Football Club Internazionale Milano, commonly known as Inter Milan, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy. The club has a notable distinction of being the only Italian team to have consistently played in the top tier of Italian football since its inception in 1909.
On 9 March 1908, Inter Milan was officially founded by a group of players who split from the Milan Cricket and Football Club, aiming to create a club that accepted both Italian and foreign players.
In 1908, Giorgio Muggiani, a painter and one of the founders of Inter Milan, designed the club's first logo. The design featured the letters 'FCIM' in the center of a series of circles. The basic elements of this design have remained constant over the years.
The history of Inter Milan's chairmen dates back to 1908, with records documenting all individuals who have held the position till the present day.
Since its founding in 1908, Inter Milan has almost always worn black and blue stripes, a tradition started on the night of 9 March 1908 by Giorgio Muggiani, who chose blue to contrast with the red worn by their rivals, Milan Cricket and Football Club.
In 1908, the Derby della Madonnina rivalry between Inter Milan and Milan was established. The derby refers to the Blessed Virgin Mary atop the Milan Cathedral and is known for its lively atmosphere and numerous banners.
In 1909, Inter Milan made its debut in the top flight of Italian football. The club has since been a consistent presence at this level, never being relegated. This year marked the beginning of Inter's long-standing history in top-tier football.
In 1909, Inter Milan made their debut in Serie A and its predecessors. Notably, the club has never been relegated from the top flight of Italian football throughout its entire existence.
Inter Milan won its first championship in 1910, just two years after its founding. This early success set the foundation for the club's future achievements.
In 1920, Inter Milan secured its second championship title, reinforcing the club's competitive stature in Italian football.
In 1922, Inter Milan narrowly avoided relegation to the second division by winning two crucial play-offs, ensuring their continued presence in the top league.
On 19 September 1926, Inter Milan played their first game at San Siro, beating Milan 6–3 in a friendly match. Milan also played their first league game at the stadium on the same day, losing 1–2 to Sampierdarenese.
In 1926, the 75,923-seat San Siro stadium, also known as Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, was built. Funded by Milan's chairman Piero Pirelli, it was constructed by 120 workers over 13 and a half months.
In 1928, during the Fascist era, Inter Milan merged with Unione Sportiva Milanese and was renamed Società Sportiva Ambrosiana for political reasons. This period also saw the team adopting white jerseys with a red cross.
In 1928, under pressure from the Fascist regime, Inter Milan was forced to change its name and philosophy, merging with Unione Sportiva Milanese to form Società Sportiva Ambrosiana. The club also adopted the red cross on a white background, replacing the traditional black and blue.
In 1929, Inter Milan restored their traditional black-and-blue jerseys after the Fascist regime forced a change in 1928. Post World War II, the club reverted to its original name.
In 1929, under new chairman Oreste Simonotti, Inter Milan's name was changed to Associazione Sportiva Ambrosiana, and the club's traditional black-and-blue jerseys were restored. However, fans continued to call the team Inter.
In 1931, under pressure from shareholders, chairman Pozzani changed the club's name to Associazione Sportiva Ambrosiana-Inter, acknowledging the fans' preference for the name Inter.
In 1935, the ownership of San Siro stadium was transferred from the club to the city.
In the 1938–39 season, Inter Milan won its first Coppa Italia, led by Giuseppe Meazza, after whom the San Siro stadium is officially named.
Inter Milan secured its fifth championship title in 1940, adding to the club's growing list of achievements.
In 1947, Inter Milan became a joint tenant of the San Siro stadium, sharing it with Milan.
In 2008, Inter Milan became the first club since 1949 to win the Serie A title for four consecutive seasons. This achievement placed them alongside Torino and Juventus as the only clubs to have done so, and the first based outside Turin.
In 1953, Inter Milan won its sixth championship title, continuing its post-World War II success.
The club won its seventh championship in 1954, maintaining its strong performance in Italian football.
In 1960, manager Helenio Herrera joined Inter Milan from Barcelona. He transformed the team with his tactical innovations, including the modified catenaccio system, leading Inter to European prominence.
