History of AC Milan in Timeline
AC Milan, founded in 1899, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy. They compete in Serie A, the top tier of Italian football. Since 1926, Milan has played home games at the San Siro stadium, which they share with Inter Milan. The San Siro, built by Piero Pirelli, is the largest stadium in Italian football with a capacity of 75,817. A major rivalry exists between Milan and Inter, known as the Derby della Madonnina.
1901: First Italian Championship
In 1901, AC Milan won its first Italian championship, interrupting a three-year hegemony of Genoa.
1903: Move to Acquabella Pitch
In 1903, Milan moved to the Acquabella pitch, where the stands consisted of a section of ground raised for the purpose.
1905: Move to Porta Monforte Pitch
In 1905, AC Milan moved to the Porta Monforte pitch, which was furnished with a ticket office and wooden stands.
1906: Italian Championship Win
In 1906, AC Milan won another Italian championship.
1907: Italian Championship Win
In 1907, AC Milan secured another Italian championship.
1908: Split and Formation of F.C. Internazionale
In 1908, AC Milan experienced a split due to disagreements over the signing of foreign players, leading to the formation of F.C. Internazionale.
1908: First Derby della Madonnina
The first Derby della Madonnina between AC Milan and Inter Milan was held in 1908, on October 18, in the final of the Chiasso Cup, with Milan winning 2–1.
1914: Milan's Largest Ever Victory
During the 1914-15 season, Milan achieved its largest ever victory with a 13–0 win against Audax Modena in a league match.
1914: Move to Velodromo Sempione
In 1914, AC Milan moved to the Velodromo Sempione, where they played until 1920.
1915: Coppa Federale Win
In 1915, AC Milan won the Coppa Federale, a tournament played during the First World War.
1917: Coppa Mauro Win
In 1917, AC Milan won the Coppa Mauro, another tournament played during the First World War.
1920: Move to Viale Lombardia Stadium
In 1920, AC Milan moved to the Viale Lombardia stadium, a modern structure with a big main stand.
1922: Milan's Heaviest Defeat
During the 1922-23 season, Milan recorded its heaviest defeat in the league, losing 0–8 to Bologna.
September 1926: First Game at San Siro
On September 19, 1926, Milan lost 6–3 in a friendly match against Internazionale, marking the first game played at the San Siro stadium. Milan also played its first league game in San Siro on September 19, 1926, losing 1–2 to Sampierdarenese.
1926: End of Stay at Viale Lombardia Stadium
In 1926, AC Milan ended their stay at the Viale Lombardia stadium.
1926: Move to San Siro Stadium
In 1926, AC Milan moved to the San Siro stadium, which was built by the club's second chairman, Piero Pirelli.
1935: Stadium Sold to City
In 1935, the San Siro stadium, which was owned by AC Milan, was sold to the city.
1947: Sharing San Siro with Inter Milan
Since 1947, the San Siro stadium has been shared between AC Milan and Inter Milan. The San Siro stadium is the largest stadium in Italian football.
1947: Shared Stadium with Internazionale
Since 1947, the San Siro stadium has been shared with Internazionale after they were accepted as joint tenants.
1950: Return to Domestic Title Contention
After a period without domestic titles, in 1950-51 AC Milan returned to the top of Italian football.
1951: Scudetto and Latin Cup Triumph
In 1951, AC Milan won the Scudetto and also triumphed in the Latin Cup against Lille.
1953: Release of 'Sunday Heroes'
In 1953, the movie 'Sunday Heroes', directed by Mario Camerini, was released, featuring Milan players like Lorenzo Buffon and the Gre-No-Li trio in a fictional football match.
1956: Latin Cup Win and European Cup Participation
In 1956, AC Milan won the Latin Cup against Athletic Bilbao. AC Milan also became the first Italian club to participate in the European Cup.
1957: European Cup Final Loss
In 1957, AC Milan reached the European Cup final but was defeated by Real Madrid.
1960: Debut of Gianni Rivera
In 1960, Gianni Rivera, a Milan legend, debuted for the club, remaining for 19 seasons.
1961: Appointment of Nereo Rocco as Coach
In 1961, Nereo Rocco was appointed as the new coach of AC Milan.
1967: Coppa Italia Win
In 1967, AC Milan won its first Coppa Italia, defeating Padova in the final.
1969: European Cup and Intercontinental Cup Titles
In 1969, AC Milan won the European Cup with a 4-1 victory over Ajax in the final, followed by the Intercontinental Cup title the same year.
