Associazione Calcio Milan, widely known as AC Milan or Milan, is a professional football club in Milan, Italy. Established in 1899, the club has consistently competed in Serie A, Italy's highest football division, throughout its history, except for two seasons (1980-81 and 1982-83).
A list detailing all of AC Milan's managers from 1900 to the present day exists.
AC Milan won its first Italian championship in 1901, breaking Genoa's three-year winning streak.
AC Milan won its first Serie A title in 1901, marking the beginning of their journey to becoming one of Italy's most successful clubs.
In 1903, AC Milan relocated to the Acquabella pitch, a step up from the Trotter pitch with its raised section for spectators.
AC Milan left the Acquabella pitch in 1905.
AC Milan secured their second Italian championship title in 1906.
Continuing their winning streak, AC Milan claimed their third Italian championship in 1907.
Disagreements within AC Milan regarding the inclusion of foreign players led to a split within the club. This ultimately resulted in the formation of another Milan-based team, F.C. Internazionale, in 1908.
The first Derby della Madonnina, the clash between AC Milan and Inter Milan, took place in 1908 at the Chiasso Cup final. AC Milan won 2-1.
AC Milan achieved their largest victory in the 1914-15 season, defeating Audax Modena with a resounding 13-0 scoreline in a league match.
AC Milan moved to the Porta Monforte pitch in 1914, enjoying amenities like a ticket office and wooden stands, until 1914.
AC Milan won the Coppa Federale in 1915, a tournament held during World War I.
AC Milan won the Coppa Mauro in 1917, another tournament held during World War I.
In 1920, AC Milan moved to the Viale Lombardia stadium, a modern facility with a large main stand that even hosted Italian national team games.
AC Milan suffered their heaviest defeat during the 1922-23 season, losing 8-0 to Bologna, highlighting the unpredictable nature of football.
September 1926 saw the first games played at the San Siro Stadium. AC Milan lost 6-3 to Inter Milan in a friendly match, and then lost again 1-2 to Sampierdarenese in their first league game.
AC Milan moved to the San Siro Stadium in 1926, a stadium funded by then-president Piero Pirelli and built in 13 and a half months.
AC Milan played their last game at the Viale Lombardia stadium in 1926.
AC Milan moved into the San Siro stadium in 1926. The stadium was built by the club's second chairman, Piero Pirelli.
In 1935, AC Milan sold the San Siro Stadium to the city.
The rivalry between AC Milan and Inter Milan was at its peak in the 1960s, with both teams dominating domestically and internationally.
Inter Milan became a joint tenant of the San Siro Stadium with AC Milan in 1947.
Starting in 1947, AC Milan began sharing the San Siro stadium with their rivals, Inter Milan. This sharing arrangement continues to this day.
After a period without a major domestic title win, AC Milan returned to the top of Italian football in the 1950s.
Swedish forward Gunnar Nordahl had a historic season for AC Milan in 1950-51, scoring 38 goals, including 35 in Serie A. This feat set both a club and Italian football record.
The year 1951 marked a successful period for AC Milan as they secured both the Scudetto and the Latin Cup.
In 1953, the film "Sunday Heroes," centered around a fictional football match between AC Milan and a struggling club, was released. The film featured appearances by several Milan players and coach Lajos Czeizler.
AC Milan won the Scudetto and also participated in the inaugural European Cup during the 1955-1956 season.
AC Milan emerged victorious in the Latin Cup in 1956.
AC Milan won the Scudetto in 1957.
AC Milan secured the Scudetto title in 1959.
The legendary Gianni Rivera made his debut for AC Milan in 1960, marking the beginning of a long and successful career with the club.
Nereo Rocco took over as the new coach of AC Milan in 1961 and immediately led the team to a Scudetto victory in the 1961-1962 season.
In 1963, journalist Gino Sansoni founded Forza Milan!, the official magazine of AC Milan, which went on to become a popular source of news and information for the club's fans.
AC Milan added the Coppa Italia to their trophy cabinet for the first time in 1967, beating Padova in the final.
