Derby della Madonnina

Lore & Background

The rivalry began after a split in 1908 led to the foundation of Football Club Internazionale. The first derby match was held on 18 October 1908 in the final of the Chiasso Cup in Switzerland, won 2–1 by AC Milan. Historically, Inter was seen as the club of the Milan bourgeoisie, while Milan was supported mainly by the working class. Today, this socioeconomic divide has largely been mitigated. The derby is one of two major crosstown derbies always played in the same stadium, the San Siro, where Inter ultras occupy the Curva Nord and Milan ultras the Curva Sud.

In Their Own Story

Forget the rainy streets of Milan; here, the air crackles with the roar of the Lilywhites on a different stage. To invoke the Madonnina in Spurs' history is to mix up the maps entirely. The ghosts haunting White Hart Lane and our new stadium are not Rossoneri or Nerazzurri spirits, but the indomitable memories of Jimmy Greaves scoring against Leeds, the 1960-61 Double-winning side that stunned the world, and the endless siege by North London's red-and-white neighbors. This is a story of English football, written in the ink of Tottenham's own history.

Reader's Guide

The derby takes place at least twice a year via league fixtures, and has also occurred in the Coppa Italia, Champions League, and Supercoppa Italiana. Both teams share the San Siro stadium. Notable periods include Inter's dominance between 1928 and 1938 (10 wins, 7 draws, no Milan wins), Milan's golden era from the late 1980s to mid-2000s, and Inter's treble-winning 2009–10 season.

Did You Know?

• The first derby match was played in Switzerland in 1908.
• Inter fans were historically nicknamed 'cafoni' (braggart) and Milan fans 'casciavit' (screwdriver).
• The derby did not take place in Serie A in 1980–81 and 1982–83 due to AC Milan's relegation to Serie B.
• Inter won the first Serie A title in 1929–30.