#ONTHISDAY: CARLO ANCELOTTI TAKES CHARGE OF THE ROSSONERI

21 years have passed since that famous 'first time', that 13 November 2001 that saw Carlo Ancelotti sit in the Rossoneri dugout, which would be his for the next 8 years. It was a wonderful story, which wrote memorable pages and chapters, brought trophies and legacies, passion and emotion. Today we celebrate Ancelotti's epic time as the Rossoneri's coach by retracing some special milestones that marked his path. 

First game: AC Milan 3-0 Perugia, 13 November 2001 (Coppa Italia)
Carletto debuted at the San Siro with a comfortable victory against Cosmi's Perugia. All the goals came in the second half: Inzaghi's double from a double assist by Rui Costa and Sogliano's own goal to seal the 3-0 win. A good start...

50th game: AC Milan 2-1 Bayern Monaco, 23 October 2002 (Champions League)
On home turf, in the Champions League, Ancelotti reached his first milestone as the Rossoneri's coach: his 50th game. It came against Bayern Munich, on the fourth game of the group stage of the historic 2002/03 edition, which saw us win the final against Juventus. 2-1 the final result of that match, thanks to goals from Serginho and - needless to say - Filippo Inzaghi, interspersed with Tarnat's equaliser.

100th game: AC Milan 2-2 Roma, 31 May 2003 (Coppa Italia Final second leg)
What a way to celebrate reaching triple figures! In a packed San Siro, AC Milan were on the scene a few days after triumphing in Manchester against Juventus in the Champions League Final, hosting Roma for the return leg of another Final, the Coppa Italia. After the 4-1 win in the first leg at the Olimpico, the Rossoneri drew 2-2 with goals from Rivaldo and Inzaghi (!) and the double celebration began. 

150th game: Udinese 0-0 AC Milan, 25 April 2004 (matchday 31 Serie A 2003/04)
A goalless draw, but a very crucial point. The Rossoneri are now 8 points ahead of Roma and there is a direct clash at San Siro on the horizon. The Friulan side held Milan to a 0-0 draw, the Giallorossi beat Empoli at home and went back to within 6 points. On 2 May 2004, however, Shevchenko's header sealed the deal and won us our 17th Scudetto.

200th game: AC Milan 1-0 Chievo, 20 April 2005 (matchday 32 Serie A 2004/05)
Almost a year later, and here is the next milestone: the 200th game, celebrated in a AC Milan v Chievo match that fell in the middle of the Scudetto fight. The final outcome of the championship would not be identical to 2003/04, but the match was decided by a personal action, of strength and quality, by Clarence Seedorf, who brought the whole stadium to its feet in the 65th minute. 

250th game: Juventus 0-0 AC Milan, 12 March 2006 (matchday 29 Serie A 2005/06)
A showdown for the very top of the table, Ancelotti against Capello, ended with a 0-0 that postponed any verdict. For Ancelotti, the number of appearances in the technical area became 250 and his years in charge almost 5, and AC Milan ended that championship behind the Bianconeri, preparing for glory the following season. 

300th game: Siena 3-4 AC Milan, 17 February 2007 (matchday 29 Serie A 2006/07)
It was a special afternoon at the Franchi in Siena, a 4-3 draw full of emotion, including Ronaldo's first two goals in a Rossoneri shirt. AC Milan went ahead three times with only Brazilian goalscorers - Ronaldo twice and Ricardo Oliveira - and three times they were caught, by Vergassola and Maccarone's double. In the final moments the decisive goal, an own goal in a scrimmage that allowed Ancelotti to celebrate his 300th game with a win. 

35th game: Atalanta 2-1 AC Milan, 23 January 2008 (rescheduled matchday 12  Serie A 2007/08)
The first - and only - defeat in this special Carlo Ancelotti memoir. The 350th game coincided with a defeat at the Atleti Azzurri d'Italia in Bergamo. Gattuso's goal was not enough as Atalanta came back with Langella and Tissone and forced the Rossoneri into defeat. 

400th game: Bologna 1-4 AC Milan, 25 January 2009 (matchday 20, Serie A 2008/09)
A comeback victory of great significance. Kaká scored a brace just days after the deadline day rumours that he was about to move to Manchester City, while David Beckham scored the first goal of his stint with the Rossoneri, in his third official appearance. It was also a joyous afternoon at the Dall'Ara for Ancelotti, who reached 400 benches, a number that only Nereo Rocco had reached before him. 

Final game (420th): Fiorentina 0-2 AC Milan, 31 May 2009 (matchday 38 Serie A 2008/09)
The end. At the Franchi stadium in Florence it was an afternoon of mixed emotions for AC Milan fans, who had to face two poignant farewells: Paolo Maldini's last match as a player and Carlo Ancelotti's last as a coach, after a run of almost eight years. AC Milan won 2-0 thanks to Pato and Kaká and Champions League qualification was in the bag. For Ricky himself, this will be the last game of his first Rossoneri experience, before his return in 2013.