AC Milan achieved European success in 1969 by winning their second European Cup, defeating Ajax in the final. They followed this up by securing the Intercontinental Cup title in the same year.
AC Milan finished as runners-up in Serie A in 1971.
The early 1970s marked a tough period in the AC Milan and Juventus rivalry, with Milan narrowly losing the Serie A title to Juventus by a single point in 1971.
AC Milan lifted the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1972.
AC Milan once again finished second in Serie A in 1972.
The 1972 season saw AC Milan once again lose the Serie A title to Juventus by a single point, intensifying their rivalry.
For the third consecutive year, AC Milan ended the Serie A season as runners-up in 1973.
Although AC Milan holds the record for the longest unbeaten run in Serie A, Perugia achieved a notable feat in the 1978-79 season by going unbeaten throughout the entire campaign.
AC Milan celebrated a significant milestone in 1979 by winning their tenth Serie A title, earning the right to display a Scudetto star on their jerseys. This year also marked the retirement of Gianni Rivera and the debut of Franco Baresi.
In 1979, AC Milan was honored with the Golden Star for Sport Excellence, a symbol displayed on their logo, commemorating their achievement of winning 10 league titles in Italian football.
The 1985-86 season saw AC Milan revert to thin stripes on their jerseys. Prior to this, between 1980 and 1982, the stripes had been a medium size. Notably, AC Milan introduced player surnames above jersey numbers during 1979-80 and 1980-81, a first in Italian football.
In 1980, AC Milan was implicated in the Totonero scandal, a match-fixing scheme. As punishment, the club was relegated to Serie B for the first time in its history.
The 1985-86 season saw AC Milan revert to thin stripes on their jerseys. Prior to this, between 1980 and 1982, the stripes had been a medium size. Notably, AC Milan introduced player surnames above jersey numbers during 1979-80 and 1980-81, a first in Italian football.
After being relegated, AC Milan bounced back immediately by winning the Serie B title in the 1980-1981 season and earning promotion back to Serie A.
In 1981, Genoa narrowly avoided relegation from Serie A, a result that sent AC Milan to their second Serie B season. This event further fueled the rivalry between the two clubs.
The 1985-86 season saw AC Milan revert to thin stripes on their jerseys. Prior to this, between 1980 and 1982, the stripes had been a medium size. Notably, AC Milan introduced player surnames above jersey numbers during 1979-80 and 1980-81, a first in Italian football.
Following another relegation, AC Milan secured their second Serie B title in three seasons in 1983, allowing them to return to Serie A.
The 1985-86 season saw AC Milan revert to thin stripes on their jerseys. Prior to this, between 1980 and 1982, the stripes had been a medium size. Notably, AC Milan introduced player surnames above jersey numbers during 1979-80 and 1980-81, a first in Italian football.
In a pivotal moment for AC Milan, entrepreneur Silvio Berlusconi purchased the club in February 1986, saving it from financial ruin and ushering in a new era of success.
Silvio Berlusconi, then Italian Prime Minister, purchased AC Milan in 1986, marking the start of his lengthy tenure as the club's president.
In 1986, to make the team more visibly "red and black" on television, Silvio Berlusconi, AC Milan's new owner, changed the team's kit. The stripes were made wider, and the sock color changed to white, matching the shorts, for a more elegant look.
Under the leadership of Arrigo Sacchi and with a team bolstered by Dutch stars Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten, and Frank Rijkaard, AC Milan ended their nine-year wait for a Scudetto title in the 1987-1988 season.
1988 marked the debut of the "AC Milan Anthem – Milan Milan," composed by Tony Renis and Massimo Guantini.
AC Milan returned to the pinnacle of European football in 1988, winning the European Cup after a two-decade wait by defeating Steaua București in the final.
The "Immortals" era continued as AC Milan defended their European Cup title in 1990, defeating Benfica in the final. They became the last team to achieve this feat until Real Madrid in 2017.