In 1964, Inter Milan won the European Cup Final against Real Madrid and subsequently secured the Intercontinental Cup against Independiente, marking a significant year in the club's history.
In 1964, Inter Milan won the UEFA Champions League, marking the first of their back-to-back victories in this prestigious competition.
Inter Milan secured its first European Cup win in 1964, beginning a period of international success and setting the stage for a back-to-back victory.
In August 1965, Inter Milan came close to winning the Treble for the first time in European football history, winning the Serie A title but losing the Coppa Italia final.
In 1965, Inter Milan secured their second consecutive UEFA Champions League title, solidifying their dominance in European football.
In 1965, Inter Milan won its second consecutive European Cup, solidifying its status as a dominant force in European football.
In 1966, Inter Milan reached the semi-finals of the European Cup but lost to Real Madrid, who went on to win the tournament.
In 1967, Inter Milan lost the European Cup Final to Celtic 2–1 in Lisbon. The same year, the club officially changed its name to Football Club Internazionale Milano.
In 1969, Inter Milan's traditional ultras group, Boys San, was founded. It is one of the oldest ultras groups in Italy.
In 1971, Inter Milan secured its eleventh league title, marking another milestone in the club's storied history.
In 1972, Inter Milan reached the European Cup final but was defeated 0–2 by Johan Cruyff's Ajax.
Inter Milan won the Coppa Italia in the 1977–78 season, adding another domestic trophy to its collection.
Inter Milan won its twelfth league title in 1980, adding another championship to its impressive record.
In the 1981–82 season, Inter Milan secured its second Coppa Italia title in four years, continuing its success in domestic cup competitions.
Inter Milan's second consecutive Scudetto in April 2007 marked their first on-field league title since 1989. The victory over Siena, with both goals scored by Marco Materazzi, ended an 18-year wait for an on-field championship.
In 1989, Inter Milan reached the Coppa Italia final but were defeated by Lazio, missing out on their first domestic success since 1989. Under the management of Marcello Lippi, the team had signed notable players like Angelo Peruzzi and Laurent Blanc.
In 1989, led by the German duo Andreas Brehme and Lothar Matthäus, along with Argentine Ramón Díaz, Inter Milan won the Serie A championship.
Inter Milan won its first UEFA Cup in 1991, achieving European success despite domestic struggles.
In the 1993–94 season, Inter Milan finished just one point above the relegation zone, marking a low point in the club's domestic league performance.
In 1994, Inter Milan secured its second UEFA Cup, continuing its strong performance in European competitions.
In 1995, Massimo Moratti took over Inter Milan from Ernesto Pellegrini. This period saw the club break the world record transfer fee twice. Despite these investments, the 1990s remained a decade without a Serie A championship for Inter, mirroring their lack of titles in the 1940s. The persistent lack of success strained relations between fans, the chairman, managers, and some players.
In 1998, despite winning the Italian Manager of the Year award, Luigi Simoni was sacked by Inter Milan after a few games into the 1998–99 season. This decision, made by Massimo Moratti, angered fans. Inter also failed to qualify for any European competition for the first time in almost a decade, finishing eighth in the league.
Inter Milan won its third UEFA Cup in 1998, adding another European trophy to its collection.
Starting from the 1999–2000 season, Inter Milan's original club crest was reduced in size to make room for the addition of the club's name and foundation year at the upper and lower parts of the logo.
In 2000, Inter Milan faced significant challenges, losing the Supercoppa Italiana to Lazio 4–3 after initially leading. They were also eliminated from the Champions League preliminary round by Helsingborgs, with Álvaro Recoba missing a crucial late penalty. Manager Marcello Lippi was sacked after a single Serie A game, and his replacement Marco Tardelli failed to improve results.
In the 2000 season, Inter Milan continued with the logo design introduced in 1999, featuring a reduced crest size to include the club's name and foundation year.
In 2002, Inter Milan reached the UEFA Cup semi-finals and were close to winning the Serie A title. However, despite leading Lazio 2–1, they lost 4–2, allowing Juventus to win the championship. The next season, Inter finished as league runners-up and reached the 2002–03 Champions League semi-finals.
