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A Divided City: Milan

Posted by Jude Buttle on Thursday, November 06, 2008

A fashionable city that is the home to a couple of stylish soccer sides, Milan has two true football giants in AC Milan and Inter Milan. We take a look at just how deep their rivalry goes.

AC Milan v Inter Milan

Associazione Calcio Milan - better known as AC Milan or Milan

Club Fast Facts

Full name:             Associazione Calcio Milan

Nickname:             Rossoneri (Red-Blacks)

Ground:                 San Siro (capacity 82,955)

Star Player:           Kaká

Legends:               Gianni Rivera - Marco van Basten

Two British ex-pats formed a cricket club in 1899 and gave life to what became one of the most feared and decorated Italian teams in the history of the game.

More than a hundred years on and AC Milan have lifted the coveted Champion's League trophy (formerly the European Cup) on seven occasions, the European Cup Winners Cup twice and the Intercontinental Cup/Club World Cup (the South American cup winners versus the European cup winners) four times, more than any other team.

The Rossoneri, as they are fondly referred to (due to their black and red strip), have an astonishing European pedigree and have appeared in 11 European Cup finals.

The most dramatic of these was against Liverpool on a barmy evening in Istanbul in 2005. Milan led 3-0 at halftime and seemed secured of success, but an amazing Liverpool revival saw the Milanese side eventually lose the game in a tense penalty shoot out.

The Rossoneri have won the Serie A (top league) title in Italy on 17 occasions (second only to Juventus) and the domestic cup five times, with their most dominant period being the late 80's, early 90's when they ruled the roost over the rest of Europe.

In 2006, the club was involved in a soccer scandal, being one of five teams accused of giving backhanders to referees in Serie A. Initially punished with a 15 point deduction and banned from the Champions League, Milan appealed, which resulted in their penalty being reduced to 8 points and allowed to retain their 2006-07 Champions League participation.

A decision that proved significant as they went on to win the tournament, exacting sweet revenge on their English nemesis Liverpool, with a battle weary 2-1 victory.

Football Club Internazionale Milano - better known as Internazionale, Inter or Inter Milan

Club Fast Facts

Full name:             Football Club Internazionale Milano

Nickname:             Nerazzurri (the Black-Blues)

Ground:                 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (aka - San Siro) (capacity 82,955)

Star Player:           Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Legends:               Giuseppe Meazza - Giacinto Facchetti

In 1908 there was a mutiny at the Associazione Calcio Milan cricket and football club (aka - AC Milan), a breakaway faction formed and F.C. Internazionale Milano was born.

Inter Milan celebrated their centenary year in 2008, by winning the Serie A title for a third consecutive year. They achieved this with a win on the last day of the season in a nail-biting finale, securing the title by just three points.

Inter have won the European Cup twice (in 1964 and 1965), when the tournament was a strictly knock-out cup competition. They've also claimed the UEFA Cup three times during the 90's and the Intercontinental Cup twice during the 60's.

Inter Milan can boast to be the only Italian team to never have played outside the top tier in Italy and have won Serie A on 16 occasions, just one behind their derby rivals AC  Milan, as of the end of the 2007-08 season.

Domestically, Inter had been sleeping giants for nearly 20 years, but then they were literally handed their first league title since 1989. At the end of the 2005-06 campaign the actual champions, Juventus, were stripped of the honour due to the referee bribe scandal, which also involved second placed Milan. So even though Inter finished the season down in third, they were crowned official league champions by default.

The Rivalry

The games between Milan and Inter are known as the Derby della Madonnina, named after the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose statue at the summit of the Milan Cathedral is one of the city's main attractions.

The most notorious derby match between the Milanese giants took place during the second leg of the Champions' League quarter-final tie on April 12, 2005. The game was abandoned after AC Milan goalkeeper Dida, was felled by a flare thrown from the crowd. After a meeting, UEFA awarded Milan the match by the score of 3-0 and they progressed to the semi final stages, while Inter were disgraced and fined.

The Fans

Historically, AC Milan was supported by the working-class and trade unionists, a section of who were migrants from Southern Italy. Inter, on the other hand, were mainly followed by the more prosperous and typically middle-class bourgeoisie Milanese.

Both Milan and Inter boast some of the oldest Ultra groups (the Ultras are a specific supporter sub-group, first appearing in Italy at the end of the 60's) in Italian football.

The Inter Ultras originated in 1969 and have right wing affiliations, whereas, the Ultras of Milan have never had any particular political preference, although some sections of the media insisted on portraying them as leaning to the left.

A Hat-Trick of Properties

This three bed modern villa was built in 2004 and is a 15 minute drive from Bergamo airport. The property is set over three floors, has a garden and is situated in a quiet residential area. Ideal for a football apprentice looking for somewhere to relax after a hard day of cleaning the boots of his overpaid team-mates. Price £246,800.

This four bedroom family villa has breathtaking views across Lake Maggiore to the stunning scenery of the Alps. The property is just a five minute drive to the medieval village of Cannobio and an hour away from Milan. For a member of the coaching staff and his family, this apartment is spacious and in a great location to get to the ground. Price £716,250.

A fantastic six bedroom villa located five kilometres from Lecco and 53 Kilometres to Milan. The property has stunning views of Annone Lake and the surrounding mountains. For a squad member that doesn't have the salary power of some of his more illustrious team-mates, this large house offers some nice features and a garden big enough to kick a ball about. Price £1, 950,560.

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Photos by maurobrock, luiginter, adit_mawar, buggolo & grahamwilliam

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