The San Siro Stadium underwent major renovations in 1990 in preparation for the FIFA World Cup, increasing capacity to 85,700 and adding a polycarbonate roof.
AC Milan embarked on a remarkable unbeaten run in Serie A, starting with a 0-0 draw against Parma on May 26, 1991.
Following Arrigo Sacchi's departure, former AC Milan player Fabio Capello was appointed as the new manager in 1991.
The year 1992 marked the beginning of a highly successful period for AC Milan under Fabio Capello, as they began a run of three consecutive Serie A titles.
AC Milan's impressive unbeaten streak in Serie A came to an end on March 21, 1993, after a 1-0 loss to Parma, concluding a run of 58 games without a defeat.
AC Milan reached the Champions League final in 1993 but lost to Marseille.
AC Milan's fifth European Cup win in 1994 earned them the right to permanently keep the trophy. They were also granted the privilege of displaying a multiple-winner badge on their shirt.
AC Milan, known as "the Invincibles" during this period, achieved a memorable 4-0 victory over Barcelona in the 1994 Champions League final, one of the club's most iconic matches. This era also included a remarkable 58-match unbeaten streak in Serie A.
AC Milan made another appearance in the Champions League final in 1995.
In 1995, AC Milan lost the Champions League final to Ajax while wearing their white away kit.
The AC Milan and Genoa rivalry took a tragic turn in 1995 when a Genoa fan, Vincenzo Spagnolo, was stabbed to death by a Milan supporter, highlighting the dark side of football rivalries.
The year 1995 marked the permanent inclusion of AC Milan's club badge on their match kits, solidifying its visual identity and presence in the realm of Italian football.
AC Milan secured the Serie A title in the 1995-1996 season, which was followed by Fabio Capello's departure to manage Real Madrid.
Starting in 1998, AC Milan began modifying their kits yearly, moving away from the consistent design established by Berlusconi in 1986.
AC Milan experienced a period of decline for two years after a period of significant success.
On December 16, 1999, AC Milan launched Milan Channel, a subscription-based television channel dedicated to the club, marking a significant step in the club's media presence.
Carlo Ancelotti, another former AC Milan player, began his managerial tenure at the club in November 2001.
In 2001, Real Madrid bought Zinedine Zidane for €77.5 million, setting a new transfer record at that time.
For a period of 12 seasons, German car manufacturer Opel sponsored AC Milan, with variations in shirt branding throughout the years.
In 2003, AC Milan and Juventus faced each other in the UEFA Champions League final, the first all-Italian final in the competition's history. Milan emerged victorious after a penalty shootout.
This entry marks the year (2003-04 season) when AC Milan had last won the Serie A title before their triumph in the 2010-11 season.
Under Carlo Ancelotti's guidance, AC Milan defeated Juventus in an all-Italian Champions League final in 2003 to claim their sixth European Cup. They also secured the Serie A title in the 2003-2004 season.
The 2004-05 season marked the start of a controversial period in Italian football, with AC Milan and Juventus battling for the Serie A title. Juventus's victory was later revoked due to the Calciopoli scandal.
A flare thrown from the crowd during the 2004-05 Champions League quarter-final match between AC Milan and Inter Milan caused the game to be abandoned.
Silvio Berlusconi's time as AC Milan's president saw a two-year vacancy starting in 2004, interrupting his long reign.
In April 2005, the Champions League quarter-final match between AC Milan and Inter Milan was abandoned after an Inter supporter threw a flare that hit AC Milan goalkeeper Dida.
Adriano Galliani, AC Milan's vice-president and executive director, announced in December 2005 that the club was seriously considering a move from the San Siro.
AC Milan lost the Champions League final to Liverpool in 2005 while wearing their all-white away strip. This was one of the few times they lost a Champions League final while wearing this kit.
AC Milan reached the Champions League final in 2005 but suffered a heartbreaking defeat against Liverpool on penalties after leading 3-0 at half-time.
During Opel's sponsorship of AC Milan, there were periods where car models, like the "Meriva" and "Zafira," were displayed on the team's shirts instead of the company name.
