Nereo Rocco was handed the reins at the club as he took over from Paolo Todeschini in the dugout. The big summer moves in 1961 were the arrivals of Pivatelli and the Englishman Jimmy Greaves, as well as Lodetti getting promoted to the first team. The season got off to a positive start, with AC Milan recording important wins - 3-1 in the derby and 5-1 against Juventus - and scoring freely. However, the odd misstep too many meant they fell off the pace and finished the first run of tricky fixtures in fourth place and got knocked out of the Coppa Italia by Modena in the second round. Greaves was sold in the January window due to friction with the coach, to be replaced by the Brazilian Sani. The Rossoneri then produced a stunning run of form in the back half of the season. AC Milan's unstoppable charge began with a 4-1 trouncing of Vicenza and went on almost unbroken until the end of the season. The Rossoneri took 31 points from a possible 34, overturning the deficit and climbing to the top of the table thanks, in no small part, to an excellent run-in. From the away win against Roma (1-0), the Rossoneri made it eight wins on the spin - including against Fiorentina and Juventus in March - and won the title with a game to spare. AC Milan secured Scudetto number eight and Altafini had twice the cause to celebrate after he was named capocannoniere with 22 goals scored.
