AC Milan has known resounding victories and defeats. But which line-up became the best of the best? Today we will remember three successful teams in the history of Milan.
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Milan of the Three Swedes – 1949-1952
After the triumph of the Swedish national team at the 1948 London Olympics, leading European clubs began to show interest in its stars. Milan was the first to react, which first signed Gunnar Nordahl, and then Johan Gunnar Gren and Nils Liedholm. Hungarian coach Lajos Czeizler joined the club with them.
Already in his second season, Nordahl was recognized as the top scorer of Serie A; he scored 35 goals. This is a result that no one has been able to surpass so far. Milan won the Italian championship for the first time since 1907 and also won the Latin Cup, the forerunner of modern European tournaments.
The new squad became iconic for Tifosi after the historic defeat of the eternal rival Juventus, who was defeated with a score of 7:1. In this match, which became the first in Italy with a live broadcast, Nordahl scored a hat-trick, and Gren and Lidholm added a goal each. Vittorio Pozzo, shocked by the result, called the Rossoneri's victory mind-blowing. Unfortunately, his words did not remain just words: one of the workers in Turin really went crazy after the game.
Milan of those times often won with big scores and could have won several more titles if Lajos Chaser had paid as much attention to defense as attack. There is also a well-known legend associated with this composition about how Silvio Berlusconi, as a child, was so impressed by the game of the Scandinavian trio that many years later, after becoming president of the club, he insisted on buying three players from the same country: Gullit, Van Basten, and Rijkard.
Milan 1978-1979 – The "Star Team"
After the tenth Scudetto, the Rossoneri received the right to sew a gold star on their T-shirts, which became a symbol for clubs that won 10 league titles, following Juventus and Inter. This nickname of the team was especially symbolic, because at that time only one true talent played for it — Gianni Rivera. This year was the last for the Golden Boy at the San Siro, and the farewell promised to be bitter, as Milan was experiencing financial difficulties and could not count on much.
It is impossible to talk about that scudetto without mentioning Franco Baresi, the future captain of the Rossoneri and one of the greatest liberos in the history of Italian football. At that moment, he was only 18 years old — he was still very young. Nevertheless, he had an outstanding season in a red and black T-shirt, not yet stained with the sponsor's logo. Tenacious and an excellent reader of the game, Franco quickly won the sympathy of the fans. And who remembers Stefano Chiodi, a humble hard worker who came from Bologna? He skillfully used the mistakes of his opponents but executed penalties terribly. Or Walter De Vecchi, the tough median who was tough on the field but best friend off it? These were the players who were able to reach out to the greats.
The scudetto of the star was made possible thanks to the support of Tifosi — thousands of hearts beat in unison every Sunday. What a grand celebration was held at the San Siro after the decisive draw with Bologna! Every time you look at a cartoon of those years — a bus with Milan football players and Lidholm at the wheel, a lump rises in your throat. They look at Rivera standing alone. Gianni, it's time to say goodbye, but I really want you to stay with us.
Milan 1961-1963 – the beginning of the Rocco era
In 1961, Milan was led by a coach who liked to switch to the Trieste dialect during conversations. Paròn changed the DNA of the Rossoneri, and it was under him that the club became the most successful Italian team in Europe. The Rocco era coincided with the heyday of the career of Gianni Rivera, who was nicknamed the "Golden Boy" by journalist Gianni Brera. Captain Cesare Maldini and scorer Jose Altafini also played a significant role in the success of that team. An important link in the tactical schemes was the future great coach, and then the diligent midfielder Giovanni Trapattoni, known for his personal care.
Nereo Rocco paid special attention to the matches with Inter, which were led by Elenio Herrera. In those years, the Derby della Madonnina turned into a real tactical battle between these two coaches. It was said that it was more important for them to beat each other in the Derby than to win the scudetto. At the same time, the matches were held in an atmosphere of mutual respect. The city lived in anticipation of the derby for several weeks before and after the game.
The star moment for the Rossoneri was the Champions Cup final against Benfica, led by the legendary Eisebio. According to the memoirs of contemporaries, bookmakers considered the Portuguese clear favorites. From the first minutes, Giovanni Trapattoni closely guarded the Black Panther, but despite all the efforts of the Italian, he opened the scoring. Nineteen-year-old Gianni Rivera demonstrated a game that the English newspaper Daily Express compared to a diamond among jewels. The victory of the Rossoneri was brought by Jose Altafini, who scored two goals in the middle of the second half, which allowed Milan to win the main European trophy for the first time.
On the eve of the final in London, 'Paròn' unexpectedly brought a board for tactical schemes to training, which surprised the players. He had never done this before. When everyone calmed down, Rocco solemnly said, "Guys, if we don't run today, we're going to get our ass kicked." It was the best lecture on tactics in the history of Italian football.