In the 2005-2006 season, AC Milan was the fifth highest-earning football club globally, with estimated revenue of €233.7 million, according to The Football Money League.
The 2005-06 season saw the continuation of the controversy from the previous year, with Juventus's Serie A title again being revoked due to the Calciopoli scandal.
Silvio Berlusconi returned to his role as AC Milan's president in 2006 after a two-year vacancy, resuming his long tenure.
Financial information regarding AC Milan's re-capitalization from 2006 to 2017 is available.
In 2006, AC Milan was embroiled in the Calciopoli scandal, facing accusations of match-fixing. While investigations cleared Milan's management of involvement, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) penalized the club with a points deduction and a ban from the Champions League, later reduced on appeal.
AC Milan exacted revenge on Liverpool by defeating them in the 2007 Champions League final to lift the trophy for a seventh time. Later that year, in December 2007, they added the FIFA Club World Cup to their collection.
By 2007, AC Milan, alongside Boca Juniors, held the record for the most FIFA-recognized international club titles, further solidifying their place among the world's elite clubs.
In 2007, AC Milan achieved an unprecedented treble, winning the Champions League, Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup, cementing their status as a global football powerhouse.
From 2008 to 2010, AC Milan participated in the Superleague Formula racing competition. In 2008, their supported team, Scuderia Playteam, finished third overall.
In 2008, the San Siro Stadium's capacity was reduced to 80,018 to comply with UEFA standards.
As of May 31, 2009, Paolo Maldini held the records for both total appearances (902) and Serie A appearances (647) for AC Milan. His Serie A record remains unbroken.
AC Milan continued their participation in the Superleague Formula racing competition, supporting Azerti Motorsport in 2009.
After becoming the second longest-serving manager in AC Milan's history, Carlo Ancelotti left the club in 2009 to pursue a new challenge as the manager of Chelsea.
In 2009, Real Madrid signed Kaka from AC Milan for €67 million, breaking the transfer record previously held by Zinedine Zidane.
A 2010 study found AC Milan to be the most supported Italian football team in Europe and the seventh most popular overall, with over 18.4 million fans.
After a period of dominance by rivals Internazionale, AC Milan, bolstered by a formidable squad including players like Ibrahimović, Robinho, and Pato, won the Serie A title in the 2010-11 season, marking their first Scudetto since 2003-04.
After three seasons, AC Milan's participation in the Superleague Formula racing competition ended in 2010.
Starting in the 2010-2011 season, Emirates became AC Milan's main shirt sponsor, a deal that extended through the 2019-2020 season.
This entry highlights the 2010-11 Serie A season, the last time AC Milan won the league title before their triumph in the 2021-22 season.
This entry marks AC Milan's second-place finish in the 2011-12 Serie A season, which, until the 2020-21 season, was their highest league position since their last title win.
This entry notes AC Milan's last appearance in the UEFA Champions League, which occurred in the 2013-14 season, prior to their qualification for the 2021-22 edition.
By the 2013-2014 season, AC Milan had dropped to twelfth in The Football Money League for revenue.
In December 2014, Barbara Berlusconi proposed building a 42,000-seat stadium in the Portello district of Milan.
In 2014, Forbes magazine ranked AC Milan as the eighth wealthiest football club globally and the wealthiest in Italian football.
This entry highlights AC Milan's breaches of Financial Fair Play regulations between 2014 and 2017, which led to their exclusion from the 2019-20 UEFA Europa League.
Al Ahly SC from Egypt surpassed AC Milan and Boca Juniors' record for the most FIFA-recognized international club titles after their victory in the 2014 CAF Confederation Cup.
Silvio Berlusconi, in September 2015, canceled AC Milan's plans to build a new stadium.
Due to financial losses, AC Milan faced a ban from European competitions for breaching UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations.
This entry highlights AC Milan's breaches of Financial Fair Play regulations between 2015 and 2018, which led to their exclusion from the 2019-20 UEFA Europa League.
In July 2016, Milan Channel underwent a rebranding, changing its name to Milan TV and updating its graphics and logo to reflect a more modern image.