1971: Lost Scudetto to Juventus
During the 1971-72 and 1972-73 seasons, Milan lost the scudetto to Juventus by just one point.
1971: Second Place in Serie A
In 1971, AC Milan finished second in the Serie A league.
1972: Lost Scudetto to Juventus
During the 1971-72 and 1972-73 seasons, Milan lost the scudetto to Juventus by just one point.
1972: Second Place in Serie A
In 1972, AC Milan finished second in the Serie A league.
1972: European Cup Winners' Cup
In 1972-73, AC Milan won the European Cup Winner's Cup, defeating Leeds United in the final match.
1973: Second Place in Serie A
In 1973, AC Milan finished second in the Serie A league.
1979: Surnames on Shirts
Between the 1979–80 and 1980–81 seasons, the AC Milan shirt achieved an important record by adding the surnames of the players above the number for the first time in Italian football.
1979: 10th Serie A Title, Rivera's Retirement, Baresi's Debut
In 1979, AC Milan reached their 10th Serie A title, and Gianni Rivera retired, while Franco Baresi debuted in his first full season with the club.
1980: Intermezzo with Middle Size Stripes
From 1980 to 1982, the stripes on the AC Milan kit changed to a middle size again, as an intermezzo to the use of thin stripes.
1980: Totonero Scandal and Relegation to Serie B
In 1980, AC Milan was involved in the Totonero scandal, resulting in the club's first-ever relegation to Serie B.
1981: Serie B Title and Promotion to Serie A
In 1981, AC Milan won the Serie B title, securing promotion back to Serie A.
1983: Serie B Title and Return to Serie A
In 1983, AC Milan won the Serie B title for the second time, returning to Serie A.
1985: End of Thin Stripes Era
The 1985–86 season marked the end of the use of thin stripes on the AC Milan kit, a style that had been in place since the 1960s, with some exceptions.
February 1986: Acquisition by Silvio Berlusconi
On February 20, 1986, Silvio Berlusconi acquired AC Milan, saving it from bankruptcy.
1986: Berlusconi's Influence on Kit Design
From the 1986–87 season, under Silvio Berlusconi, the stripes on the AC Milan kit were brought back to a middle size, and the colour of the socks was changed to white.
1986: Silvio Berlusconi Purchases Milan
In 1986, Silvio Berlusconi purchased AC Milan and became the club's longest-serving president, serving for 23 years.
1987: Scudetto Win
In the 1987-88 season, AC Milan won its first Scudetto in nine years.
1988: "AC Milan Anthem - Milan Milan" Debut
In 1988, the "AC Milan Anthem – Milan Milan", composed by Tony Renis and Massimo Guantini, debuted.
1988: Ballon d'Or Top Three
In 1988, three of AC Milan's players, Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, and Frank Rijkaard, were ranked in the top three on the podium for the Ballon d'Or. This was an unprecedented achievement in the history of the prize.
1988: European Cup Win
In 1988-89, AC Milan won its first European Cup in two decades, beating Steaua Bucuresti.
1990: Retained European Cup
In 1989-90, AC Milan retained their European Cup title with a win over Benfica.
1990: Renovations for FIFA World Cup
In preparation for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, the San Siro stadium underwent major renovations, increasing its capacity to 85,700 and adding a polycarbonate roof.
1991: Serie A Title Without Loss
During the 1991-92 season, AC Milan became the first team to win the Serie A title without losing a single game.
1991: Fabio Capello Takes Over
In 1991, Fabio Capello replaced Arrigo Sacchi as the manager of AC Milan.
1992: Serie A Titles and Unbeaten Run
Between 1992 and 1994, AC Milan, under Fabio Capello, won three consecutive Serie A titles, including a 58-match unbeaten run in Serie A.
March 1993: End of Milan's Unbeaten Streak
On March 21, 1993, Milan's 58-game unbeaten streak in Serie A ended with a 1–0 loss to Parma.
1993: UEFA Champions League Final Appearance
In 1993, AC Milan reached the UEFA Champions League final, losing 1-0 to Marseille.
1994: Champions League Win Against Barcelona
In 1994, AC Milan won the Champions League final with a 4-0 victory over Barcelona.
1994: Milan Awarded European Cup Permanently
In 1994, Milan's fifth European Cup win meant that the club was awarded the trophy permanently and is allowed to display a multiple-winner badge on its shirt.
1995: UEFA Champions League Final Appearance
In 1995, AC Milan reached the UEFA Champions League final again.
1995: Champions League Final Loss
In 1995, Milan lost a Champions League final to Ajax while wearing their white away kit.
