Save Milan
It is now “Milan” who is one of the giants of world football, which is supported by tens or even hundreds of millions of people around the world. And in the early 1980s, the club was relegated to the second division, Serie B, due to a betting scandal. Even then, the press started talking about Berlusconi’s interest in the Reds-Blacks. “Silvio, Milan loves you”, “Berlusconi, save us from disgrace” – such banners began to appear at the San Siro stadium. In 1986, Silvio bought AC Milan.
Berlusconi actually saved the legendary team from bankruptcy, assuming all the debts, and returned the Milanese to their former greatness. Milan was his brainchild, and at times the businessman’s love for the club knew no bounds. So, according to his friends, Berlusconi spent a billion dollars on the needs of the team. “It’s a matter of the heart. Yes, it’s expensive, but the most beautiful women are also expensive,” retorted Berlusconi with humor.
Under Silvio’s leadership, Milan won 29 trophies, became Italian champions eight times and won the Champions League five times. The most memorable was undoubtedly the 2007 final, when the Red-Blacks took revenge on Liverpool for their defeat two years ago in Istanbul. So, in Athens, Berlusconi lifted the cup above his head for the only time with the players – after that, the Rossoneri did not win the main European Cup …
It’s amazing how for 31 years Berlusconi kept the “red-blacks” in the highest positions, and the club had no financial problems. But nothing lasts forever: in 2017, after long negotiations, Silvio nevertheless sold Milan, explaining his decision by the fact that it was already difficult for him to support the club alone.
- After more than 30 years, I leave the presidency of AC Milan. I do this with pain and emotion, but knowing that to participate in the biggest tournaments of modern football requires investments and resources that a family is no longer able to support,” Berlusconi noted not without sadness.
great reformer
It was thanks to Berlusconi that the biggest club tournament on the planet – the European Champions League – acquired its current form. Until the early 1990s, it did not bring economic benefits to organizers. The Italian has called the Champions League ‘economic nonsense’ as top clubs might drop out early, causing the ratings to plummet.
Silvio wanted to monetize using interesting TV shows for fans. And for that, there should have been more matches with the participation of giants. In this regard, 18 teams began to participate in the Champions League – three from England, Spain, Italy and Germany, as well as one from France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Scotland. It was after this that the overall reforms of the tournament took place (it received a new name, an official logo and an anthem), and the Champions League itself appeared. Berlusconi took the project to a new level, and it eventually became the most successful in world club football.
last love
In 2018, Silvio returned to football: he bought the third division club of the Italian championship – Monza. He wouldn’t be himself if he hadn’t attracted attention: he immediately introduced a number of prohibitions in the team and established a dress code.
For example, he banned beards, earrings and tattoos. On the pitch, Monza players had to immediately apologize to the opponent for the violations, and the referees were treated like gentlemen. They should always be fashionably dressed, and sign autographs, write their names without illegible scribbles.
Surprisingly, Berlusconi’s methods worked: Monza moved into the big leagues last year. Moreover, they did not lose themselves among the giants: they took 11th place, retaining their residence permit in the top flight and beating Juventus twice during the season and national champions Napoli once.
What’s funny – before the start of the championship, Silvio promised the players that if they managed to defeat Juventus or Milan, he would order them a bus with girls with low social responsibility.
Farewell to the legend
The news of Berlusconi’s death was a tragedy for everyone who supports Milan and Italian football in general.
- Great man and president. I had the honor and the happiness of living many moments with you. Thank you Silvio, you will be missed. Rest in peace,” former AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo tweeted.
Another legendary player, Paolo Maldini, noted that Berlusconi completely changed the history of the club: “A genius, a visionary and a dreamer is leaving us. A friend who changed the history of our Italy, Milan. Thank you for everything, president. You have made every Milan fan’s dream come true for 30 years. No one compares to you.”
But, perhaps, the former head coach of Milan, now helmsman of Juventus of Turin, Massimiliano Allegri, described Berlusconi’s life course better than others: “It was a wonderful and charismatic person. I was always amazed when he talked about how much he wants to do in this life. To achieve all his dreams, he had to live at least 120 years.
Besides
Like the Marquis of Carabas
In Berlusconi’s Italy, there was a popular joke that was absolutely true.
“A man works in a factory owned by the Prime Minister. At the end of the day, he goes out and gets into a car which is made in a factory owned by the Prime Minister. He arrives at his house, owned by a company owned by the Prime Minister He sits to watch the TV channel owned by the Prime Minister to watch the football played by the team owned by the Prime Minister.
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