AC Milan are regaining its pedigree as a European powerhouse after a turbulent stretch marked by the end of Silvio Berlusconi’s ownership and financial issues.
Serie A champion last season. Champions League semifinalist this season.
The seven-time continental champion reached the last four of the Champions League with a 1-1 draw at Napoli, with a first-half goal from Olivier Giroud proving decisive. Milan advanced 2-1 on aggregate in the all-Italian clash after beating runaway Serie A leaders 1-0 in the first leg.
It has been said that AC Milan shouldn’t be taken lightly, with the kind of leaders they have got in their squad right now – the Rossoneri have become remote contenders for the title.
AC Milan’s Champions League titles and records
AC Milan have emerged from a recent slumber to become one of the best teams in Europe once again. The Rossoneri went a full decade without winning a Serie A title before being crowned Italian champions in 2021/22.
Under manager Stefano Pioli, AC Milan have rediscovered their competitive edge and now have their sights set on ending a UEFA Champions League drought that has stretched on painfully long.
AC Milan qualify for @ChampionsLeague for the 1st time since 2007💯
They defeated Serie A leader Napoli 2-1💪#NapoliAcMilan #UCL #ACMilan pic.twitter.com/KjYgGmlfIE
— FootTheBall FC (@FootTheBallFC) April 18, 2023
It has now been over 15 years since AC Milan last lifted the Champions League trophy with their most recent triumph dating back to the 2006/07 season. The San Siro outfit defeated Liverpool 2-1 in the final that year with Filippo Inzaghi scoring both goals for the Italians in Athens. Milan’s victory avenged their dramatic defeat to the Reds in the Champions League final two years prior when they let a 3-0 lead slip to ultimately lose on penalties.
AC Milan have been crowned champions of European seven times in their history. The club’s first continental success came in 1962/63 when they beat Benfica in the European Cup final.
The Rossoneri first won the rebranded Champions League in 1993/94, humiliating Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona 4-0 in the finals.
AC Milan’s Champions League titles
| Season | Competition | Final |
|---|---|---|
| 1962/63 | European Cup | AC Milan 2-1 Benfica |
| 1968/69 | European Cup | AC Milan 4-1 Ajax |
| 1988/89 | European Cup | AC Milan 4-0 Steaua Bucuresti |
| 1989/90 | European Cup | AC Milan 1-0 Benfica |
| 1993/94 | Champions League | AC Milan 4-0 Barcelona |
| 2002/03 | Champions League | AC Milan 0-0 Juventus (Pens 3-2) |
| 2006/07 | Champions League | AC Milan 2-1 Liverpool |
Despite their historic success in Europe, AC Milan have struggled to hit the same heights in the competition over the past decade. In fact, the Rossoneri went seven seasons without even playing in the Champions League (missing out from 2014/15 through 2020/21) and were knocked out in the group stage upon their return in 2021/22.
AC Milan also haven’t made it past the quarterfinals of the competition since their last title win in 2006/07.
AC Milan UCL record since 2007
| Season | Stage Eliminated |
|---|---|
| 2021/22 | Group stages |
| 2013/14 | Round of 16 |
| 2012/13 | Round of 16 |
| 2011/12 | Quarterfinals |
| 2010/11 | Round of 16 |
| 2009/10 | Round of 16 |
| 2007/08 | Round of 16 |
The last time AC Milan won the Champions League
There are very few teams with a European record as glittering as Italian giants AC Milan. The seven-time winners are the second most successful team in the history of the European Cup, but have been going through a bit of a dry patch in recent seasons.
After winning their recent tie against Napoli in UCL to book their place in the semi-finals of Europe’s elite competition for the first time since 2006/07. Carlo Ancelotti coached Milan at the time and beat Bayern Munich 4-2 on aggregate on their way to a famous Champions League triumph.
Here’s the team that secured passage against Bayern with an impressive 2-0 win in Munich and later went on to win the entire competition:
Dida; Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Massimo Oddo, Marek Jankulovski; Clarence Seedorf, Massimo Ambrosini, Gennaro Gattuso; Andrea Pirlo, Kaká; Filippo Inzaghi
This team would go on to play Liverpool in the final in a repeat of the famous 2004/05 final in which Milan threw away a 3-0 lead in the second half. Ancelotti’s side made no such mistake in the second fixture and won 2-1 in Athens, thanks to a brace from Filippo Inzaghi.
That made them just the second team, after Real Madrid, to reach seven wins in the European Cup/Champions League. It is a record that Milan hold close to their heart but one which has not been added to recently.
After a 16-year wait, will Milan add to their European tally this year? AC Milan have emerged as surprise dark horses in this year’s competition. An easier bracket has made things much more interesting, and we all know anything can happen in a UEFA Champions League final (The Miracle of Istanbul). Only time will tell if AC Milan are on the better end of the miracle this time around.