AC Milan
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| Full name | Associazione Calcio Milan SpA | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Rossoneri (Red-Blacks) il Diavolo (The Devil) | ||
| Founded | December 16, 1899 | ||
| Ground | San Siro, Milan | ||
| Capacity | 85,700 | ||
| Chairman |  Silvio Berlusconi | ||
| Head Coach | Carlo Ancelotti | ||
| League | Serie A | ||
| 2006-07 | Serie A, 4th | ||
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Associazione Calcio Milan is an Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy. One of the most successful clubs in the world, A.C. Milan has won the prestigious UEFA Champions League/European Cup seven times, the World Club crown (Intercontinental Cup) 3 times, the European Super Cup 5 times and the Cup Winners Cup twice. In total they have won 14 European trophies (a record) and 17 international titles overall as of winning the UEFA Super Cup on 31 August 2007, making it the equal most successful international club with Boca Juniors of Argentina. Milan also boasts domestic successes winning the Serie A title 17 times (only rivals Juventus F.C. have more Scudetti), the Coppa Italia (Italian Cup) five times and the Italian Super Cup a record five times. It is one of the most supported football clubs in the world, and along with Juventus and Inter are one of the most popular teams in Italy. They play in red and black stripes, giving them the nickname Rossoneri ("red-blacks"). The team is known colloquially as Milan, and are sometimes referred to as il Diavolo (the devil).
The club was founded as a cricket club in 1899 by British expatriates Alfred Edwards and Herbert Kilpin. In honour of its origins, the club has retained the English spelling of its city's name, instead of changing it to the Italian Milano (though it was forced to do it during the fascist regime, like Genoa and Inter); it should be noted that the Italian pronunciation is actually MEE-lahn, even though the English one is the same as in the local dialect and many other dialects of Northern Italy.
Historically, AC Milan was supported by the city's working class and trade unionists many of whom were migrants from the South of Italy. Inter, the other big club from the city was mainly supported by the more prosperous and typically Milanese middle-class. However, in recent years, the clubs have seen a notable reversal in their political positions, since Milan is now owned by media magnate and past conservative Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi, while Inter is now owned by a centre-left oil businessperson, Massimo Moratti. However, AC Milan's fans still tend to be mainly left-wing as opposed to Inter Milan fans who always have been traditionally right-wing. In 1980 Milan were involved in the Totonero scandal and were relegated to Serie B as punishment. The scandal was centred on a betting syndicate paying players and officials to fix the outcome of matches. Milan were allegedly involved in the 2006 Serie A scandal where five teams were accused of fixing matches by selecting favourable referees. Milan were punished with a 15 point deduction, which was later reduced to 8 points on appeal.
History
Colours and badge
AC Milan's official colours have been red and black since its foundation. These colours were chosen to represent the fiery ardour that is part of the team members and the opponents' fear to challenge the team. The badge represents the club colours and the flag of the Comune di Milano (Municipality of Milan), with the acronym ACM at the top and the foundation year (1899) at the bottom.
The home jersey is red and black vertical striped, with white shorts and black socks. The away strip has always been completely white. The latter is considered by both the fans and the club as their "lucky" strip in Champions League finals, due to the fact that Milan won six finals out of eight in an all white strip (losing only to Ajax in 1995 and Liverpool in 2005), while they only won one out of three in their home strip. The third kit changes yearly and is black with red trim for the current season, but it is rarely used. The Goalkeeper kit is bright yellow shirt, black shorts and black socks.
The Austrian on-line betting company bwin.com are currently Milan's main jersey sponsors after signing a 4 year deal at the start of the 2006/2007 season. [1] Previous to this deal, the German car manufacturer, Opel had sponsored Milan for 12 seasons. For most of them, Opel was displayed on the front of the jersey, but in the 2003-04 and the 2005-06 seasons respectively, Meriva and Zafira (two cars from their range) were displayed.
The current jerseys are supplied by German sportswear manufacturer Adidas, whose deal runs to the end of the 2007/2008 season. [2] The deal makes Adidas the official manufacturer of all kits, training equipment and replica outfits. Prior to Adidas, the Italian sports company, Lotto produced Milan's sportswear.
Stadium
The team's current stadium is the 85,700 seat San Siro, officially known as Stadio Giuseppe Meazza after the former player who represented both Milan and Internazionale. The name San Siro is taken from the district where it's located. The stadium is shared with Inter, the other major football club in Milan. The stadium is well known for its fantastic atmosphere due to the closeness of the stands to the pitch. There is the frequent use of flares by the fans which often cause trouble.
On 19 December 2005, AC Milan vice-president and executive director Adriano Galliani announced that the team is seriously working to move out from San Siro. He said that Milan's new stadium will be largely based on the Veltins-Arena and following the standards of football stadiums in the United States, Germany and Spain. It will likely be a stadium for football purposes only (with no athletics track). The new stadium is supposed to be named after a sponsor. [3] It remains to see if this plan will proceed or if this is just a ploy to force the owners (Comune di Milano) to sell the stadium to Milan for a nominal fee so as to proceed with extensive renovations. Rumours have also surfaced of Inter's intention to also build a new stadium which may also affect this decision.[4]
Milanello
Milan’s training ground, Milanello, is located just outside the city of Milan, in the village of Varese (approx. 50 kilometres). It was built over two years between 1961 to 1963, and has been serving as the club's training center since then.