1995: Rivalry with Genoa Worsens
In 1995, the rivalry between Milan and Genoa intensified after Genoa fan Vincenzo Spagnolo was stabbed to death by a Milan supporter.
1995: Club Badge on Match Strips
In 1995–96, the club badge made its definitive appearance on the match strips, in a form that remained basically unchanged until present days.
1996: Capello Leaves
In 1996, Fabio Capello departed from Milan to manage Real Madrid.
1998: Centenary Season Championship
In 1998-99, Milan lifted its 16th championship in the club's centenary season.
1998: Yearly Kit Modifications Started
Starting from the 1998–99 season, the AC Milan kits started to be modified on a yearly basis in their design.
December 1999: Launch of Milan Channel
On December 16, 1999, Milan Channel, a subscription-based television channel dedicated to AC Milan, was launched on the club's centenary.
November 2001: Ancelotti's Appointment
In November 2001, Carlo Ancelotti was appointed as the manager of AC Milan.
2003: Champions League Final Victory
In 2003, AC Milan won the UEFA Champions League final against Juventus F.C. at the penalties, granting Milan the sixth Champions League title of their history.
2003: Opel's "Meriva" Displayed on Milan Shirt
In the 2003–04 season, "Meriva", a car from Opel's range, was displayed on the front of the Milan shirt.
2003: Mention of Previous Scudetto Win
The 2010-11 Scudetto was AC Milan's first since the 2003-04 season.
2004: Serie A Title Contestation
During the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons, AC Milan and Juventus contested each other for the Serie A titles, both won by Juventus but then revoked due to the Calciopoli scandal.
2004: Dolce & Gabbana Collaboration
In 2004, Dolce & Gabbana began a collaboration with AC Milan, designing the team's official off-field suits, which lasted for over 10 years.
2004: Start of Milan Presidency Vacancy
In 2004, a two-year vacancy began in the Milan presidency.
2004: Champions League Quarter-Final Match
In 2004-2005, Milan played Inter in the Champions League Quarter-Final. During the return leg on April 2005, the game was abandoned after a flare thrown from the crowd by an Inter supporter struck Milan goalkeeper Dida on the shoulder.
April 2005: Champions League Match Abandoned
On April 12, 2005, the second leg of the 2004–05 Champions League quarter-final match between Milan and Inter was abandoned after a flare thrown by an Inter supporter struck Milan goalkeeper Dida.
December 2005: Plans for Stadium Relocation
On December 19, 2005, Adriano Galliani announced that Milan was working towards stadium relocation based on the Veltins-Arena model.
2005: Serie A Title Contestation
During the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons, AC Milan and Juventus contested each other for the Serie A titles, both won by Juventus but then revoked due to the Calciopoli scandal.
2005: Champions League Final Loss
In 2005, AC Milan reached the Champions League final but was defeated by Liverpool on penalties despite leading 3-0 at half-time.
2005: Opel's "Zafira" Displayed on Milan Shirt
In the 2005–06 season, "Zafira", a car from Opel's range, was displayed on the front of the Milan shirt.
2006: Calciopoli Scandal
In 2006, AC Milan was involved in the Calciopoli scandal, where five teams were accused of fixing matches. Milan received a point deduction and a ban from the Champions League, which was later reduced on appeal.
2006: End of Milan Presidency Vacancy
In 2006, the two-year vacancy in the Milan presidency ended following Silvio Berlusconi's tenure.
December 2007: FIFA Club World Cup Win
In December 2007, AC Milan won its first FIFA Club World Cup.
2007: Milan Wins FIFA Club World Cup
In 2007, AC Milan won the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time, completing an international treble of Champions League, Super Cup, and Club World Cup.
2008: Milan Participates in Superleague Formula
From 2008 to 2010, Milan participated in three editions of the Superleague Formula, a car competition involving football teams.
2008: Capacity Reduction
In the summer of 2008, the capacity of the San Siro stadium was reduced to 80,018 to meet UEFA standards.
May 2009: Paolo Maldini's Appearance Record
As of May 31, 2009, Paolo Maldini held the records for both total appearances and Serie A appearances for Milan, with 902 official games played in total and 647 in Serie A.
2009: Milan Participates in Superleague Formula
From 2008 to 2010, Milan participated in three editions of the Superleague Formula, a car competition involving football teams.
2009: Ancelotti Leaves Milan
In 2009, Carlo Ancelotti left AC Milan to become the manager at Chelsea after overseeing 420 matches.
