SEASON‑OPENER AGAINST UDINESE: AC MILAN UNBEATEN IN 40 YEARS

Today, Marco Giampaolo led the team's first session back at Milanello. After a month away from our training ground, the team began their preparation for their first two official games of the season: the first in Udine and the second at San Siro against Brescia. Udinese v Milan brings back memories of three great icons in Rossoneri history. The last time that the Rossoneri played their opening game of the season in Friuli was 40 years ago, on 13 September 1981. The game finished 0-0 and just as will happen with Giampaolo this season, there was a Rossoneri debut in our technical area for the new coach - Gigi Radice.

The Rossoneri great from Cesano Maderno was one of the key players for AC Milan in the 50s, and another Milan legend would then lead the club as a coach just a few years later. The opening day of another season also saw Milan v Udinese at San Siro, Nils Liedholm making his return as coach, having previously led the club to a tenth league title in a former spell. On what was a sunny afternoon, the match between Milan and Udinese ended 2-2 thanks to Virdis and Hateley goals against the Bianconeri, who were coached by Zico, a former icon of Flamengo. Carlo Ancelotti, in his first season as coach of Milan, should have also faced Udinese on the first day of the season in 2002-03, but the fixture was postponed to November.

From Zico to Rivaldo. On that occasion it was the latter Brazilian who proved decisive, Rivaldo scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win for the Rossoneri. Unlike Radice, “Il Barone” and Carletto, Marco Giampaolo never played for AC Milan, but his hard work and impressive past should push Il Diavolo to give everything on the field this season, starting on Sunday 25 August at 18:00, in a challenge long-awaited by Milan fans.

A reminder that applications for season tickets for the 2019/20 season are still open. You can also buy tickets to Milan vs. Brescia, our first home game in the new Serie A season.