On 8 July 2004, Roberto Mancini was appointed as Inter Milan's head coach. In his first season, the team accumulated 72 points from 18 wins, 18 draws, and just two losses. The team also won the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana.
On 12 April 2004, the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final match between Milan and Inter was abandoned after a flare thrown by an Inter supporter struck Milan's goalkeeper Dida on the shoulder.
The previous record for points collected in 13 Serie A games was 32 points, set by Fabio Capello during the 2004–05 season. Leonardo surpassed this record in March 2011 by collecting 33 points.
In 2005, Inter Milan was retrospectively awarded the 2005–06 Serie A championship after Juventus was relegated and points were stripped from Milan due to the Calciopoli scandal.
In the 2000s, Inter Milan developed a rivalry with Roma, who finished as runners-up to Inter in all but one of Inter's five Scudetto-winning seasons between 2005–06 and 2009–10.
On 11 May 2006, Inter Milan secured the Coppa Italia title for the second consecutive season, defeating Roma with a 4–1 aggregate victory. The first leg ended 1–1 in Rome, and Inter won the second leg 3–1 at the San Siro.
In June 2006, Pirelli sold 15.26% shares of Inter Milan to the Moratti family for €13.5 million. This transaction was part of several capital increases involving Inter Milan.
On 8 September 2006, Inter Milan retired the number 3 shirt in honor of Giacinto Facchetti, who had died four days earlier. Facchetti was a legendary left back for the club from 1960 to 1978.
Inter Milan began a record-breaking run of 17 consecutive Serie A victories on 25 September 2006, by defeating Livorno 4–1 at home. This streak solidified their dominance in the league during that season.
From 2006, Inter Milan won five successive league titles, equalling the all-time record. This period marked a dominant era for the club in Italian football.
In 2006, Juventus was relegated after the Italian football scandal, marking the first time the club played below Serie A. This affected their rivalry with Inter Milan.
In 2006, Inter Milan started a period of dominance by winning the first of five successive league titles, equalling the all-time record at that time.
In 2006, Inter Milan reported a net loss of €206 million for the 2006-07 season. This was due to the abolition of non-standard accounting practices, specifically the special amortization fund.
Inter Milan's record-breaking run of 17 consecutive Serie A victories ended on 28 February 2007, with a 1–1 draw at home against Udinese. This run set a new benchmark in Serie A history.
On 22 April 2007, Inter Milan secured their second consecutive Scudetto with a 2–1 victory over Siena at Stadio Artemio Franchi. Marco Materazzi scored both goals, ensuring the team's first on-field title since 1989.
In June 2007, Inter Milan issued new shares worth €70.8 million as part of a capital increase to strengthen the club's financial position.
In August 2007, a study by La Repubblica found Inter Milan to be one of the most supported clubs in Italy.
In December 2007, Inter Milan issued new shares worth €99.9 million, continuing the club's strategy of capital increases to support its financial stability.
In 2007, Inter Milan aimed to win both Serie A and the Champions League but faced challenges. A 2–0 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League on 19 February led to a downturn in domestic form and doubts about manager Roberto Mancini’s future. Despite the setbacks, Inter won their third consecutive Serie A title on the final day, but Mancini was sacked soon after.
In 2007, Inter Milan's logo was updated to a more modern look, featuring a smaller Scudetto star and a lighter color scheme. This design was used until the rebranding in 2014.
For the 2007-08 season, Inter Milan reported a net loss of €148 million. This followed the previous year's significant losses.
José Mourinho was appointed as the head coach of Inter Milan on 2 June 2008. He went on to have a highly successful tenure, winning multiple titles including the Serie A and the UEFA Champions League.
On 2 June 2008, Inter Milan appointed José Mourinho as head coach. In his first season, the team won the Supercoppa Italiana and their fourth consecutive Serie A title, though they were knocked out in the first knockout round of the Champions League by Manchester United.
In 2008, Inter Milan celebrated its centenary by featuring a red cross on their away shirt, a nod to the flag of their city. This pattern continues to be used on their third kit.
In the 2008-09 season, Inter Milan experienced a net loss of €154 million, continuing the trend of financial losses from previous years.