2009: Kaká's Transfer to Real Madrid
In 2009, Kaká's transfer to Real Madrid broke the world football transfer record for a short period, costing the Spanish club €67 million.
2010: Most Supported Italian Team in Europe
According to a study from 2010, Milan is the most supported Italian team in Europe, with over 18.4 million fans.
2010: Milan Participates in Superleague Formula
From 2008 to 2010, Milan participated in three editions of the Superleague Formula, a car competition involving football teams.
2010: Recruitment of Players
In 2010, AC Milan recruited players such as Zlatan Ibrahimović, Robinho and Alexandre Pato.
2010: Last League Title Before 2021-22
The 2010-11 season was the last time that AC Milan won the league title, before winning again in the 2021-22 season.
2011: Last Time Finishing Higher Than Second
The 2011-12 Serie A was the last time that AC Milan finished higher than second place in the league, before finishing second in 2021.
2013: Last Champions League Appearance
In 2013, it marked AC Milan's last appearance in the UEFA Champions League before qualifying again in 2021.
December 2014: Proposal to Build Property Stadium
On December 11, 2014, Barbara Berlusconi announced a proposal to build a 42,000-seat property stadium in Portello.
2014: Violation of Financial Fair Play Regulations
AC Milan violated Financial Fair Play regulations between 2014-2017, leading to exclusion from the 2019-20 UEFA Europa League.
2014: Al Ahly SC Overtakes Milan in International Titles
After their 2014 CAF Confederation Cup win, Al Ahly SC from Egypt overtook AC Milan in FIFA-recognized international club titles.
2014: Milan Ranked as Eighth-Wealthiest Football Club
As of 2014, Forbes magazine ranked Milan as the eighth-wealthiest football club in the world.
September 2015: End to Plans for New Stadium
On September 20, 2015, Silvio Berlusconi ended his club's plans to build a new stadium in the city.
2015: Violation of Financial Fair Play Regulations
AC Milan violated Financial Fair Play regulations between 2015-2018, leading to exclusion from the 2019-20 UEFA Europa League.
August 2016: Agreement with Sino-Europe Sports
In August 2016, Fininvest signed a preliminary agreement with Sino-Europe Sports Investment Management Changxing Co. to sell a 99.93% stake of AC Milan.
2016: Failed to Qualify for European Competition
Despite winning the 2024–25 Supercoppa Italiana, the team finished in 8th place and failed to qualify for European competition for the first time since 2016.
2016: Supercoppa Italiana Victory
In 2016, AC Milan won the Supercoppa Italiana under Vincenzo Montella, defeating Juventus in a penalty shoot-out.
2016: Boglioli Becomes Style Partner
In 2016, Boglioli became AC Milan's style partner, replacing Diesel.
April 2017: Milan Acquired by Rossoneri Sport Investment Luxembourg
In April 2017, Milan became a subsidiary of Rossoneri Sport Investment Luxembourg, with Li Yonghong as the new chairman.
April 2017: Deal Completion with Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux
In April 2017, the deal with Sino-Europe Sports was completed, and Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux became the new direct parent company of AC Milan.
June 2017: Milan Faced Ban from European Competitions
As a consequence of financial results in reporting periods ending at June 30, 2017, Milan was initially banned from European competitions due to breach in UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations.
October 2017: Early Termination of Adidas Deal Announced
In October 2017, an early termination of the deal with Adidas was announced, effective on June 30, 2018.
November 2017: Montella Sacked, Gattuso Appointed
In November 2017, Vincenzo Montella was sacked due to poor results and replaced by Gennaro Gattuso as manager of AC Milan.
2017: Violation of Financial Fair Play Regulations
AC Milan violated Financial Fair Play regulations between 2014-2017, leading to exclusion from the 2019-20 UEFA Europa League.
2017: Reconsidering Stadium Options
In 2017, Marco Fassone stated that AC Milan might either stay in San Siro or move to a new stadium.
2017: Real Madrid Wins Back-to-Back European Cups
In 2017, Real Madrid became the first team to win back-to-back European Cups since AC Milan in 1990.
June 2018: Last Issue of Forza Milan!
In June 2018, the last issue of 'Forza Milan!', the official magazine of AC Milan, was published after over half a century.
June 2018: Adidas Deal Termination Effective
On June 30, 2018, the early termination of the deal with Adidas became effective.
July 2018: UEFA Ban Overturned
In July 2018, AC Milan's ban from European competition due to Financial Fair Play violations was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
July 2018: Elliott Management Control
In July 2018, Li Yonghong failed to meet loan repayment obligations, resulting in Elliott Management Corporation taking control of AC Milan.
