It all started in the late 1980s when it’d been nearly a decade since Italian club AC Milan won a noteworthy trophy. Italian politician Silvio Berlusconi bought the club in February of that year, rescuing them from financial disaster and signed two Dutchmen: Ruud Gullit from PSV and Marco van Basten from Ajax. Basten and Gullit had an immediate impact on the club's success, as Milan won its first league title in almost a decade. Then in 1988, the iconic Dutch trio was formed after a third talented player was signed: Frank Rijkaard. 

No one could have predicted the endless potential of the new trio. With midfielder Rijkaard supporting the creative-minded playmaker Gullit, goalscoring opportunities were endless for Basten up front. The trio was even nicknamed “Tre Tulipani” by Milan supporters, meaning the three tulips. Together, they helped AC Milan win three consecutive league titles from 1991 to 1994 and secured 2 European Cups in the 1988-1989 and 1989-1990 seasons. This is something no team would manage to achieve again until Real Madrid nearly 3 decades later. 

The three Dutchmen made a name for themselves across Italy and the world, developing a close-knit friendship along the way and strengthening their bond as teammates. The future for both AC Milan and the Netherlands national team was looking more promising than ever with the rise of Tre Tulipani. However, by 1993 after controversies with the club administration and a breakdown in communications with Gullit’s party, the Dutch captain left the team. After the first one fell, the rest followed like dominoes. With Rijkaard returning to play for his childhood club, Ajax, and Van Basten facing a series of persistent injuries, leaving him no choice but to retire in 1995.

The Dutch trio didn’t just win trophies, they built a legacy that will go down in history. Throughout their time with AC Milan, the trio won three league titles, three domestic Super Cups, two Champions League titles, two European Super Cups, and two Club World Cups. AC Milan were unbeaten in 58 games between 1991 and 1993, an Italian record! In the seven seasons between 1988 and 1994, Milan won four titles, were runners-up twice and third once. They set the standard for European dominance in the modern era!

Legendary Managers

While the players battling on the pitch were the main superstars of AC Milan, the managers working their magic behind the scenes also deserve just as much credit. In 1987, Arrigo Sacchi was appointed with no top-level playing or coaching history. Despite his inexperience, Sacchi completely revolutionized the way the game was played. What Sacchi lacked in experience, he made up for with his genius vision when it comes to soccer. His high-pressing system, compact defensive line, and focus on teamwork over independence made AC Milan unbeatable at the time. His ideas were often considered untraditional and flamboyant, but they changed the way managers perform today and rewrote how the game is played. 

Nicknamed "The Prophet of Fusignano", Sacchi is regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time.  His time with AC Milan during their golden era is widely regarded to be one of the greatest club squads of all time. After Sacchi, Fabio Capello took over managing the AC Milan team with a mission to keep the momentum going. His inheritance of a team already known for its dominance and undefeated reputation was a lot of pressure as his first professional job. But even though his coaching style was more tactical compared to Sacchi, the club would still go unbeaten in the 1991-92 season. 

AC Milan was the first Italian team ever to win Serie A without a single loss, and with the help of Capello, the club had a record-breaking 58 game unbeaten streak. Fabio Capello's time at AC Milan was marked by consistent success, including multiple Serie A titles and a memorable UEFA Champions League victory, proving just how crucial it is to have a manager that’s just as talented as his team!

World-Class Players

The success of AC Milan in their glory days wasn’t just thanks to the Dutch trio or the legendary managers of the time, but the talented players who made up the team. AC Milan was gifted with unbelievable talent across the pitch. The late 80s and early 90s defined greatness for AC Milan in an era featuring multiple legends of the game, such as Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Alessando Costacurta, Mauro Tassotti, Roberto Donadoni, and Demetrio Albertini. 

Franco Baesi was a legendary captain and one of the greatest defenders in soccer history. While Paolo Maldini already started making a name for himself in the late 1980s and quickly became a world-class defender. He later became AC Milan’s long-term captain, and his loyalty will never be forgotten. Alessandro Costacurta was a defender who was a crucial part of Milan’s legendary backline. His partnership with Baresi, Maldini, and Tassotti dominated the club’s defense on the pitch. 

All of these players played a key role in defining AC Milan’s golden era. Not only were they perfectly balanced as a squad, but they set the standard of soccer and helped shape its future!

Looking back on the glory days of AC Milan, it’s clear that the legendary era was about so much more than just winning trophies! The club set a golden standard for soccer that very few have ever been able to replicate, even in modern times. From the visionary brilliance of Sacchi and Capello, to the talented Dutch trio, and the rest of the world-class player line-up, AC Milan took the world by storm. Their legacy lives on in the hearts of fans, and they gave them some of the most memorable moments the sport has ever seen!

Celebrate the legacy of AC Milan with our wide selection of club merch. From Fan Ink hats and beanies to mini metal jersey collectibles, we’ve got everything you need to show off your team pride at SoccerCards.ca.