By 2009, Inter Milan had established a significant rivalry with Roma, competing in five Coppa Italia finals and four Supercoppa Italiana finals since 2006.
For the 2009-10 season, Inter Milan reported a reduced net loss of €69 million, which was a significant improvement compared to previous years.
In 2009, Inter Milan defeated reigning champions Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final. This victory set the stage for their eventual Champions League triumph in 2010.
In 2009, Inter Milan saw a significant boost in revenue due to the sales of Ibrahimović, achieving the treble, and the release clause of coach José Mourinho. According to Deloitte's 2011 Football Money League, Inter's revenue increased by €28.3 million (14%) to €224.8 million in the 2009-10 season. The ratio of matchday, broadcasting, and commercial income in the adjusted figures was 17%:62%:21%.
On 21 August 2010, Inter Milan defeated Roma 3–1 to win the 2010 Supercoppa Italiana, their fourth trophy of the year. This victory added to their successful run that year.
In December 2010, Inter Milan won the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time by defeating Mazembe 3–0 in the final. Despite this success, the club fired Rafael Benítez on 23 December due to declining performance in Serie A, and Leonardo was appointed the next day.
In the 2010-11 season, Inter Milan reported a net loss of €87 million, continuing the trend of financial losses.
In 2010, Inter Milan won the historic treble, securing the Serie A title, the Coppa Italia, and the Champions League. They defeated Bayern Munich 2–0 in the Champions League final with goals from Diego Milito. José Mourinho left the club at the end of the season, and Rafael Benítez replaced him.
In 2010, Serie A clubs, including Inter Milan, began negotiating TV rights collectively rather than individually. This change was predicted to result in lower broadcasting revenues for big clubs such as Juventus and Inter, while benefiting smaller clubs. The result included an extraordinary income of €13 million from RAI.
In 2010, Inter Milan won the UEFA Champions League, completing an unprecedented Italian treble with the Coppa Italia and the Scudetto. This achievement highlighted one of the most successful periods in the club's history.
In 2010, Inter Milan won its third European Cup/Champions League title, completing an unprecedented Italian seasonal treble by also winning the Coppa Italia and the Scudetto the same year.
For the 2010–11 season, Inter Milan featured the Biscione, a symbol of the city of Milan, on their away kit.
On 6 March 2011, Leonardo set a new Serie A record by collecting 33 points in 13 games as Inter Milan's manager. He surpassed the previous record of 32 points in 13 games held by Fabio Capello from the 2004–05 season.
In September 2011, Inter Milan secured a €24.8 million loan from Istituto per il Credito Sportivo (ICS) by factoring the sponsorship of Pirelli for the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons.
In 2011, Deloitte's Football Money League reported that Inter Milan's revenue for the 2009-10 season had increased by €28.3 million (14%) to €224.8 million. The revenue boost was attributed to the sales of Ibrahimović, the treble, and the release clause of coach José Mourinho. The ratio of matchday, broadcasting, and commercial income was 17%:62%:21%.
In the 2011-12 season, Inter Milan reported a net loss of €77 million, marking another year of financial losses.
On 1 August 2012, Inter Milan announced that Moratti was to sell a minority interest of the club to a Chinese consortium led by Kenneth Huang. On the same day, Inter announced an agreement with China Railway Construction Corporation Limited for a new stadium project, but the deal eventually collapsed.
In 2012, the Football Money League reported Inter Milan's normalized revenue for the 2010-11 season to be €211.4 million. The revenue breakdown was 16% matchday, 58% broadcasting, and 26% commercial. This followed the new collective TV rights negotiation implemented in 2010.
In the 2012-13 season, Inter Milan reported a net loss of €80 million, continuing the trend of financial difficulties.
On 15 October 2013, an Indonesian consortium led by Erick Thohir, Handy Soetedjo, and Rosan Roeslani signed an agreement to acquire 70% of Inter Milan's shares. After the deal, Moratti's Internazionale Holding S.r.l. retained 29.5% of the shares.
On 2 December 2013, Inter Milan and MLS club D.C. United announced a strategic partnership. This marked the beginning of Thohir's efforts to make the club more self-sustainable, despite breaching UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations in 2015.