2018: Violation of Financial Fair Play Regulations
AC Milan violated Financial Fair Play regulations between 2015-2018, leading to exclusion from the 2019-20 UEFA Europa League.
2018: Damiani Becomes Luxury Partner
In 2018, AC Milan partnered with Italian luxury jewelry company Damiani, designating them as the team's new "luxury partner".
June 2019: Giampaolo Hired, Europa League Exclusion
On June 19, 2019, Milan hired Marco Giampaolo as manager. On June 28, 2019, Milan was excluded from the 2019-20 UEFA Europa League for violating Financial Fair Play regulations.
2019: Thirteenth Highest Average Attendance
During the 2019–20 season, AC Milan had the thirteenth highest average attendance among European football clubs.
2019: End of Emirates Sponsorship
The Emirates sponsorship for Milan's shirt ended after the 2019–20 season.
2019: End of Boglioli Partnership
The partnership between AC Milan and Boglioli concluded at the end of the 2019/2020 season.
2020: Etro Becomes Official Travel Accessories Supplier
In 2020, Etro became AC Milan's official travel accessories supplier.
2020: Harmont & Blaine Becomes Style Partner
In 2020, Harmont & Blaine became AC Milan's new style partner.
2020: Unbeaten Streak and Contract Extension
In 2020, after Serie A restarted following the COVID-19 outbreak, Milan had a 10-match unbeaten streak, winning 7 games against teams like Juventus, Lazio, and Roma. Due to this, Milan abandoned plans to hire Ralf Rangnick and extended Stefano Pioli's contract for 2 years.
2020: Skrill Becomes Official Global Payments Partner
Since 2020, Skrill is AC Milan's official global payments partner in a deal originally for four years.
2020: eBay Becomes Official Marketplace Partner
Since 2020, eBay is AC Milan's official marketplace partner with a deal that includes an online AC Milan store hosted on eBay's website.
June 2021: Milan Allowed to Achieve Break Even Condition
Milan was allowed to achieve the break even condition on or before June 30, 2021, following a lifted European ban.
2021: Harmont & Blaine Releases AC Milan Capsule Collection
In 2021, Harmont & Blaine released a special AC Milan capsule collection as part of their collaboration.
2021: Second-Place Finish and Champions League Qualification
In 2021, Milan, under Pioli's management, finished second in Serie A, the highest since 2011-12 Serie A, which meant they qualified for the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League, their first appearance in seven years since the 2013-14 UEFA Champions League.
2021: 19th Italian Championship Title
In 2021-22 season, Milan secured their 19th Italian championship title with a club-record tally of 86 points, their first league title since the 2010-11 season.
June 2022: Acquisition by RedBird Capital Partners
On June 1, 2022, RedBird Capital Partners agreed to acquire AC Milan for $1.3 billion, with Elliott Management Corporation retaining a minority stake.
2022: Partnership with Off-White
In 2022, AC Milan announced a partnership with Italian luxury streetwear brand Off-White.
2022: Betsson Becomes Official Betting Partner
In 2022, AC Milan announced that the online betting and casino company Betsson would be its official betting partner with exclusive access to AC Milan IP in Latin America.
2022: Milan Wins Serie A Title
In 2022, AC Milan won its most recent Serie A title, earning the right to place a star on its jersey.
September 2023: Proposal to Build New Stadium in San Donato Milanese
On September 27, 2023, Paolo Scaroni announced the club had filed a proposal to build a new 70,000-seater stadium, alongside the club headquarters and museum in the comune of San Donato Milanese, a suburb south of Milan.
2023: Pioli stepped down at the end of season
At the end of 2023-24 season, Pioli stepped down at the end of his five seasons with Milan, and Paulo Fonseca was named as his replacement.
2023: Renewal of Banco BPM Partnership
In 2023, Banco BPM, a long-term premium partner of AC Milan, had their deal progressively renewed.
2024: AC Milan and Off-White Announce Fourth Kit
For the 2024–2025 season, AC Milan released a fourth kit in partnership with Off-White described as a "manifesto of style".
2024: Fonseca Sacked and Replacement Named
Halfway through the 2024-25 season, Fonesca was sacked and replaced by Sérgio Conceição.
2025: AC Milan to use fourth kit in partnership with Off-White
AC Milan will use a fourth kit in partnership with Off-White for the 2024-2025 season. The kit is described as a "manifesto of style".
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