Casa Milan

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The narrative within Casa Milan spans over a century of football history, beginning with the club's foundation as Milan Foot-Ball and Cricket Club in late December 1899. It details the split in 1908 that led to the creation of Inter Milan and the subsequent rivalry known as the Derby della Madonnina. The exhibits cover the return to glory in the 1950s with the Swedish trio Gre-No-Li, winning Scudetti in 1951, 1955, 1957, and 1959. The story continues through the Totonero scandal that led to relegation in 1980, before detailing the club's promotion back to Serie A and a subsequent relegation in 1982 due to poor performance, and then Silvio Berlusconi's acquisition in February 1986.

In Their Own Story

Visitors trace the path from the club's humble beginnings in 1899, where historical evidence suggests a founding date of December 18, through the era of the Gre-No-Li trio that brought Scudetti in 1951 and 1957. The narrative captures the tension of the 1970s as Milan chased their 10th title, finally achieved in 1979, followed by the turmoil of the Totonero scandal which saw relegation to Serie B in 1980–81 and again in 1982–83. The turning point arrives with Silvio Berlusconi's investment on February 20, 1986, saving the club from bankruptcy. The story culminates with Carlo Ancelotti's tenure starting in November 2001, featuring the dramatic 2003 penalty victory over Juventus, the heartbreaking 2005 loss to Liverpool after leading 3–0 at half-time, and the triumphant 2007 final win over the same opponent to claim the seventh European Cup.

Reader's Guide

A visit to Casa Milan offers a deep dive into AC Milan's 19 league titles, 5 Coppa Italia wins, and 8 Supercoppa Italiana victories. Fans can view items related to the 1988 Ballon d'Or podium, where Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, and Frank Rijkaard occupied the top three spots. The guide highlights the club's status as Italy's most successful in international competitions with seven European Cups, five UEFA Super Cups, two UEFA Cup Winners' Cups, and one FIFA Club World Cup won in December 2007. It explains the significance of the San Siro stadium, shared with Inter since 1947, which has a capacity of 75,817. The experience connects supporters to the club's membership in the G-14 group and its current standing as one of the wealthiest clubs globally. Specific attention is given to the 2006–07 season, where an appeal reduced a point deduction from 15 to 8 points following the Calciopoli scandal.

Did You Know?

• AC Milan was founded in late December 1899, with the charter lost making the exact date a subject of debate between December 16 and December 18.
• The club retained the English spelling 'Milan' instead of the Italian 'Milano' to honor its English origins under Herbert Kilpin.
• In 1988, three AC Milan players—Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, and Frank Rijkaard—took the top three spots on the Ballon d'Or podium, a unique achievement in history.
• Milan is the only Italian club to have won seven European Cup/Champions League titles, placing them second behind Real Madrid in that competition's history.
• Under Silvio Berlusconi's 31-year presidency, AC Milan won 29 trophies, including multiple Serie A and Champions League titles.