Not a lot of people know that AC Milan, now one of the greatest forces in world football, was originally founded as a cricket club. The origins of the club date back to 16 December 1899, when the club first established its headquarters on Milan’s Via Berchet.

In recent times, the name of AC Milan has been synonymous with Silvio Berlusconi, the politician and media magnate who owns the Rossoneri. Berlusconi is widely regarded as one of the most powerful men in Italy, and he has been a driving force behind the club’s successes.

No less important to the club’s triumphs over the years have been a host of leading coaches. Among the illustrious names that have guided the Rossoneri are 1960s greats Gipo Viani, Nereo Rocco and Nils Liedholm. More recently, the team has been led by Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello, and, of course, the current incumbent Carlo Ancelotti. In 2007, Ancelotti led Milan to the second of two Champions League finals during his tenure, as the Rossoneri became European champions for the seventh time in their history.

Nowadays, top stars around the world dream of playing for the Rossoneri. Famous names who have graced the team in the past include Sweden’s ‘Gre-No-Li’ trio Gunnar Gren, Gunnar Nordahl and Nils Liedholm in the 1950s, Uruguay’s Juan Alberto Schiaffino and Brazilian forward José Altafini. In the following generation there was Gianni Rivera, still regarded as one of Italian football’s greatest ever stars, along with players such as Cudicini, Anquiletti, Trapattoni, Lodetti, Sormani and Prati.

With so many legends to select from, the AC Milan supporters were still in no doubt about who to choose as the club’s greatest all time player. Defender Franco Baresi dedicated his entire career to Milan, coming to symbolise the passion inspired by the black and red shirt, and he was honoured with the title of ‘Milanista of the Century’. Baresi was a member of the team that the media dubbed ‘The Invincibles’, which also included the glittering Dutch trio of Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard.

Many other exceptional foreigners have graced the team over the years including Montenegrin Dejan Savicevic, Liberian striker George Weah, Croatia’s Zvonimir Boban and Frenchman Marcel Desailly. And, of course, there has been a whole host of great Italian players too. In the 1980s and 1990s the Rossoneri boasted the likes of Mauro Tassotti, Daniele Massaro, Alberigo Evani, Roberto Donadoni, Filippo Galli, Demetrio Albertini, Roberto Baggio and Sebastiano Rossi.

More recently, new heroes have emerged – names such as Gennaro Gattuso, Massimo Ambrosini, Filippo Inzaghi, Manuel Rui Costa, Andriy Shevchenko, Alessandro Costacurta and, of course, their ageless captain Paolo Maldini. Then there are the likes of Alessandro Nesta, Clarence Seedorf, Rivaldo, Jon Dahl Tomasson, Dario Simic, Andréa Pirlo, Cristian Brocchi and Christian Abbiati.

With facilities and infrastructure that make them the envy of world football, AC Milan are currently enjoying one of the greatest periods in their history, with money to invest, an ambitious outlook and every sign that they can remain at the top for decades to come.

Italian champions:
1901/02, 1906/07, 1907/08, 1950/51, 1954/55, 1956/57, 1958/59, 1961/62, 1967/68, 1978/79, 1987/88 1991/92, 1992/93 1993/94 1995/96, 1998/99, 2003/04

Italian Cup:
1966/67, 1971/72, 1972/73, 1976/77, 2002/03

Italian Super Cup:
1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2004

European Cup/Champions League:
1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007

European Cup Winner’s Cup:
1968, 1973

UEFA Super Cup:
1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007

Intercontinental Cup/Club World Cup:
1969, 1989, 1990, 2007