Few clubs can claim to have reached the true zenith of their respective national league competitions, but AC Milan are firm members within that exclusive community.
Though much like with all great institutions, they have been and still are suffering through a period of instability which has affected their consistency in recent years.
Winning the Serie A title last season was a welcome tonic to relieve them of their troubles, but as they aim to reach their previous heights once again, we’ve decided to take a look at one of their most enviable sides ever assembled. A selection en route to redemption only two years after that devastating loss in Istanbul – and against the very same opponent – for the UEFA Champions League Final in 2007.
Introducing: ‘𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒓𝒔 👑’
Release Date 📅: April 24, 2023
Publishers 📚: @PitchPublishing
Available on 🛒: Amazon (link below)
The story of AC Milan under Carlo had to be told and I’m privileged to tell it
PRE-ORDER the book TODAY! 👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/f36nKOvHrE
— Dev Bajwa (@ammandev) March 2, 2023
Goalkeeper: Dida
A leap of faith and the fortuitous alignment of a galaxy of stars led to the unexpected inclusion of Dida in AC Milan to begin with. The rest of the story was up to him.
After Abbiati’s injury at the Summer Olympics in 2000, Dida found himself in the uncompromising position as AC Milan’s No.1 as Ancelotti looked to bring back the good ol’ days. He soon became an ever-present feature in that fateful journey.
Erratic sometimes and brilliant at others, you never really knew what you were going to get with Dida. But you knew it would be entertaining to watch.
Right-Back: Massimo Oddo
After years of languishing in understudy roles, this was Oddo’s big chance for some much-needed attention on the continental stage.
Regular fitness issues with the ageing, but still brilliant Cafu thrusted the trusty Italian into the limelight for this grudge match with Liverpool. It’s fair to say that Boudewijn Zenden didn’t enjoy this night in Athens, and he can thank Massimo Oddo for his troubles.
Centre-Back: Alessandro Nesta
When you hear the words: ‘cultured’ or ‘balletic’ with regards to the poise and elegance of the modern-day centre-back, you’re inadvertently listening to a description of Alessandro Nesta. Easily among the most composed and impressive defenders of his generation.
It was the foul demise at his boyhood club Lazio which forced him into the loving arms of AC Milan, but a second chance at European glory in three years proves that it was a fair choice to make at the time.
The world indeed saw the best of Nesta during this period, particularly with that 2006 World Cup win with Italy. His centre-back partner also had a helping hand in that.
Centre-Back: Paolo Maldini – Captain
Versatility and Discipline. Both of which are the only real ‘secrets’ to longevity in the football world. Oh, and being a very good footballer. That also helps.
It’s fair to say that Paolo Maldini has embodied all of that in AC Milan colours. Having started as a left-winger under the guidance of his own father Cesare, a move to full-back soon followed before Father Time brought him in-field to elongate his career.
He formed a more resolute and calm figure at centre-back regularly communicating with his soldiers to render Liverpool’s efforts moot. All in all, it was a good day at the office.
“If I had to make a tackle, I have already made a mistake.”
– Paolo Maldini pic.twitter.com/n9b4tsgYas— Football Social (@Footballs0cial) March 4, 2023
Left-Back: Marek Jankulovski
Every good club required a utility man to ensure that they can remain strong and varied through the long, gruelling league/cup schedule. Jankulovski was that man for Milan.
Technically taking over Maldini’s mantle from a few years back, nobody could have expected a straight like-for-like replacement in the Czech full-back.
But what they found was a sturdy, dependable and reliable runner up and down that left flank to counter the speed of Liverpool’s Jermaine Pennant.
Defensive Midfielder: Gennaro Gattuso
The forthcoming midfielders appeared to move around between each other to suit the flow of the game, whereas the uncompromising figure of Gattuso stayed put.
Right throughout his 13-year stay in Milan, the snarling battler ensured that Ancelotti’s side maintained the tenacity and bite they needed to survive the hard periods and enjoy the good ones. The yellow card he sustained in the first half of this match was simply a matter of nature taking its course.
Though he could be often seen retrieving possession and getting Milan up and going again, it was left to his more talented teammates to take the ball into the opposition’s half.
Central Midfielder: Andrea Pirlo
Arguably the most impressive deep-lying playmaker of his generation, the wonderful Andrea Pirlo was the true orchestrator of this Milan era under Ancelotti.
With a baton in hand and the symphony standing in anticipation before him, Milan’s key moves in this match rightfully (and expectedly) centred around him in the heart of the midfield.
Andrea Pirlo. Nerves of steel 🥶@Pirlo_official | @Azzurri pic.twitter.com/jn4gCtY1SZ
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) February 8, 2023
It’s not even too farfetched to assume that his ‘poor freekick’ which ricocheted off their striker was a deliberate attempt on his part in the first conversion of the game.
Much like many of the ostentatious things he tried in his career, it paid off.
Central Midfielder: Massimo Ambrosini
A name which falls under the radar of great names in an AC Milan shirt, true Rossoneri fans will point to the importance of ‘Ambro’s role in this side.
With Ancelotti looking to re-balance the midfield after making the decision to push his ‘trequartista’ further forward, Massimo Ambrosini joined Gattuso in doing the majority of the dirty work for his team. But was more than capable of turning the other way and getting things going in that direction, too.
Playing the full ninety and rarely ever looking out of place is illustrative of the proud man’s enviable career as an AC Milan player.
Central Midfielder: Clarence Seedorf
It’s becoming something of a simple talking point in recent years, but the fact that Clarence Seedorf is the only player to win the coveted UEFA Champions League title with three different sides is a fact that isn’t lost on us.
Neither is the point that he wasn’t a passenger on either of those occasions. On the contrary, he played the full affairs for Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan during their finals which ended up with him lifting that big-eared trophy above his head.
With statements like these, it’s difficult to think of many pure, thoroughbred box-to-box midfielders who made more of an impact than he did.
