Cities of Football: Where Passion Lives Beyond the Pitch (Chapter 3)

 3. MILAN 


Source: Agoda.com


Two Colors, One City

While in many cities football unites, in Milan it divides, but in a way that still unites people in a shared passion. Milan isn't just known for its fashion, classic cafes, or Duomo architecture. In this city, football is a symbol of identity, a way for residents to express themselves and their roots.

Two major clubs, AC Milan and Inter Milan, grew from the same roots but developed with very different characters. AC Milan was founded in 1899, while Inter was born nine years later after a group of members decided to leave because they wanted a club that was open to foreign players.

Since then, the city has had two colors: red and black and blue and black. The difference isn't just about the uniforms, but also about philosophy. AC Milan is known as a more "working-class" club rooted in the spirit of the people, while Inter is more often associated with the elegant style and cosmopolitan image of Milan.


Source: Tribun Kaltara

According to BBC Sport (2023), the derby between these two clubs, known as the Derby della Madonnina, is “one of the fiercest rivalries in football, where passion, history, and city pride collide.”

And every time the derby comes around, Milan is transformed completely. The bars of San Siro are filled with chants from both sides, club scarves flutter from apartment windows, and the sound of trumpets echoes from the metro to the city square.


Two Clubs, One Stadium

One of the most unique things about Milan is the fact that two of the world's biggest clubs share the same stadium: the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, better known as the San Siro. Built in 1926, the stadium now holds over 75,000 spectators.

Despite sharing the same venue, each corner of the stadium has a different “soul” depending on who is playing. When AC Milan is hosting, the stands are awash in red and black and the words "Forza Milan!"; but a week later, the same stadium transforms into a sea of ​​blue and black filled with Nerazzurri flags.

According to CNN Sports (2022), "Few stadiums in the world can transform their identity so completely in just a few days like Milan's San Siro does."


Source: The New York Times

Besides its iconic stadium, Milan is also known for its most successful football heritage in Italy. AC Milan has seven UEFA Champions League trophies, the most in Italy, while Inter Milan has won three Champions League titles and a historic treble in 2010 under coach José Mourinho.

This achievement makes Milan the only city in the world with two different clubs to have both won the Champions League.

Off the pitch, the fans also have a distinctive character. Milan fans are known for their loyalty and nostalgia for the golden era of the 1990s, while Inter supporters are known for their creative choreography and chants. During every derby, the south stand (Curva Sud) and north stand (Curva Nord) act like a giant theater stage where emotion and love for the club are displayed magnificently.

Milan is truly a city of two colors: red and black and blue and black. But behind all the differences, they both love one thing, football.



REFERENCES:

Wikipedia. (n.d.). History of AC Milan. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org

Britannica. (n.d.). History of Inter Milan. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com

UEFA.com. (n.d.). UEFA Champions League club history. Retrieved from https://www.uefa.com

BBC Sport. (n.d.). The Milan Derby: City pride and passion. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/sport

CNN Sports. (n.d.). San Siro: The stadium shared by rivals. Retrieved from https://edition.cnn.com

The Guardian. (n.d.). Football and identity in Milan. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com


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