History of AC Milan in Timeline
AC Milan, a professional football club based in Milan, Italy, was founded in 1899 and competes in Serie A. Initially, the club played in various grounds around the city before settling into the San Siro stadium in 1926. Built by Milan's second chairman, Piero Pirelli, the San Siro is the largest stadium in Italian football, with a capacity of 75,817, and is shared with Inter Milan. The two clubs have a long-standing rivalry and contest the Derby della Madonnina, a prominent derby in football.
1900: Managerial History
Records of AC Milan's managers date back to the club's founding in 1900.
1901: First Italian Championship
AC Milan won its first Italian championship in 1901, breaking Genoa's three-year winning streak.
1901: First Serie A Title
AC Milan won its first Serie A title in 1901.
1903: Move to Acquabella Pitch
In 1903, AC Milan moved to the Acquabella pitch, which had a raised section of ground for spectators.
1905: End of Acquabella Era
In 1905, AC Milan stopped playing at the Acquabella pitch.
1906: Second Championship Title
AC Milan secured their second championship title in 1906.
1907: Third Championship Title
AC Milan continued its early success by winning its third championship in 1907.
1908: Formation of Inter Milan
In 1908, internal disagreements about signing foreign players led to a split within AC Milan, resulting in the formation of F.C. Internazionale.
1908: First Derby della Madonnina
The first Derby della Madonnina, the match between AC Milan and Inter Milan, took place in 1908 during the Chiasso Cup final in Switzerland. AC Milan won 2-1.
1914: Move to Porta Monforte Pitch
AC Milan relocated to the Porta Monforte pitch in 1914, equipped with a ticket office and wooden stands.
1914: Early Matches and Records
In 1914, AC Milan achieved their largest victory, 13-0 against Audax Modena.
1915: Coppa Federale Victory
AC Milan won the Coppa Federale in 1915-16 during World War I.
1917: Coppa Mauro Victory
AC Milan won the Coppa Mauro in 1917-18 during World War I.
1920: Move to Viale Lombardia Stadium
In 1920, AC Milan moved to the Viale Lombardia stadium, a modern venue that also hosted Italian national team games.
1922: Early Matches and Records
AC Milan suffered their worst defeat in 1922, losing 0-8 to Bologna.
September 1926: First Games at San Siro
In September 1926, AC Milan played their first matches at the San Siro stadium, including a friendly against Internazionale and a league game against Sampierdarenese.
1926: End of Viale Lombardia Era
In 1926, AC Milan ceased using the Viale Lombardia stadium as their home ground.
1926: San Siro Stadium Inauguration
In 1926, AC Milan moved into its new home ground, the San Siro stadium, built by the club's second chairman, Piero Pirelli.
1926: Move to San Siro
In 1926, AC Milan moved to the San Siro stadium, their current home ground.
1935: San Siro Sold to City
AC Milan sold the San Siro stadium to the city of Milan in 1935.
1947: Inter Becomes Joint Tenant
In 1947, Internazionale joined AC Milan as a joint tenant of the San Siro stadium.
1947: Sharing San Siro with Inter Milan
Starting in 1947, AC Milan began sharing the San Siro stadium with its cross-city rivals, Inter Milan.
1950: Return to Domestic Success
AC Milan returned to domestic success by winning the Serie A title in the 1950-51 season after a long period without a league title win.
1950: Gunnar Nordahl's Scoring Record
Gunnar Nordahl set a club and Italian football record by scoring 38 goals in the 1950-51 season, 35 of which were in Serie A.
1951: Serie A and Latin Cup Triumph
AC Milan won the Serie A title and the Latin Cup in 1951.
1953: Sunday Heroes Release
The film "Sunday Heroes," featuring AC Milan players and centered around a fictional match, was released in 1953.
1955: Serie A and Latin Cup Triumph
AC Milan again won both the Serie A title and the Latin Cup in 1955.
1956: European Cup Debut
AC Milan became the first Italian club to participate in the European Cup in the 1955-56 season.
1957: Serie A Title Win
AC Milan won the Serie A title in 1957.
1959: Serie A Title Win
AC Milan continued its success in the decade, claiming the Serie A title in 1959.
