AC Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan or AC Milan was founded in 1899 as a cricket club by British expatriates Alfred Edwards and Herbert Kilpin. The club won their first Italian Championship in 1901 and followed this success up with wins in 1906 and 1907 as well.
However, in 1908, an internal disagreement over signing foreign players led to a split within the club, culminating in the formation of another team based in Milan called Internazionale, now known as Inter Milan.
This divide had a devastating effect on AC Milan who didn’t manage to win another domestic title until 1951, but by this time the club was becoming a dominant force in Italian football. Milan went on to win the Italian Championship, Serie A, in 1955, 1957 and 1959 before the end of the decade, finishing as runners-up in 1950, 1952 and 1956.
Milan also known as the Rossoneri, which translates from Italian as the red and blacks to reflect their club colours, had an even more successful trophy haul in the 1960’s.
AC Milan Win the European Cup for the First Time
Having won the Championship in 1962 and 1968, finishing as runners-up in 1961, 1965 and 1969, the club won their first Coppa Italia in 1967. But AC Milan’s greatest achievement of the decade was winning their first European title by claiming the 1963 European Cup, beating Benfica in the final. This success was repeated again in 1969 with the club also securing the World Intercontinental Cup the same year. The Rossoneri also claimed the European Cup Winners Cup in 1968 in what proved to be a dominant era in the clubs history.
Milan struggled to win another domestic title during the 1970’s and despite finishing as runners-up three years running in 1971, 1972 and 1973, they had to wait until 1979 to be crowned as champions of Italy once again.
The club fared better in cup competitions though, reaching the Coppa Italia on five occasions, winning it three times in 1972, 1973 and 1977. Milan also reached two UEFA Cup Winners Cup finals, winning the competition in 1973, but failing to retain the trophy when they were beaten in the 1974 final.
AC Milan are Relegated to Serie B Following Match Fixing Allegations
The beginning of the 1980’s saw the culmination of AC Milan’s recent decline when they were relegated to the Italian Second Division, Serie B, for the first time in their history. This was as punishment for match fixing and was known as the Totonero scandal.
Milan bounced back straight away by winning Serie B in 1981, but finished in the relegation zone of Serie A the following season and were again relegated. However, the Rossoneri claimed the Serie B championship again at the first time of asking in 1983 and returned to Serie A where they have stayed ever since.
The remainder of the 1980’s was a period of rebuilding for the club and the team after entrepreneur Silvio Berlusconi bought the club in 1986. Berlusconi, who went on to become Prime Minister of Italy, hired Arrigo Sacchi as manager. Sacchi signed the influential Dutch trio of Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard and they were eventually able to celebrate being champions of Italy again in 1988 before winning a third European Cup title in 1989.
Internazionale or Inter Milan was born as a breakaway alternative to the then resident Milanese club side, AC Milan. It was 1908 and a divide had decidedly split loyalties within Milan’s sole football club. The issue concerned the dominance of Italian nationals within the club; renegade members preferring to allow the acceptance of foreign players. And so an international offshoot was formed on March 9th, 1908 – FC Inter Milan.
Early Success and a Lucky Escape
Infused with foreign players it would take only two years for Inter to win the Italian leagues highest honor, the coveted Scudetto. Milan native Virgilio Fossati both captained and coached Inter through these formative successes. He played 97 times for his side and became the first Inter player to be selected for the national team. Tragically he was killed in action fighting Austrian forces during the First World War.
Inter have never been relegated from Serie A and they are, to this day, the only Italian team whom can claim this distinction. But at the close of the 1922 season complicated fiscally motivated maneuvering saved Inter from certain relegation. They had garnered only 11 points from the entire season and looked set for a year in Serie B. A petition was delivered to the Italian Football Federation pointing to how financially crippling relegation would be to the club. Controversially the Nerazzurri were allowed to remain in Serie A for the 1923 season whilst Venezia, who had actually come in ahead of Inter, was relegated.
Benito Mussolini Messes with History, Again.
The fascist regime of Benito Mussolini that held sway in the Italy of 1928 controlled more than just the populations’ hearts and minds. Its rigid doctrines reached even as far as the FC Internazionale Milano; forcing a merger with ‘Milanese Unione Sportive’ and a name change. Inter was now officially known as A.S. Ambrosiana but for its intensely loyal fan-base politics held very little weight; chants for ‘Inter’ still rang out through the stadiums no matter what colors their team was now sporting.
Under the A.S. Ambrosiana banner Inter once again won the Scudetto and they would retain this wartime brand until 1931. Following intense pressure from fans and shareholders a compromise was attempted with the team name now changed to AS Ambrosiania-Inter. The end of the Second World War again saw the name altered reverting to the title they retain to this day - Internazionale FC Milano.
Influence of the Great Giuseppe Meazza
"Meazza was great, unbeatable, even if he would occasionally run into a frightful crisis, caused by his intense sexual activity and his passion for the blackjack game. When he took over on the field, he did things that left the mouth ajar." Peppino Prisco, Internazionale Vice-President, 1963.
Giuseppe Meazza (23 August 1910 – 21 August 1979) is considered by many to be one of the true greats of Italian football. The San Siro stadium that today houses both Inter and AC Milan officially bears his name, Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. His tenure at Inter lasted 13 years with a staggering 287 goals from 408 appearances. The 1938–39 season saw the club win its first Coppa Italia (Italian Cup) under his leadership, they would go on to accumulated yet another league championship in 1940.
Meazza gained infamy for his cavalier attitude to team practice and his off field ‘nocturnal’ activities. His persona became legendary with tales the like of him being dragged half asleep to the stadium minutes before kick-off only to effortlessly score and set up yet another victory. His magical touch of the ball would frustrate and beat the best opposing teams had to offer. Fans would marvel to see him deftly dribble the ball into the opposition half, shuffle and twist it past layers of defenders before halting before a totally exposed goal keeper. Here he would wind up for the shot, faking then rolling the ball easily into the net - oozing with seemingly limitless talent. Meazza played 53 times for the Italian national side scoring 33 goals and losing just six matches.
La Grande Inter, the Golden Era
Under the guidance of Argentine couch, Helenio Herrara Inter moved into an age where they were considered a class alone. They again claimed the Scudetto in 1963, '65 and '66 – an unprecedented feat for the time. Adopting Herraras’ defensive-based strategic style the team would twice win the UEFA Euro Cup against the likes of heavyweights Real Madrid and Benfica. The then-Intercontinental Cup was also added twice to the Inter silverware collection as well as an undefeated home turf run that lasted three years.