Team Profile: AC Milan

AC Milan is one of the two beating hearts of Milan, representing working-class roots, international ambition, and a proud global identity. 

While Inter is traditionally seen as the club of the Milanese bourgeoisie, Milan has long been the team of the people — humble, defiant, and outward-looking. 

The Rossoneri embody the industrial, cosmopolitan spirit of the city, with a fan base that stretches across all social classes and the globe. 

The club’s European triumphs gave Milan the nickname “capitale del calcio europeo”, reinforcing the city’s image as a capital of excellence, not just in fashion and finance, but in football. 

For many Milanese, the red and black jersey is part of their personal and civic identity, a symbol of pride that defines their Sundays, their streets, and their city’s place on the world stage.

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How AC Milan Were Formed

AC Milan was founded on December 16, 1899, by two Englishmen, Alfred Edwards and Herbert Kilpin, who wanted to bring football to the city of Milan. 

The club was originally called the Milan Football and Cricket Club, and Kilpin famously declared: “We’re going to be a team of devils. Our colours will be red like fire and black to invoke fear in our opponents!” 

This fiery vision took root in Milan’s working-class culture, and the club quickly became one of the dominant teams in early Italian football. 

The English influence shaped the club’s early ethos, which was based on grit, discipline, and international flair — traits that have remained central to Milan’s identity ever since.

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The importance of Silvio Berlusconi to Milan

Silvio Berlusconi transformed AC Milan from a struggling Serie A side into a global superpower. 

When he bought the club in 1986, Milan was in financial disarray and had recently been relegated due to the Totonero match-fixing scandal. 

Berlusconi invested heavily, brought in media-savvy professionalism, and hired revolutionary coaches like Arrigo Sacchiand later Fabio Capello and Carlo Ancelotti. Under his ownership (1986–2017), Milan won 29 major trophies, including 5 Champions League titles, and built one of the most iconic brands in world football. 

His blend of football vision, charisma, and ruthless ambition reshaped not just Milan, but Italian football at large. To many fans, Berlusconi wasn’t just a president — he was Il Presidente, the architect of their golden age.

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Great Milan teams of the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s

AC Milan’s 1980s and 1990s squads under Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello are widely regarded as among the greatest football teams of all time. 

Sacchi’s team, with its revolutionary pressing system, stunned Europe by winning back-to-back European Cups in 1989 and 1990 with a core of Dutch superstars — Van Basten, Gullit, and Rijkaard.

Supported by Italian legends like Baresi, Maldini, Donadoni, and Tassotti. Capello followed with an unbeaten 1991–92 Serie A campaign and a 4–0 demolition of Barcelona in the 1994 Champions League final.

In the 2000s, under Carlo Ancelotti, Milan once again dominated Europe. With maestros like Pirlo, Kaká, Shevchenko, Seedorf, and the old guard of Maldini and Nesta, Milan reached three Champions League finals in five years, winning in 2003 and 2007. 

This era was defined by elegance, tactical brilliance, and continental supremacy — reinforcing Milan’s identity as Italy’s most successful international club.

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Full Name: Associazione Calcio Milan

Founded: December 16, 1899
Stadium: San Siro (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza), Milan
Capacity: 75,817
Nicknames: I Rossoneri (The Red and Blacks), Il Diavolo (The Devil)
Head coach: Massimiliano “Max” Allegri (re-appointed)

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Achievements

Domestic

• Serie A Champions: 19 titles (most recently in 2021–22)
• Coppa Italia: 5
• Supercoppa Italiana: 7

International

• UEFA Champions League: 7 titles (second only to Real Madrid)
• UEFA Super Cup: 5
• FIFA Club World Cup / Intercontinental Cup: 4 (1969, 1989, 1990, 2007)
• Cup Winners’ Cup: 2 (now defunct)

AC Milan is one of the most successful clubs in world football and a symbol of Italian excellence in Europe. Their golden eras include the 1989–94 Sacchi-Capello era and the Ancelotti-led team of the 2000s.