1960: Gianni Rivera's Debut
Club legend Gianni Rivera made his debut for AC Milan in 1960.
1961: Nereo Rocco's Appointment
Nereo Rocco was appointed as the new coach of AC Milan in 1961.
1963: Forza Milan! Magazine Launch
Forza Milan!, AC Milan's official magazine, was launched in 1963 by Gino Sansoni.
1967: First Coppa Italia Victory
AC Milan won their first Coppa Italia title in 1967, defeating Padova in the final.
1969: European Cup and Intercontinental Cup Triumph
AC Milan won the European Cup and the Intercontinental Cup in 1969.
1971: Second Place Finish in Serie A
AC Milan finished second in Serie A in 1971.
1971: Start of Close Title Races with Juventus
The rivalry between AC Milan and Juventus intensified in 1971, as the two clubs began a period of close title races, with Milan narrowly losing the Scudetto by one point.
1972: Another Close Title Race with Juventus
The close rivalry between AC Milan and Juventus continued in 1972, with AC Milan again narrowly missing the Scudetto by a single point.
1972: European Cup Winners' Cup Victory
AC Milan secured victory in the European Cup Winners' Cup in the 1972-73 season by defeating Leeds United in the final.
1972: Another Second Place Finish
AC Milan again finished second in Serie A in 1972.
1973: Third Consecutive Second Place Finish
For the third year in a row, AC Milan finished second in Serie A in 1973.
1978: Unbeaten Streak
Perugia went unbeaten during the 1978-79 Serie A season but finished second, highlighting AC Milan's 1991-92 unbeaten championship win as even more significant.
1979: Golden Star Awarded
AC Milan was awarded the Golden Star for Sport Excellence in 1979 after winning their 10th league title.
1979: Tenth Serie A Title and Scudetto Star
AC Milan won their tenth Serie A title in 1979, earning the right to display a Scudetto star on their jersey. This year also marked the retirement of Gianni Rivera and the debut of Franco Baresi.
1979: Player Surnames on Jerseys
In the 1979-80 season, AC Milan became the first Italian football club to add player surnames above the numbers on their jerseys.
1980: Return to Middle-Sized Stripes
In 1980, AC Milan briefly returned to using middle-sized stripes on their jerseys.
1980: Totonero Scandal and Relegation
In 1980, AC Milan was involved in the Totonero match-fixing scandal and relegated to Serie B as punishment.
1980: Relegation to Serie B
In 1980, AC Milan was relegated to Serie B for the first time in its history due to its involvement in the Totonero scandal.
1981: Serie B Title and Promotion
AC Milan won the Serie B title in 1980-81 and returned to Serie A.
1981: Genoa's Escape and Milan's Relegation
In 1981, Genoa narrowly avoided relegation, sending AC Milan to their second Serie B season, escalating the rivalry between the clubs.
1982: Second Relegation to Serie B
AC Milan was relegated to Serie B for the second time in 1982 after finishing third-last in Serie A.
1982: End of Middle-Sized Stripes
In 1982, AC Milan ended the use of middle-sized stripes after their brief revival.
1983: Second Serie B Title
AC Milan won the Serie B title again in 1983, securing their return to Serie A.
1985: End of an Era for Thin Stripes
In 1985, AC Milan concluded their period of using thin stripes on their jerseys, a style that had been prevalent since the 1960s.
February 1986: Silvio Berlusconi's Takeover
Entrepreneur Silvio Berlusconi acquired AC Milan in February 1986, saving the club from bankruptcy.
1986: Berlusconi Acquires AC Milan
Silvio Berlusconi purchased AC Milan in 1986, beginning his long tenure as the club's president.
1986: Berlusconi's Influence on Kit Design
With the arrival of Silvio Berlusconi as owner in 1986, AC Milan's jerseys returned to middle-sized stripes and white socks, aiming for a more elegant look and better television visibility.
1987: Serie A Title Win
AC Milan won the Serie A title in the 1987-88 season under Arrigo Sacchi.
1988: European Cup Triumph
AC Milan won the European Cup in 1988 after a 20-year drought.
1988: Debut of AC Milan Anthem
The official AC Milan anthem, "Milan Milan," composed by Tony Renis and Massimo Guantini, debuted in 1988.
