth in a row) and the 2010 Coppa Italia. This made Inter the first and only Italian team to win the "Treble" – winning the league, domestic cup, and Champions League in one season! After this incredible achievement, Mourinho left the club.
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In August 2010, Inter won their fourth trophy of the year, the 2010 Supercoppa Italiana. In December 2010, they won the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time. However, due to a drop in league performance, coach Rafael Benítez was replaced by Leonardo. Leonardo led the club to the Champions League quarter-finals and won the Coppa Italia title.
New Owners and Recent Successes (2011–Present)
From 2011, to meet financial rules, Inter started to reduce player transfer fees and salaries, selling older players and bringing in younger ones. This made the team less competitive for a few years.
In 2013, an Indonesian group led by Erick Thohir bought 70% of Inter's shares. During Thohir's time, the club tried to become more financially stable. Roberto Mancini returned as manager in 2014.
On 6 June 2016, Suning Holdings Group, a Chinese company, bought most of Inter's shares from Thohir's group and the Moratti family. This meant Suning Holdings Group owned 68.55% of the club.
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The first season under the new owners was challenging, with several coaching changes. In 2017, Luciano Spalletti was appointed manager, and in 2018, Inter secured a spot in the UEFA Champions League group stage again. In July 2018, Inter signed 20-year-old Argentinian striker Lautaro Martinez, who would become one of the club's most important players.
On 26 October 2018, Steven Zhang became the new president of the club. In 2019, Antonio Conte was appointed as the new coach. Inter signed Romelu Lukaku for a club record fee and Nicolò Barella. They also sold Mauro Icardi.
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In the 2019–20 Serie A season, Inter finished as runner-up and reached the 2020 UEFA Europa League final, but lost to Sevilla. Despite a tough Champions League group stage, Inter won the Serie A title in May 2021, ending Juventus's nine-year winning streak! However, Conte left the club soon after due to disagreements about player transfers. In June 2021, Simone Inzaghi was appointed as the new manager. Key players like Achraf Hakimi and Romelu Lukaku were sold for large fees.
Inter qualified for the Champions League Round of 16 for the first time in ten years in 2022. On 12 January 2022, Inter won the Supercoppa Italiana, beating Juventus. On 11 May 2022, Inter won the Coppa Italia, defeating Juventus again. The 2021–22 Serie A season saw Inter finish in second place, scoring the most goals in the league. On 18 January 2023, Inter won the Supercoppa Italiana again, beating AC Milan 3–0.
Inter continued their Champions League journey in 2023, reaching the semi-finals after beating Barcelona, Porto, and Benfica. On 16 May 2023, Inter defeated their rivals Milan in the semi-finals of the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League, reaching the Champions League final for the first time since 2010. However, they lost 1–0 to Manchester City in the final.
In July 2023, Inter sold goalkeeper Andre Onana and midfielder Marcelo Brozovic. They also signed new players like Davide Frattesi, Benjamin Pavard, and Yann Sommer.
In January 2024, Inter won their eighth Supercoppa Italiana and their third in a row, beating Lazio and Napoli.
On 22 April 2024, Inter secured their 20th Serie A title and their second "Star" by defeating Milan 2–1 in the Derby della Madonnina. It was a dominant season for Inter, finishing with 94 points, 19 points ahead of second-place Milan, with the best attack and best defense in the league.
On 22 May 2024, Oaktree Capital Management took over ownership of Inter Milan. This happened because the previous owner, Suning Holdings Group, could not repay a large loan they had taken out during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, Giuseppe Marotta was appointed as the club's new chairman.
Team Colors and Badge: What They Mean
One of Inter's founders, a painter named Giorgio Muggiani, designed the first Inter logo in 1908. The first design had the letters "FCIM" (Football Club Internazionale Milano) in the middle of circles. The main parts of the design have stayed the same, even though small details have changed over the years.
Since it was founded in 1908, Inter has almost always worn black and blue stripes, which is why they are called Nerazzurri (The Black and Blues). The story is that these colors were chosen to represent the night sky, because the club was started late at night on 9 March. Blue was also chosen because it was the opposite of red, the color worn by their rivals, AC Milan.
During the 1928–29 season, the Fascist government forced Inter to change their black and blue uniforms. The club was merged and renamed Società Sportiva Ambrosiana, and they had to wear a white jersey with a red cross, like the flag of Milan. But in 1929, the black and blue jerseys were brought back, and after World War II, the club returned to its original name, Internazionale. In 2008, for their 100th anniversary, Inter used a red cross on their away shirt, a nod to their city's flag.