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Legends

• Paolo Maldini – Iconic captain with over 900 appearances; a symbol of loyalty
• Franco Baresi – Legendary defender and long-time captain; Milan’s greatest bandiera
• Marco van Basten – Dutch striker with elegance and power
• Ruud Gullit & Frank Rijkaard – Dutch midfield and forward icons of the late 1980s
• Andriy Shevchenko – Ballon d’Or winner and prolific goal scorer
• Kaká – Magical playmaker and 2007 Ballon d’Or winner
• Clarence Seedorf – Only player to win the UCL with three clubs
• Gennaro Gattuso – Warrior in midfield and fan favorite
• Zlatan Ibrahimović – Transformational figure in multiple spells

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Rivalries

• Inter Milan – Derby della Madonnina (shared stadium; fierce and deeply rooted)
• Juventus – Classic Italian rivalry, often decisive in title races
• Napoli – A modern footballing rivalry, especially in the 1980s and recent years
• Roma – Competitive clashes with historical weight

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Friendships

Milan fans historically had a twinning arrangement with Roma fans, but this was ended due to a violent incident in the 1980s. 

While there are no current official twinnings, Milan is historically more reserved in forming ultra-style “gemellaggi” (twinships), but there are some fan connections.

Milan does have some friendships with other fan groups, including those of Brescia, Partizan, CSKA Sofia, CSA Steaua Bucharest, and Sevilla. 

Milan fans generally focus more on club pride than on alliances.

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Ultra groups

Curva Sud Milano

AC Milan’s main ultra group is Curva Sud Milano, which is located in the south curve of the San Siro stadium. 

Within the Curva Sud, several subgroups exist, including Brigate Rossonere and Commandos Tigre. Historically, Fossa dei Leoni (Lions’ Den) was a prominent group, considered one of the first ultra groups in Italy.

• The heart of AC Milan’s ultras, located in the southern stand of the San Siro.
• Curva Sud is known for breathtaking choreographies (coreografie), drums, songs, and an intense but respectful style
• Politically diverse but generally less extreme than other Italian ultra groups

Curva Sud is not only the loudest voice in the stadium but also influential in club decisions and the team’s morale.

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Ticket information

• Where to Buy:
  • AC Milan Official Website
  • Vivaticket (official partner)
  • Milan Store or at the San Siro box office on matchday (if available)
• Pricing:
  • Prices range from €25–€50 (Curva), €80–€200 (Tribuna and Centrale)
  • Champions League or Derby matches will be more expensive
• Membership:
  • The “Cuore Rossonero” card grants early access to tickets and discounts

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How to get to the San Siro

Address: Piazzale Angelo Moratti, Milan

• Metro:
  • Take M5 (purple line) to San Siro Stadio – a short walk from the stadium
  • On matchdays, expect crowds but good frequency
• Tram:
  • Tram 16 from central Milan (Piazza Duomo) drops near the stadium
• Bus:
  • Bus 49, 78, 64, 80, and 98 serve the area
• Driving:
  • Parking available around the stadium, but traffic is heavy on matchdays

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Where to eat and drink before the game

Near the Stadium:

• Bar Derby – Classic Milan fan bar near the Curva Sud
• Ristorante Canter 1920 – Popular with locals, good pizza and Milanese dishes
• Bar Bianco (Parco Sempione) – Trendy spot for pre-match drinks (a short metro ride away)

In the City Centre (Before Metro to San Siro):

• Luini – Legendary for panzerotti, just off the Duomo
• Spontini – Milan-style thick pizza, quick and popular
• Pizzeria Assaje – Authentic Neapolitan pizza, great atmosphere

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The importance of Milan to the fans

AC Milan is more than a football club –  it is a global symbol of style, resilience, and success. For Milanisti, wearing the red and black is about heritage, pride, and identity. Generations of families have passed down love for the club, celebrating its European dominance, surviving turbulent years, and always dreaming of glory.

The Curva Sud represents this devotion with unwavering passion, even in tough times. Whether in the Champions League final or a rainy Tuesday night in Serie A, Milan fans stand by their team, echoing chants that transcend sport. 

For the fans, Milan is a source of dignity, a link to their city’s pride, and a reason to believe that greatness can be reborn — again and again.

The club’s motto, “Il club più titolato al mondo” (The most successful club in the world), still resonates as both history and aspiration.