1988: Ballon d'Or Domination
In 1988, three AC Milan players (Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, and Frank Rijkaard) were ranked in the top three for the Ballon d'Or, an unprecedented achievement.
1990: The Immortals
The AC Milan team of 1988-1990, nicknamed "The Immortals", was later recognized as one of the greatest club sides in history.
1990: San Siro Renovation for World Cup
The San Siro underwent major renovations in 1990 in preparation for the FIFA World Cup, increasing its capacity and adding a roof.
May 1991: Unbeaten Streak
In May 1991, AC Milan began a record-breaking 58-game unbeaten run in Serie A.
1991: The Invincibles Season
During the 1991-92 season, AC Milan won the Serie A title without losing a single game, earning them the nickname "The Invincibles".
1991: Fabio Capello's Appointment
Fabio Capello replaced Arrigo Sacchi as AC Milan's manager in 1991.
1992: Start of Three Consecutive Serie A Titles
AC Milan began a run of three consecutive Serie A titles under Fabio Capello in 1992.
March 1993: Unbeaten Streak
AC Milan's unbeaten streak ended in March 1993 with a loss to Parma.
1993: Champions League Final Appearance
AC Milan reached the Champions League final in 1993, but lost to Marseille.
1994: Champions League Final Victory against Barcelona
AC Milan achieved a memorable 4-0 victory over Barcelona in the 1994 Champions League final.
1994: Permanent Champions League Trophy
AC Milan won its fifth European Cup/Champions League title in 1994, earning the right to keep the trophy permanently.
1995: Champions League Final Appearance
AC Milan again reached the Champions League final in 1995.
1995: Champions League Final Loss in White
In 1995, AC Milan lost the Champions League final to Ajax while wearing their white away kit.
1995: Club Badge on Match Kits
The club badge started appearing on Milan's match kits in the 1995-96 season.
1995: Tragedy Deepens Rivalry
The rivalry between AC Milan and Genoa intensified in 1995 following the tragic death of Genoa fan Vincenzo Spagnolo, stabbed by a Milan supporter.
1996: Capello's Departure
Fabio Capello left AC Milan to manage Real Madrid in 1996.
1998: 16th Serie A Title
After a period of decline, AC Milan won its 16th Serie A title in 1998-99, the club's centenary season.
1998: Yearly Kit Modifications Begin
Starting in the 1998-99 season, AC Milan began modifying their kit designs annually.
December 1999: Milan Channel Launch
AC Milan launched its official television channel, Milan Channel, in December 1999, marking a milestone as the first Italian thematic channel dedicated to a football team.
November 2001: Carlo Ancelotti Appointed Manager
In November 2001, Carlo Ancelotti, a former player, was appointed as the new manager of AC Milan.
2001: Zidane Transfer
In 2001, Real Madrid bought Zinedine Zidane for a world record transfer fee, which Kaká's transfer would surpass eight years later.
2003: All-Italian Champions League Final
In 2003, AC Milan and Juventus competed in the first all-Italian Champions League final. AC Milan emerged victorious after a penalty shootout.
2003: Champions League Victory
In 2003, AC Milan won their sixth European Cup by defeating Juventus in the Champions League final.
2003: Shirt Sponsorships
In the 2003-04 season, Opel, AC Milan's previous sponsor, displayed "Meriva" on the team's shirts.
2003: Previous Scudetto Win
The previous Scudetto win was during the 2003-04 season.
2004: Calciopoli Scandal Begins
The Calciopoli scandal, which would later strip Juventus of two Serie A titles won during this period, began in 2004 during which they contested the title with Milan.
2004: Dida Flare Incident Buildup
Incidents with flares, not uncommon during the Milan-Inter rivalry, built up in 2004, setting the stage for the infamous Champions League flare incident in April 2005 where Dida was struck.
2004: Berlusconi Presidency Vacancy Start
Silvio Berlusconi's presidency of AC Milan saw a two-year vacancy starting in 2004.
April 2005: Derby della Madonnina Incident
In April 2005, during the Champions League quarter-final between AC Milan and Inter Milan, a flare thrown by an Inter supporter struck Milan goalkeeper Dida, leading to the match's abandonment.
