Coaches

For a list of Milan coaches please see Milan Coaches

Ancelotti's 4-3-1-2 formation during the 2005/2006 season

Carlo Ancelotti is the present coach of Milan and has been at the club since 2001. Before coaching Milan, Ancelotti had an unsuccessful period at Juventus. Ancelotti's arrival at the club heralded an upturn in results for the club. With Carlo in charge, Milan have won Serie A in 2003/2004 and the Champions League in 2002/2003 after a dramatic penalty shoot out win against his former club, and the seventh Champions League in 2006/2007 against Liverpool F.C.. Carlo generally prefers to play with either a 4-3-1-2 or a 4-3-2-1 formation, the latter being used to great effect in the 2002/2003 Champions League.

Other successful coaches in Milan's history includes Nereo Rocco, Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello. Under Nereo Rocco, Milan won several Scudetti along with two European Cups and a Cup Winners' Cup in 1968. Silvio Berlusconi's purchase of the club in the early 1980's heralded a new period in the clubs history with Arigo Sacchi being appointed coach. Sacchi won back to back European Cups with a team considered to have been one of the greatest teams in history. As much success with Milan as Sacchi had, a row involving him and Dutch striker, Marco Van Basten was to bring a quick end to his Milan career. Berlusconi decided that either Sacchi or Van Basten had to leave the club and in the end it was Sacchi who was fired.

With the end of the Sacchi era, a new coaching team was implemented with then youth team coach, Fabio Capello installed as head coach. Fabio ruled over another successful period with numerous Scudetti, the highlight which was an unbeaten season in 1991/1992. Capello also guided them to three stright appearences in the finals of the Champions League, including a miracle win over F.C. Barcelona in 1993-94. With key defenders Alessandro Costacurta and Franco Baresi suspended, Milan entered the match as underdogs against a fancied Barcelona side under the management of Johan Cruijff. In the most one sided final ever, Milan eased to a 4-0 win, earning their fifth European Cup which entitled them to keep the trophy permanently.