Animals are often used to represent football clubs in Italy. The grass snake, called Biscione, represents Inter. The snake is a symbol of the city of Milan and appears in Milanese history and art. For the 2010–11 season, Inter's away kit even featured the snake!
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1908–1928
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1963–1979
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1998–2007
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2007–2014
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2014–2021
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2021–present
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Inter Milan's Home: The San Siro Stadium
Inter's home stadium is the 75,923-seat San Siro. Its official name is Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, named after the famous player who played for both Inter and Milan. The more common name, San Siro, comes from the area where it is located. AC Milan built the stadium in 1926, and it was owned by the club until it was sold to the city in 1935. Since 1947, Inter has also used the stadium as their home.
The first game at the stadium was on 19 September 1926, when Inter beat Milan 6–3 in a friendly match. The stadium has been updated many times over the years. San Siro is designed specifically for football matches, which is why it's known for its amazing atmosphere during games, as the stands are very close to the pitch.
Future Plans: A New Milano Stadium?
Since 2012, there have been ideas and plans for Inter to build a new stadium. Between June and July 2019, Inter and Milan announced they would work together to build a new shared stadium near the San Siro area. In early 2022, Inter and Milan also looked into a "plan B" to build the new stadium outside the San Siro area, in the Greater Milan.
Fans and Rivalries: Who Inter Plays Against
According to research from August 2024, Inter is the second most supported football club in Italy, just behind Juventus. In the early days, Inter fans in Milan were usually from the middle class, while Milan fans were typically from the working class.
Inter's most passionate fans are called ultras, and their main group is Boys San, one of the oldest Italian ultras groups, started in 1969. These dedicated fans gather in the Curva Nord (north curve) of the San Siro, creating a lively atmosphere with banners and flags.
Inter has several rivalries. Two are very important in Italian football:
- The Derby della Madonnina with Milan: This is the rivalry between the two Milan clubs, which started when Inter split from Milan in 1908. The derby's name refers to the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary on top of the Milan Cathedral. These matches are always exciting, with lots of banners and a great atmosphere.
- The Derby d'Italia with Juventus: Matches between Inter and Juventus are known as the "Derby of Italy." For a long time, these two were the only Italian clubs that had never been relegated from Serie A.
In the 2000s, Inter also developed a rivalry with Roma, as Roma often finished second to Inter during Inter's five league-winning seasons between 2005 and 2010. Inter fans are collectively known as Interisti or Nerazzurri.
Inter Milan's Trophies: Honours and Achievements
Inter has won 37 domestic trophies in Italy, including the Serie A twenty times, the Coppa Italia nine times, and the Supercoppa Italiana eight times. From 2006 to 2010, the club won five league titles in a row, which was a record at the time. They have won the UEFA Champions League three times: two in a row in 1964 and 1965, and then another in 2010. The 2010 win completed a special "treble" for Inter, as they also won the Coppa Italia and the Serie A title that year. The club has also won three UEFA Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, and one FIFA Club World Cup.
Inter has never been relegated from the top league of Italian football in its entire history. They are the only club to have played in every season of Serie A and its earlier versions since their debut in 1909.
| Type | Competition | Titles | Seasons |
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| Domestic | Serie A | 20 | 1909–10, 1919–20, 1929–30, 1937–38, 1939–40, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1962–63, 1964–65, 1965–66  , 1970–71, 1979–80, 1988–89, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2020–21, 2023–24 |
| Coppa Italia | 9 | 1938–39, 1977–78, 1981–82, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2021–22, 2022–23 | |
| Supercoppa Italiana | 8 | 1989, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2021, 2022, 2023 | |
| Continental | European Cup / UEFA Champions League | 3 | 1963–64, 1964–65, 2009–10 |
| UEFA Cup | 3 | 1990–91, 1993–94, 1997–98 | |
| Worldwide | Intercontinental Cup | 2 | 1964, 1965 |
| FIFA Club World Cup | 1 | 2010 |
Club Records and Statistics
Javier Zanetti holds the record for the most games played for Inter, with 858 official matches, including 618 in Serie A.
Giuseppe Meazza is Inter's all-time top goalscorer, with 284 goals in 408 games. Alessandro Altobelli is second with 209 goals, and Roberto Boninsegna is third with 171 goals.