In the 2013-14 season, Inter Milan reported a net profit of €33 million. This turnaround was due to special income from the establishment of subsidiary Inter Media and Communication.
In June 2014, Inter Milan announced the retirement of Javier Zanetti's number 4 shirt. Zanetti had played 858 games for the club between 1995 and his retirement in the summer of 2014.
In June 2014, Inter Milan secured a €230 million loan from Goldman Sachs and UniCredit, with €200 million allocated for debt refinancing.
In July 2014, Inter Milan rebranded their logo, giving it a more modern look with a smaller Scudetto star and a lighter color scheme. The most notable change was the omission of the star from all media except match kits.
On 14 November 2014, Roberto Mancini returned as Inter Milan's manager. However, Inter finished the season in eighth place.
In 2014, Inter Milan adopted a predominantly black home kit with thin blue pinstripes. This design was replaced by a more traditional one the following season.
Since the 2014-15 season, Inter Milan began announcing figures from consolidated financial statements, revealing a net loss of €140.4 million.
In January 2015, Inter Milan signed Xherdan Shaqiri on a loan deal that included inevitable conditions to trigger an outright purchase, as later revealed by Football Leaks.
By June 2015, Inter Milan had set a schedule for repaying the €230 million loan secured from Goldman Sachs and UniCredit, starting with €1 million plus interests due on 30 June 2015.
Starting from 30 September 2015, Inter Milan began repaying the €230 million loan in 15 installments, ending on 31 March 2019.
As of 31 December 2015, Pirelli's remaining shares in Inter Milan were written off to zero. This was part of Inter's financial restructuring efforts.
For the 2015-16 season, Inter Milan reported a net loss of €59.6 million before the 2017 restatement.
In 2015, Inter Milan, along with Roma, was sanctioned by UEFA for breaking Financial Fair Play regulations. As part of a probation to avoid further sanctions, Inter agreed to achieve a three-year aggregate break-even from 2015 to 2018 and was fined €6 million plus an additional €14 million in probation.
In 2015, Inter Milan was sanctioned by UEFA for breaking Financial Fair Play regulations and agreed to a three-year aggregate break-even from 2015 to 2018.
On 6 June 2016, Suning Holdings Group acquired a majority stake in Inter Milan from Thohir's consortium and the Moratti family. The total investment was €270 million, and the deal was approved on 28 June 2016.
In June 2016, Inter Milan secured a €230 million loan from Goldman Sachs and UniCredit, and set up a new subsidiary, Inter Media and Communication S.r.l., to handle the debt.
On 1 July 2016, ISC repaid the notes to CPPIB Credit Investments after selling part of Inter Milan's shares to Suning Holdings Group.
On 8 August 2016, Inter Milan parted ways with head coach Roberto Mancini by mutual consent due to disagreements regarding the club's direction. He was replaced by Frank de Boer.
On 1 November 2016, Frank de Boer was sacked as Inter Milan's head coach after a poor start to the season, with a record of 4 wins, 2 draws, and 5 losses in 11 Serie A games.
In 2016, as part of their compliance with UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations, Inter Milan agreed to a break-even in the 2016-17 season and was allowed a net loss of a maximum of €30 million for the 2015-16 season.
In the 2016-17 season, Inter Milan reported a net loss of €24.6 million, showing a reduction in financial losses.
In 2016, San Siro stadium underwent major renovations to host the UEFA Champions League Final.
In 2016, as part of their probation to avoid further sanctions, Inter Milan agreed to a break-even in the 2016-17 season after being allowed a net loss of a maximum of €30 million for the 2015-16 season.
On 21 April 2017, Inter Milan announced that their net loss (FFP adjusted) for the 2015-16 season was within the allowable limit of €30 million. However, UEFA stated that the reduction of squad size in European competitions would not be lifted yet due to partial fulfillment of the settlement agreement.
On 9 June 2017, former Roma coach Luciano Spalletti was appointed as Inter Milan's manager, signing a two-year contract. Eleven months later, he led the club to secure a UEFA Champions League spot.
