The second most successful team in European Club football history (winning the European Cup 7-times) AC Milan are also one of the most glamorous with an illustrious history. Their stature in the world game has ensured that some of the world’s greatest players have come to represent the Rossoneri, therefore picking a greatest team comes with some difficulty! Who to leave out? It’s a tough call and one which comes with a few controversial decisions – such as moving my GOAT Milan team from a back four, thus disrupting one of the greatest defensive backlines in the history of the game, to accommodate more in midfield and attack. After all, footballmundial.co.uk is chiefly a celebration of all things creative within the beautiful game!
But if you had to create an ultimate team to represent your club’s colours, choosing only the bare 11 players, who would make the cut?
Do you agree or disagree with my choices? Leave your comments below!
1. GK: Fabio Cudicini (1967 – 1972)
Father of Carlo, Cudicini narrowly beats Lorenzo Buffon to the number 1 jersey for Milan. An imposing figure taking to the field dressed in all-black, his agility and acrobatics led to the nickname of Ragno Nero –Black Spider! Cudicini only won 1 Serie A title whilst at Milan but helped bring home their first ever European Cup.
2. CB: Alessandro Costacurta (1986 – 2007)
‘Billy’ as he was affectionately known to team mates was probably the least known of the infamous defensive backline of the 90’s but was nevertheless an integral part of that well oiled, super-stingy machine. Spanning three decades wearing the famous red and black, Billy won Lo Scudetto 7-times and the European Cup an astonishing 5-times!
6. CB: Franco Baresi (1977 – 1997)
Quite simply one of the greatest defenders of all-time. A one-club man, Franco was actually rejected by derby rivals Inter – where older brother Giuseppe enjoyed success – but went on to become a legend at the Rossoneri, being voted as their Player of the Century in 1999. The main man and captain of what is considered the greatest defensive backline in football history, Baresi first made his name as an adventurous sweeper, building attacks and surging forward often. However, showing his tactical strengths he perhaps prolonged his career with the change of system a flat back four brought when Arrigo Sacchi implemented it. Often credited with helping mentor Paolo Maldini change to centre-back later in his career, Milan retired Baresi’s number-6 shirt when he finally hung-up his boots after 719 appearances for his beloved club.
3. LB/CB: Paolo Maldini (1984 – 2009)
Milan were lucky to have two of the greatest defenders in the history of football represent them, let alone lucky enough to have them play together for a long period of time, but that’s what they got in Baresi and Maldini. The younger Maldini is also probably the greatest left-back ever to grace the game and it says something of his abilities that he was able to switch to a more central role with ease as he got older. Such was his grace, elegance and defensive skills he once went three seasons without collecting a yellow booking – quite a feat as a defender in Serie A. Not only fortunate to have Baresi as a defensive partner, Maldini could also count on his father, Cesare, who could have also made this GOAT team in being the first AC Milan captain to lift the European Cup. However, son Paolo managed to overshadow his father playing over 900 official matches and winning Lo Scudetto 7-times, the European Cup 5-times as well as various other trophies and awards. Milan also retired his number-3 shirt but will allow his son’s to wear it of they make the senior squad – thus making it three generations of Maldini’s at the club.
5. CM: Frank Rijkaard (1988 – 1993)
Another legend of the European game, the Dutchman was transformed by Milan from a central defender into an outstanding holding midfielder, were he shone. From this position he became the prototype for the defensive midfielders of the future and formed one-third of the successful Dutch trio that helped Milan dominate Europe. During this period, he won the Serie A title twice as well as the European Cup twice, scoring the winner in one final.
7. RW: Jose Altafini (1958 – 1965)
Skilful, speedy and an outstanding goalscorer, Altafini took the Italian league by storm when joining from Brazilian side Palmeiras. There, he was nicknamed after an Italian legend Valentino Mazzola due to his resemblance of the Torino hero – and he soon came to resemble his goal tally too. Scoring the 2-goals in the final that brought Milan their first European Cup victory (a 2-1 win over Benfica), in all, the Brazilian managed 120-goals in just 205-games for Milan before being mistakenly discarded to Napoli where he enjoyed further success.
4. CM: Nils Liedholm (1949 – 1961)
Such was this midfield masters ability, according to popular local legend, it took two years playing for Milan before he misplaced a pass at the San Siro – a feat that drew a 5-minute standing ovation from the home support. Part of the famous ‘Gr-No-Li’ trio of Swedish players, Liedholm was responsible for many of striker Nordahl’s goals with his accurate, creative passing however, weighed in with many goals from his own deeper position (scoring 18 alone in his debut season). One of the first players to take fitness and nutrition to another level, the Swede gave himself a punishing fitness regime in order to maintain his high levels. In total Liedholm won 4 Scudetti, playing 359-times and scoring 81-goals, and was also the first Milan captain to take the team to the European Cup final (where they narrowly lost to Real Madrid). Such is his strong bond with Milan, he went onto manage them on three separate occasions.
10. AM: Gianni Rivera (1960 – 1979)
The Golden Boy of Italian football Gianni Rivera broke the world transfer fee as a mere 17-year old when AC Milan plumped to sign him. Three years later he had won the Scudetto, the European Cup and finished runner-up in the Ballon d’Or awards. No matter as in 1969 he was named European Footballer of the Year as the fantasista helped Milan win their second European Cup. Quite simply one of the greatest Italian players ever to grace the game, he was to Italian popular culture in the 60’s and 70’s what George Best was to English football and popular culture – a superstar.
11. C/LM: Ruud Gullit (1987 – 1993 & 1994 – 1995)
For a period of time Ruud Gullit rivalled Diego Maradona for the unofficial title of greatest player on the planet. After signing for a world record £6million in 1987, he went on to win European Player of the Year, 3-Scudetti and the European Cup twice. Probably the most complete player of his generation Gullit could play anywhere on the field with distinction as he coupled fantastic technique with his imposing physical attributes and athleticism. Devastating in the air, Gullit scored many powerful trademark headers.
8. F: Gunnar Nordahl (1949 – 1956)
The chunky hitman was a true goalscoring machine. In just 8-seasons with Milan he finished as the capocannoniere no fewer than 5-times, scoring 210-goals in just 257-matches, forming a legendary partnership with fellow Swede’s Nils Liedholm and Gunnar Gren. To this day, he is still the second highest ever goalscorer in Italian league history and holds the post-war record for most goals in a single season with 35.
9. F: Marco van Basten (1987 – 1995)
Probably the most complete centre-forward in the history of the game. If you were to piece all the ideal attributes into one complete striker, the result would be van Basten. Clinical from all angles and areas, the Dutchman could score all types of goals – and often would. Most memorable of all were his numerous acrobatic efforts which at times seemed to defy the laws of gravity and physics – gracefully making contact striking a ball, it seemed as if time slowed down. The results were spectacular and consistent. Scoring 90-times in 147-appearances for Milan, van Basten won Serie A three times, the European Cup twice, as well as being named European Player of the Year three times in a row. The sad thing was, for both Milan and football fans world-wide, we will never know how much he could have achieved; bowing to early retirement after the many cynical fouls had damaged his ankle beyond repair aged 31. In reality, after spending the previous two seasons trying to recover, he had essentially retired aged just 29 at his prime.
Honourable mentions and unlucky to make the team are:
Lorenzo Buffon, Karl-Heinz Schnellinger, Mauro Tassotti, Cesare Maldini, Giovanni Trapattoni, Carlo Ancelotti, Demetrio Albertini, Roberto Donadoni, Gunnar Gren, George Weah
