AC MILAN AND THE CITY OF MILAN CELEBRATE KILPIN

On the day of its 120th birthday, AC Milan and Milan’s municipality unveiled a new roundabout road sign dedicated to the club’s founding father, Herbert Kilpin. The roundabout is located outside the entrance of the Museo Mondo Milan.

One hundred and twenty years ago, Herbert Kilpin, from Nottingham, England, founded one of the most successful clubs in the history of football. AC Milan, originally known as “Milan Football and Cricket Club”, chose its home colours following Kilpin’s recommendations in his famous quote: "Our colours will be red like flames and black like our opponents' fear."

AC Milan CEO Ivan Gazidis, Milan’s councillor for culture Filippo Del Corno, Herbert Kilpin's relatives Helen Stirland and Roger A. Stirland, Milan’s Chief Football Officer Zvonimir Boban, Technical Director Paolo Maldini, and Sporting Director Frederic Massara unveiled the new plaque for the Casa Milan roundabout. The emotional ceremony was attended by over 200 Rossoneri fans to witness the tribute to Kilpin, whose vision has made AC Milan a leading ambassador in Italian football and Milan one of the most famous cities around the world.

The new road sign which reads Rotatoria "Herbert Kilpin" (Fondatore A.C. Milan – 1870/1916). The plaque is an important tribute to Kilpin whose name already resides in Milan’s Famedio, the memorial chapel dedicated to people who played a significant role in making Milan great.

"Kilpin was able to give to our Club the DNA to make us real fighters, born to win in elite football - said AC Milan Executive Chairman Paolo Scaroni - he was the inspiration behind our ambition and innovation. It is no coincidence that the team started winning just two years after its foundation giving our fans from across the world immediate success. On behalf of the Club and of all the Milanisti, I wish to thank Milan’s municipality spokesperson present today Councillor Del Corno, for allowing us to share this important tribute with the heirs of our founder."

"We are fully committed to delivering an excellent club of which the next generation of Rossoneri fans can be proud. – added AC Milan’s CEO Ivan Gazidis – We can achieve this by following Herbert Kilpin’s footsteps, his important values and global vision. The street sign we unveiled today will remind us every day of the right way to go."

Filippo Del Corno, Milan's city councillor for culture said: "It’s thanks to people like Herbert Kilpin that football has become the most popular sport in our country. Kilpin himself chose the home colours of the team he founded: red and black, strength and dynamism. Kilpin’s life tells a story of passion and enthusiasm that is part of the sporting history of our city and AC Milan has been playing a leading role for 120 years which has been a fantastic journey"

The tribute to Herbert Kilpin and to the 120 years of the Rossoneri Club will not stop there. In the coming weeks a work of modern art created by the Milanese artist Ivan Tresoldi together with the OBR architecture studio will be submitted for approval by the Culture Committee of the Municipality of Milan. The piece of art will be a tribute to the team, its collective identity and its myth. It represents a gift to AC Milan and the Milanisti to help build the future on the solid foundations of the Rossoneri’s proud history.