Silvio Berlusconi took over AC Milan in 1986, and that saw him reorganise and renew Milanello to meet the standards of professional football in the 80's. However, Milanello never stopped evolving, and to this day it is considered amongst the most hi-tech and efficient training grounds throughout the football world.
The facility holds 46 rooms with space for 56 beds; President Silvio Berlusconi even has his own quarters. 14 permanent staff members are employed.
Milan Derby
Twice every season the Milan Derby or the Derby della Madonnina as it is known in Italian is played between Milan and Inter. These are regarded as two of the most important derbies in football, and are always highly anticipated events in the Italian sports calendar. Occasionally there have also been derbies in the Champions League, Coppa Italia, Super Coppa Italiana and the Birra Moretti Trophy. Currently, Milan lead Inter with 104 wins to 89 in total respectively. However Inter has a better record in Serie A with 59 wins to Milan's 56. The match usually creates a lively atmosphere within the San Siro with numerous (and often humorous or offensive) banners unfolded before the match which are specifically made each year for the match. The use of flares by the clubs ultras is also a frequent sight. However whilst this derby is usually played in a reasonably friendly atmosphere, it has also had more than its share of controversy, most notably the Champions League quarter final of 2004/2005 which was abandoned after Milan keeper Dida was struck on the head by a flare thrown from the Inter supporters section. [5]
Current Squad
First team
As of 20:14, September 2 2007 (UTC). [6] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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- Technical staff [7]
- Carlo Ancelotti – Head Coach
- Mauro Tassotti, Alessandro Costacurta – Assistant Coaches
- Villiam Vecchi, Beniamino Abate – Goalkeeping Coaches
- Daniele Tognaccini, Giovanni Mauri – Strength Conditioning
- Silvano Ramaccioni – Team Manager
- Armando Gozzini – Medical Director
- Jean Pierre Meersseman – Medical Coordinator
- Massimiliano Sala – Club Doctor
- Giorgio Puricelli, Tomislav Vrbnjak, Sebastiano Genovese – Physiotherapists
- Marco Paesanti, Cristiano Parolini, Roberto Morosi – Massophysiotherapists
- William Tillson – Athletic Trainer
- Roberto Boerci, Endo Tomoroni – Masseurs
Players out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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For recent transfers, see List of Italian football transfers 2007-08.
Retired numbers
3 – Paolo Maldini, left full-back and later centre-back (1985-present) might be restored for either of Maldini's sons [8]
6 – Franco Baresi, sweeper (1977-1997)
Primavera team (Under-20)
As of 17:00, August 31 2007 (UTC). [9] Jersey numbers refer to the Champions Youth Cup [10] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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- Technical staff
- Filippo Galli – Head Coach
- Andrea Maldera, Angelo Castellazzi – Assistant Coaches
- Sebastiano Rossi – Goalkeeping Coach
Honours
Milan is one of the most successful clubs in the world, having won a total of 27 trophies in Italy and 17 in international competitions, including a record 14 European trophies. Milan have earned the distinction of being allowed to wear a star on their jersey representing the fact that they have won more than 10 Scudetti. Added to this Milan are allowed to wear the UEFA Badge of Honour on their jersey during Champions League matches as they have won more than 5 European Cups.[12]
Domestic titles
- Serie A (Italian League Championship)
- Serie B (Italian Second Division)
- Winners (2): 1980-81, 1982-83
- Coppa Italia (Italian Cup)
- Super Coppa di Lega (Italian Super Cup)
- Winners (5): 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2005
- Runners-up (3): 1996, 1999, 2003
European titles
- UEFA Champions League (former European Cup)
- Mitropa Cup
- Winners (1): 1981-82
- Latin Cup (unofficial)
- Winners (2): 1950-51, 1955-56
- Runners-up (1): 1952-53
World-wide titles
- FIFA Club World Cup (former Intercontinental Cup)
- Winners (3): 1969, 1989, 1990
- Runners-up (4): 1963, 1993, 1994, 2003
Records and statistics
Paolo Maldini presently holds both records for number of total and Serie A appearances for Milan with a total of 837 games played in total, and 600 in the Serie A (as of May 14, 2007, not including playoff matches), the latter being also an all-time Serie A record. Paolo had been quoted that he wants to go on playing for Milan until he reaches his 1000th game[13], however this is highly unlikely to be possible as he is expected to retire in 2008[14].
Milan's all time top goalscorer is the Swede, Gunnar Nordahl who in 268 games managed to score 221 goals.[15] Andriy Shevchenko comes in, in second place with 173 goals in 298 games for the club. The highest scoring present squad member is Filippo Inzaghi who has scored 86 goals in 170 games.