In August 2016, a preliminary agreement was reached to sell a majority stake in AC Milan to Sino-Europe Sports Investment Management Changxing Co., marking a shift in the club's ownership.
AC Milan's financial struggles continued, leading to an extended ban from European Competitions.
Following their 18th Scudetto, AC Milan experienced a decline. During this period, their sole trophy was the 2016 Supercoppa Italiana, secured under coach Vincenzo Montella after defeating Juventus in a penalty shootout.
In April 2017, AC Milan was acquired by Rossoneri Sport Investment Luxembourg, with Li Yonghong becoming the new chairman. After defaulting on a loan, the ownership later transitioned to Elliott Management Corporation.
The sale of AC Milan to Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux, backed by Chinese investor Li Yonghong, was finalized in April 2017, concluding a period of uncertainty for the club.
AC Milan's financial troubles persisted, resulting in an ongoing ban from European competitions in June 2017.
In October 2017, AC Milan announced an early termination of their sponsorship deal with Adidas, effective June 2018.
In November 2017, Vincenzo Montella was dismissed as AC Milan's coach due to unsatisfactory results, paving the way for former player Gennaro Gattuso to take charge.
This entry highlights AC Milan's breaches of Financial Fair Play regulations between 2014 and 2017, which led to their exclusion from the 2019-20 UEFA Europa League.
In 2017, AC Milan's CEO, Marco Fassone, stated that the club might stay at the San Siro or relocate to a new stadium in order to accommodate a larger average attendance.
Financial information regarding AC Milan's re-capitalization from 2006 to 2017 is available.
Real Madrid equaled AC Milan's record of back-to-back European Cup victories in 2017, a feat that had not been accomplished since Milan's 1989 and 1990 triumphs.
AC Milan's sponsorship deal with Adidas officially ended in June 2018.
Forza Milan!, the official magazine of AC Milan, published its last issue in June 2018, marking the end of its over half-century run.
After successfully appealing a UEFA ban from European competition for Financial Fair Play violations, AC Milan's standing was restored in July 2018.
Due to Li Yonghong's failure to meet loan repayment obligations, Elliott Management Corporation, an American hedge fund, assumed control of AC Milan in July 2018, highlighting the financial challenges faced by the club.
This entry highlights AC Milan's breaches of Financial Fair Play regulations between 2015 and 2018, which led to their exclusion from the 2019-20 UEFA Europa League.
Despite a strong season under Gattuso, AC Milan narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification, prompting Gattuso's resignation. Marco Giampaolo was subsequently appointed as manager in June 2019.
Emirates' sponsorship of AC Milan concluded after the 2019-2020 season.
In the 2019–20 season, AC Milan had the 13th highest average attendance among European football clubs.
After a string of losses, Marco Giampaolo was dismissed as AC Milan's manager in 2020, leading to the appointment of Stefano Pioli as his replacement. This period also saw the COVID-19 outbreak significantly impacting the Serie A season.
AC Milan successfully appealed the European competition ban, allowing them to participate again after achieving break-even by June 2021.
AC Milan secured their 19th Serie A title in the 2021-22 season, achieving a club-record 86 points. This victory marked their first league title in 11 years, signifying a resurgence under Pioli.
Under Stefano Pioli, AC Milan achieved a second-place finish in the 2020-21 Serie A season, their best result since 2011-12, earning them a long-awaited return to the UEFA Champions League.
In June 2022, RedBird Capital Partners reached an agreement to acquire AC Milan for $1.3 billion, with Elliott Management Corporation retaining a minority stake. This marked a significant change in the club's ownership structure.
AC Milan clinched their most recent Serie A title in 2022, further solidifying their status as a dominant force in Italian football.
In September 2023, AC Milan's chairman, Paolo Scaroni, announced a proposal to build a new 70,000-seat stadium, club headquarters, and museum in the San Donato Milanese suburb.
AC Milan's sponsorship deal with Adidas was initially set to run until 2023.