In December 2017, Inter Milan refinanced its debt of €300 million by issuing a corporate bond to the market through Goldman Sachs.
In 2017, Juventus won their sixth successive league title, breaking the record that Inter Milan had equalled by winning five successive titles from 2006 to 2010.
In 2017, Inter Milan's financial statements showed a net loss of €59.6 million for the 2015-16 season before the restatement.
In 2017, Inter Milan was obligated to sign Stevan Jovetić and Miranda outright, following temporary deals made in mid-2015.
In March 2018, International Sports Capital HK Limited pledged shares of International Sports Capital S.p.A., the direct holding company of Inter Milan, to CPPIB Credit Investments.
In June 2018, UEFA announced that the reduction of Inter Milan's squad size in European competitions would not be lifted yet, based on the club's 2016-17 financial results.
On 26 October 2018, Steven Zhang was appointed as the new president of Inter Milan.
In November 2018, documents from Football Leaks revealed that Inter Milan's loan signings, such as Xherdan Shaqiri in January 2015, had inevitable conditions to trigger outright purchases.
By 2018, Inter Milan was under scrutiny by UEFA for Financial Fair Play compliance. The club had agreed to a three-year aggregate break-even from 2015 to 2018 as part of their probation.
On 25 January 2019, Inter Milan announced that LionRock Capital from Hong Kong had acquired a 31.05% stake in the club, becoming the new minority shareholder.
By March 2019, Inter Milan completed the repayment of the €230 million loan, fulfilling their financial obligations.
On 31 May 2019, Inter Milan appointed former Juventus and Italian manager Antonio Conte as their new coach, signing a three-year deal.
In June 2019, the final €184 million plus interests of the €230 million loan was due, marking the end of the repayment period.
Between June and July 2019, Inter and Milan announced an agreement to construct a new shared stadium in the San Siro area.
In September 2019, Steven Zhang was elected to the board of the European Club Association.
As of 2019, Inter Milan recorded the highest home game attendance in Italy and the sixth-highest in Europe, demonstrating its strong fan base and prominent position in European football.
In February 2020, Inter Milan sued Major League Soccer (MLS) for trademark infringement, claiming that the term 'Inter' is synonymous with its club.
By March 2020, the interest rate for ISC's pledged shares had increased from 8% p.a. to 15% p.a. due to financial adjustments.
On 2 May 2021, Inter Milan were confirmed as Serie A champions for the first time in eleven years. However, Antonio Conte left the club by mutual consent on 26 May 2021 due to disagreements over player transfers.
In June 2021, Simone Inzaghi was appointed as the new manager of Inter Milan, replacing Antonio Conte.
On 8 August 2021, Romelu Lukaku was sold to Chelsea for €115 million, making it the most expensive transfer by an Italian football club.
In the winter of 2021, Milan's mayor Giuseppe Sala granted official permission for constructing a new stadium next to San Siro, which is expected to be partially demolished and repurposed after the 2026 Olympic Games.
In late 2021, San Siro stadium was renovated again to host the UEFA Nations League final.
On 12 January 2022, Inter Milan won the Supercoppa Italiana by defeating Juventus 2–1 at San Siro. The winning goal was scored by Alexis Sánchez in the last second of extra time.
On 11 May 2022, Inter Milan won the Coppa Italia, defeating Juventus 4–2 at Stadio Olimpico. Ivan Perišić's brace in extra time secured the victory.
In early 2022, Inter and Milan revealed a 'plan B' to relocate the new stadium construction to the Greater Milan area, away from San Siro.
On 16 May 2023, Inter Milan defeated archrivals Milan in the semi-finals of the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League, advancing to the final for the first time since 2010. However, they were defeated 1−0 by Manchester City.
On 22 April 2024, Inter Milan secured their 20th Serie A title by defeating Milan 2–1 at the San Siro.
In May 2024, Inter Milan was acquired by American asset management company Oaktree Capital Management. This marked a significant change in the club's ownership structure.
After the 2026 Olympic Games, San Siro is expected to be partially demolished and refunctionalised.
The stadium is scheduled to be refurbished again in time for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.