Helenio Herrera was Inter's coach for the longest time, nine years, and is the most successful coach in Inter's history, winning three league titles, two European Cups, and two Intercontinental Cups. José Mourinho, who coached from 2008 to 2010, won the first "treble" in Italian history: the Serie A, Coppa Italia, and UEFA Champions League in the 2009–10 season.
Meet the Players: Inter Milan Squad
First-team squad
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Youth sector
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Out on loan
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Women team
Notable players
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Retired numbers
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Giacinto Facchetti, a great left back, played for Inter from 1960 to 1978. His number was retired on 8 September 2006, after he passed away. 4 – 
Javier Zanetti, a defensive midfielder, played an incredible 858 games for Inter between 1995 and 2014. In June 2014, his number 4 jersey was retired to honor his amazing career.
Who Manages Inter: Technical Staff
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- As of 1 July 2021[update]
| Position | Name |
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| Head coach | Simone Inzaghi |
| Vice coach | Massimiliano Farris |
| Technical assistant | Mario Cecchi Ferruccio Cerasaro Riccardo Rocchini |
| Fitness coach | Fabio Ripert Claudio Spicciarello |
| Goalkeeper coach | Gianluca Zappalà Adriano Bonaiuti |
| Functional rehab | Andrea Belli |
| Head of match analysis | Filippo Lorenzon |
| Match analyst | Stefano Castellani Giacomo Toninato Salvatore Rustico |
| Fitness data analyst | Marcello Muratore |
| Head of medical staff | Piero Volpi |
| Squad doctor | Claudio Sprenger Alessandro Quaglia Lorenzo Brambilla |
| Physiotherapists coordinator | Marco Dellacasa |
| Physiotherapist | Leonardo Arici Ramon Cavallin Miro Carli Davide Lama |
| Physiotherapist/osteopath | Andrea Veschi |
| Nutritionist | Matteo Pincella |
Club Leaders: Chairmen and Managers
Chairmen history
Here is a list of Inter's chairmen from 1908 until today.
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Managerial history
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Here is a list of Inter's coaches from 1909 until today.
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Club Business: Corporate and Financial Information
FC Internazionale Milano S.p.A. (Inter Milan) used to rely a lot on money from its owner, Massimo Moratti. Over the years, the club has had to raise money in different ways, including getting loans and issuing new shares.
In 2015, Inter and Roma were the only two Italian clubs that faced penalties from UEFA because they didn't follow the UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations. These rules help make sure clubs spend responsibly. To avoid more penalties, Inter agreed to balance its finances over three years.
In February 2020, Inter Milan took legal action against Major League Soccer (MLS), saying that the name "Inter" is strongly linked to their club and should not be used by others.
On May 22, 2024, an American investment company called Oaktree Capital Management took ownership of Inter Milan. This happened because the previous owner, Suning Holdings Group, a Chinese company, could not repay a large loan they had taken out in 2021 to help cover losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Oaktree had given Suning the loan using Suning's ownership stake in the club as security. When Suning couldn't repay the loan, Oaktree had the right to take control of the club. As a result, Giuseppe Marotta, who was already the CEO for sport, was appointed as the club's new chairman.
Team Gear: Kit Suppliers and Shirt Sponsors
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor (chest) | Shirt sponsor (back) | Shirt sponsor (sleeve) |
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| 1979–1981 | Puma | None | None | None |
| 1981–1982 | Inno-Hit | |||
| 1982–1986 | Mecsport | Misura | ||
| 1986–1988 | Le Coq Sportif | |||
| 1988–1991 | Uhlsport | |||
| 1991–1992 | Umbro | FitGar | ||
| 1992–1995 | Cesare Fiorucci | |||
| 1995–1998 | Pirelli | |||
| 1998–2015 | Nike | |||
| 2015–2016 | Pirelli (Home) / Driver (Away) | |||
| 2016–2021 | Pirelli | Driver | ||
| 2021–2022 | $INTER Fan Token | Lenovo | DigitalBits | |
| 2022–2023 | DigitalBits (Matchday 1-32) / Paramount+ (Matchday 38 & UEFA Champions League Final) | eBay | ||
| 2023–2024 | Paramount+ | U-Power | ||
| 2024– | Betsson.sport | Gate.io |
See also
In Spanish: Inter de Milán para niños
- Dynasties in Italian football
- European Club Association