Milan hold the unique record of having gone a whole season without losing a game during the 1991/1992 season. In total that unbeaten streak lasted 58 games, starting with a 0-0 draw with Parma on 26 May 1991 and ironically ending with a 1-0 loss at home to Parma on 21 March 1993. This unbeaten streak is a Serie A record and is the 3rd longest unbeaten run in top flight European football behind Steaua Bucharest record of 104 games unbeaten and Glasgow Celtic who went 68 games unbeaten.[16][17]
Milan are presently rated as the number one team in Europe in line with UEFA Co-Efficient ranking system. This allows Milan to be in the number one pot for all European draws, being first seeds which allows Milan to avoid other highly rated European teams in UEFA competitions.[18]
Coaches
- For a list of Milan coaches please see Milan Coaches
Successful coaches in Milan's history include Gipo Viani, Nereo Rocco, Nils Liedholm, Arrigo Sacchi, Fabio Capello and Carlo Ancelotti.
Under Nereo Rocco, Milan won several Scudetti along with two European Cups and a Cup Winners' Cup in 1968.
Silvio Berlusconi's purchase of the club in 1986 heralded a new period in the clubs history with Arrigo Sacchi being appointed Head Coach in 1987. The new Head Coach was an exponent of zonal marking, total football, along with pressure and speed on opponents when they had possession. The team would enter a new and exciting era that would transform the game not only in Italy but throughout the world. In his first season in charge Sacchi led Milan to the 1987/88 Serie A title. During the following two seasons Sacchi's Milan won back to back European Cups with a team considered to have been one of the greatest teams in football history, fielding players such as Baresi, Maldini, Rijkaard, Donadoni, Gullit & van Basten.
In the 1988/89 season, Milan ruled Europe, lifting the Champions Cup after knocking out Vitocha, Red Star Belgrade, Werder Breman and then Real Madrid in the semi-finals to reach the final against Steaua Bucarest. Over 100,000 spectators filled Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium to watch Milan run out 4-0 winners. With Sacchi in charge, the team won a league title, two Champions Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, two European Super Cups and one Italian League Super Cup. As much success with Milan as Sacchi had, a row involving him and Dutch striker, Marco Van Basten was to bring a quick end to his Milan career. Berlusconi decided that either Sacchi or Van Basten had to leave the club and in the end it was Sacchi who was fired.
With the end of the Sacchi era, Fabio Capello was installed as head coach in 1991. This was a golden period for AC Milan as Capello led his side (nicknamed the invincibles or immortals) to four Scudetti in five years, the highlight being an unbeaten season in 1991/1992. Capello also guided Milan to three straight appearances in the finals of the Champions League, including an incredible win over F.C. Barcelona in 1993-94. With key defenders Alessandro Costacurta and Franco Baresi suspended, Milan entered the match as underdogs against a fancied Barcelona side under the management of Johan Cruyff. In the most one sided final ever Dejan Savicevic ran riot as Milan eased to a 4-0 win, earning their fifth European Cup which entitled them to keep the trophy permanently.
Carlo Ancelotti is the current coach of AC Milan. He was a key midfielder in Arrigo Sacchi's all conquoring Milan side of the late 1980's. Ancelotti was appointed head coach at Milan in 2001. His arrival at the club heralded an upturn in results. Under Ancelotti's leadership, Milan won Serie A in 2003/2004 and have reached the champions league final three times in five years winning the Champions League in 2002/2003 and the clubs seventh Champions League victory in 2006/2007. Carlo Ancelotti generally prefers to play with either a 4-3-1-2 or a 4-3-2-1 formation. Ancelotti's current side are the reigning European Champions and can boast world superstars in their line up such as the captain Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Andrea Pirlo, Kaka and Ronaldo.
Notable former players
See also Category:A.C. Milan players
Presidents history
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See also
- 2006 Serie A scandal
- Richest football clubs
- Football in Italy
- European Cup and Champions League records and statistics
- UEFA Champions League finals
- List of AC Milan players
Notes
- ^ http://www.casinocitytimes.com/news/article.cfm?contentId=157894
- ^ http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/129666/adidas-sign-ac-milan-and-real-madrid
- ^ http://english.people.com.cn/200510/07/eng20051007_212984.html
- ^ http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=170378
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/4432047.stm
- ^ "Squad". AC Milan. Retrieved 2007-07-30.
- ^ "Staff". AC Milan. Retrieved 2007-08-24.
- ^ "Maldini shirt waits for 3G". Channel 4. 2007-05-26. Retrieved 2007-05-26.
- ^ http://www.acmilan.com/infoPage.aspx?id=44555
- ^ http://www.thechampionsyouthcup.com/clubs/profile.asp?ID=1
- ^ http://www.acmilan.com/InfoPage.aspx?id=14296
- ^ http://worldsoccer.about.com/od/clubfootball/tp/badgeofhonour.htm
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/4280590.stm
- ^ http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SPORT/football/05/16/italy.maldini/
- ^ http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/milan.html
- ^ http://www.fortunecity.com/olympia/wagner/321/historiami.htm
- ^ http://212.58.226.50/sport2/hi/football/africa/4391088.stm
- ^ http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/data/method3/trank2007.html
External links
- Official website
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