December 2005: Relocation Plans Announced
In December 2005, AC Milan announced plans to relocate to a new stadium.
2005: Champions League Final Loss
AC Milan lost to Liverpool in the 2005 Champions League final on penalties, despite a 3-0 lead at half-time.
2005: Shirt Sponsorships
During the 2005-06 season, Opel displayed "Zafira" on AC Milan's shirts.
2005: Champions League Final Loss in White
In 2005, AC Milan lost the Champions League final to Liverpool while wearing their white away kit.
2005: Financial Performance
In the 2005-06 season, AC Milan was the fifth highest-earning football club globally.
2005: Calciopoli Scandal Impact
The Calciopoli scandal continued to unfold in 2005, ultimately impacting the Serie A titles won by Juventus during their rivalry with Milan.
2006: Berlusconi Presidency Vacancy Ends
The two-year vacancy in Silvio Berlusconi's presidency of AC Milan ended in 2006.
2006: Calciopoli Scandal
In 2006, AC Milan was involved in the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal, initially penalized with a 15-point deduction and a Champions League ban, which was later reduced to an eight-point deduction, allowing them to stay in the competition.
2006: Re-capitalization Figures
Re-capitalization figures for AC Milan were available from 2006.
December 2007: First FIFA Club World Cup Victory
AC Milan won their first FIFA Club World Cup in December 2007.
2007: International Treble and Club World Cup
AC Milan achieved an international treble, winning the Champions League, Super Cup, and their first FIFA Club World Cup in 2007.
2007: International Titles
By 2007, AC Milan, along with Boca Juniors, held the record for the most FIFA-recognized international club titles, with 18.
2008: Superleague Formula Participation
AC Milan participated in the Superleague Formula from 2008, supporting Scuderia Playteam.
2008: San Siro Capacity Reduction
In 2008, the San Siro's capacity was reduced to meet UEFA standards.
May 2009: Paolo Maldini's Appearance Record
As of May 2009, Paolo Maldini held the record for most appearances for AC Milan, with 902 official games and 647 in Serie A.
2009: Kaká Transfer
In 2009, AC Milan sold Kaká to Real Madrid, temporarily breaking the world football transfer record.
2009: Superleague Formula Participation
In 2009, AC Milan supported Azerti Motorsport in the Superleague Formula.
2009: Ancelotti's Departure
In 2009, Carlo Ancelotti left AC Milan to become the manager of Chelsea, after being their second longest-serving manager.
2010: Fanbase Study Results
A 2010 study found AC Milan to be the most supported Italian team in Europe and seventh overall.
2010: Superleague Formula Participation
AC Milan's involvement in the Superleague Formula continued until 2010.
2010: Shirt Sponsorships
Emirates became AC Milan's main shirt sponsor starting in the 2010-11 season.
2010: 18th Scudetto Win
In 2010, with new and old prominent players, AC Milan won their 18th Scudetto title in the 2010-11 season.
2010: Previous Scudetto Win
This was their first league title since the 2010-11 season.
2011: Previous High Finish
Milan's second-place finish in the 2020-21 season was their highest finish since the 2011-12 Serie A season.
2013: Last Champions League Appearance
Milan's last appearance in the Champions League before 2021 was in the 2013-14 season.
2013: Financial Performance
AC Milan's financial ranking dropped to twelfth by the 2013-14 season.
December 2014: Portello Stadium Proposal
In December 2014, a proposal was announced for a new AC Milan stadium in the Portello district.
2014: International Titles
Al Ahly SC surpassed AC Milan's record for international club titles in 2014.
2014: Financial Performance
Despite the drop, AC Milan was ranked the eighth wealthiest football club in the world and the wealthiest in Italy in 2014.
2014: Financial Fair Play Violations
AC Milan's ban from the 2019-20 UEFA Europa League was due to Financial Fair Play violations from 2014-2017 and 2015-2018.
September 2015: New Stadium Plans Cancelled
In September 2015, plans for a new stadium were cancelled.
December 2015: Financial Fair Play Issues
AC Milan's financial struggles in December 2015 contributed to a European competition ban, which was later lifted on appeal.
2015: Financial Fair Play Violations
AC Milan's ban from the 2019-20 UEFA Europa League was due to Financial Fair Play violations from 2014-2017 and 2015-2018.
