120 years later, Is AC Milan’s journey back to the top a wild goose chase or a possibility?
Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan celebrate scoring the second goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between AC Milan and Arsenal FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 15, 2012 in Milan, Italy.
(Feb. 14, 2012 - Source: Claudio Villa/Getty Images Europe)
Good old days
They were the best team in Europe! Undisputed champions of the world! A solid whale making waves in the sea! The club won unforgettable 18 Series A championships, 7 Champions Leagues, and it’s impossible to forget the renowned players who played for the club including Ronaldinho, Kaka, Gattuso, and Maldini.
During the glorious days of the club, most players in the first eleven would qualify into the dream team of the world. Yet, the Italian giants find themselves at rock bottom with hardly any recognition in the world. Is AC Milan still recognised in the top 20 clubs in the world? Absolutely Not! The story of AC Milan can only be described as, “Riches to Rags.” The inevitable question then comes: “What really happened to AC Milan?”
AC Milan is a European club that plays in the Italian Serie A and was definitely one the most successful clubs in the world for many years particularly in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. The club was a powerhouse before Juventus started dominating the Serie A as it has been in the past few years. The club was founded in 1899 by a group of English expatriates. At the commencement of the year 1980 going forward, AC Milan was the best club in Serie A, if not the best club in Europe. It had renowned world-class players such as Marco Van Basten, and Frank Rykuk to mention but a few and the club won 3 Championships in this period leaving a mark that cannot be erased.
The start of the millennium was just as fruitful, as they managed to win two more UEFA Champions League titles in 2003 and 2007. Their team had big guns such as Andre Shevchenko, Clarence Seedorf, Paulo Maldini, and Kaka. It was undoubtedly a team of legends! Unfortunately, that team was the last one to make such a tremendous impact to date.
How did they get here?
AC Milan has not been in the UEFA Champions League competition in the last 5 years. They have been number 6 on log standings in the Serie A for the last 2 years and 10th in 2016, which is totally embarrassing for a club of such caliber. The transition of letting veteran players go from the club and roping in new players was badly managed, as well as the club's management. The club has had 8 managers and 3 owners in the last 5 years, which is unheard for a club of such heritage, paramount value and popularity.
Franck Kessie of AC Milan gestures during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Chievo Verona at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 7, 2018 in Milan, Italy.
(Oct. 6, 2018 - Source: Marco Luzzani/Getty Images Europe)
Whilst the club was still at its peak in 2011, Silvio Berlusconi completely transformed the whole system and changed the philosophy that made the club great. He no longer depended on former players with relevant club-play experience and stopped buying expensive players. Worse off, he prioritized selling his top players at that time and some of them being Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic who were sold to PSG in 2012 and one shocking moment being letting Andreas Pirlo go to Juventus for free. One of the main strategies of the executive team was to depend on young players who were coming from the academy, just the way Barcelona does with La Masa Academy. Only that in this case, it was a real bummer.
The club was making these terrible decisions, simultaneously making improper decisions when purchasing new players, for instance purchasing Robinho for €20 million, and Andrea Betalachi for $23 million. In the aftermath of poor seasons, the club yanked old stars for free such as Fernando Torres to boost the squad, but unfortunately, there was no light at the end of the tunnel. Slowly but surely the club’s level of competence slid through anonymity and the club was sold to a Chinese businessman hoping the club will rise to the occasion and regain lost glory.
Silvio Berlusconi bought AC Milan when the club was down on its very knees in the late 80s and he built it until it had become a force to reckon with in European football. Following the arrival of Berlusconi, the club grew immensely right and it reached tremendous heights. Regardless of success on the pitch, Berlusconi was also involved in politics and became Italy’s prime minister but was however mired in corruption allegations. He was eventually found guilty of tax evasion and barred from the public office. Having initially struggled financially he eventually found a key buyer from China for AC Milan as a way of offloading pressure from his life that was already in jeopardy.
“Whilst the club was still at its peak in 2011, Silvio Berlusconi completely transformed the whole system and changed the philosophy that made the club great. He no longer depended on former players with relevant club-play experience and stopped buying expensive players”
The businessman from China
A wealthy businessman named Li Yonghong paid a nine-figure deposit to begin negotiations in purchasing AC Milan. New York Times reported that the Chinese man was not as wealthy as he proclaimed to be and his business was not as lucrative as elucidated. Regardless of the red flags and multiple issues raised with regard to Li Yonghong’s credibility, the sale went through successfully in March 2017. Silvio Berlusconi decided to let go of the club in the aftermath of poor pitch and financial performances.
With the intense drive to take the club on an upswing just after acquiring the club, Li Yonghong decided to go on a spending spree when he purchased Bonucci and Andre Silva. The new signings did not make a significant change to the club’s results despite the named fellows making impact currently. Henceforth, the club remained in shambles. The Chinese investors upon realising little or no return for their massive investment over the years in the club, they backed out and closed their billfolds.
Paolo Maldini, Kaka and other players of AC Milan celebrate after winning the FIFA Club World Cup final against Boca Juniors and AC Milan at the International Stadium Yokohama on December 16, 2007 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
(Dec. 16, 2007 - Source: Junko Kimura/Getty Images Sport)
Li Yonghong received a loan from Elliot Management equating to $354 million. All these issues were inadvertently affecting the players and coaches as the club that season went on to lose to Juventus, Napoli, Roma, and Inter Milan. After the horrendous losses, it was inevitable that coach Vincenzo Montella was unceremoniously sacked and the club hired a Milan luminary named Gennaro Gattuso.
AC Milan’s management continued to disappoint the club and its supporters when UEFA turned down AC Milan’s voluntary agreement to be in accordance with Financial Fair Play(FFP) Rules. The main news channel read that, “there are still uncertainties to the refinancing of the loans attached to the club to be paid back in October 2018 and the financial guarantees provided by the main shareholder.” Adding fuel to the fire, allegations were raised that Li Yonhong and some of his businesses were bankrupt, leaving an uncertain future for the club’s financial status.
The club was sold again and it’s now owned by Elliot Fund, American owners. The new owner engaged old guys like Maldini and they had a successful transfer of players when they bought Pacqueta for their midfield, and the phenomenal Piatek who is a goal-scoring machine, and evidence was getting 10 goals in 13 games. This gave absolute hope to the whole club and fans for a glorious future who were feeling absolutely discouraged for a number of years.
Celebrating 120 years and the rebuilding continues
Perhaps AC Milan has a lot to learn from Inter Milan with regards to rebuilding a club that was once famous? Perhaps AC Milan, who are now 120 years-old as of December 2019, can become one of the greatest football clubs once again to ever play in Europe?
All these questions can only be answered when the proper financials and proper managers are put in place for AC Milan. Jürgen Klopp transformed Liverpool from the miry clay and drove it onto a rock to stay, and he is the “type” of passionate coach needed to transform AC Milan club. A lot of effort, sheer commitment and determination are indispensable to make AC Milan great again. Truth be told, the team is currently far away from its peak, but there is great hope for an emphatic return to the UEFA Champions League in 10 years to come.