July 2016: Milan TV Rebranding
Milan Channel was rebranded as Milan TV in July 2016, with updated graphics and logo.
August 2016: Preliminary Sale Agreement
In August 2016, a preliminary agreement was signed with Sino-Europe Sports to sell a majority stake in AC Milan.
December 2016: Financial Fair Play Issues
Financial issues persisted for AC Milan in December 2016, adding to their financial fair play breaches.
2016: Supercoppa Italiana Victory
AC Milan won the 2016 Supercoppa Italiana by defeating Juventus in a penalty shoot-out.
April 2017: Ownership Change
In April 2017, AC Milan's ownership changed hands, with Li Yonghong becoming the new chairman before Elliott Management Corporation took over.
April 2017: Sale Finalized
In April 2017, the sale to Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux was completed.
June 2017: Financial Fair Play Issues
By June 2017, AC Milan's financial situation resulted in their temporary ban from European competitions.
October 2017: Kit Manufacturer Change
In October 2017, AC Milan announced the termination of their deal with Adidas and subsequent switch to Puma.
November 2017: Montella Sacked, Gattuso Appointed
In November 2017, Vincenzo Montella was sacked and replaced by Gennaro Gattuso as manager.
2017: Real Madrid's Back-to-Back Wins
Real Madrid became the first team since AC Milan in 1990 to win back-to-back European Cups in 2017.
2017: Re-capitalization Figures
Re-capitalization figures were tracked for AC Milan until 2017.
2017: Stadium Future Reconsidered
In 2017, AC Milan's CEO stated that the club was considering staying at San Siro or moving to a new stadium, emphasizing the need to increase attendance.
2017: Financial Fair Play Violations
AC Milan's ban from the 2019-20 UEFA Europa League was due to Financial Fair Play violations from 2014-2017 and 2015-2018.
June 2018: End of Forza Milan! Magazine
Forza Milan!, the official magazine of AC Milan, ceased publication in June 2018 after over half a century.
June 2018: Kit Manufacturer Change
The termination of the Adidas deal became effective in June 2018.
July 2018: UEFA Ban Overturned
AC Milan's ban from European competition was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in July 2018.
July 2018: Elliott Management Takes Control
Due to Li Yonghong's loan default, Elliott Management Corporation became the new majority owner of AC Milan in July 2018.
2018: Financial Fair Play Violations
AC Milan's ban from the 2019-20 UEFA Europa League was due to Financial Fair Play violations from 2014-2017 and 2015-2018.
June 2019: Giampaolo Appointed, Europa League Ban
Marco Giampaolo was appointed manager, but Milan was banned from the Europa League in June 2019.
2019: Shirt Sponsorships
The Emirates sponsorship of AC Milan's shirts continued until the 2019-20 season.
2019: Average Attendance Ranking
During the 2019-20 season, AC Milan had the thirteenth highest average attendance among European football clubs.
2020: Pioli's Appointment and Unbeaten Streak
Stefano Pioli was appointed as manager, leading AC Milan on a 10-match unbeaten streak after the restart of the Serie A season in 2020 due to COVID-19.
June 2021: Financial Fair Play Issues
Milan was given until June 2021 to meet the break-even requirements set by UEFA following financial issues.
2021: Second-Place Finish and Champions League Qualification
In 2021, AC Milan finished second in Serie A and qualified for the Champions League for the first time in seven years.
2021: 19th Scudetto and Serie A Awards
Milan won their 19th Scudetto in the 2021-22 season, with Rafael Leão, Mike Maignan, and Stefano Pioli winning individual awards.
June 2022: RedBird Capital Acquisition
RedBird Capital Partners acquired AC Milan in June 2022.
2022: Latest Serie A Title
AC Milan won its most recent Serie A title in 2022.
September 2023: San Donato Stadium Proposal
In September 2023, AC Milan proposed building a new 70,000-seat stadium in San Donato Milanese.
2023: Pioli Steps Down, Fonseca Appointed
Stefano Pioli stepped down as manager and was replaced by Paulo Fonseca at the end of the 2023-24 season.
2023: Kit Manufacturer Change
The deal with Adidas was originally scheduled to run until 2023.