Home » AC Milan best XI from Berlusconi’s era

AC Milan best XI from Berlusconi’s era

AC Milan best XI from Silvio Berlusconi’s era as we compiled a list from the peak of Rossoneri, which reflecting his illustrious and successful 31-year tenner as the club owner.

For more AC Milan updates here

Enter for more Milan x M88 Mansion best promotions

The pass of Berlusconi was a shock to Milan’s fans who will forever remember his name as the savior who bought the club and saved it from bankruptcy in the 1980s, all before made it the football history as one of the greatest.

During his reign at Milan, the club won a total of 29 trophies and earned the status of an European powerhouse.

Five Champions League, eight Scudetto, seven Supercoppa Italia and many more had been added to Milan’s cabinet.

The triumph was created thanks to the star-studded squad that was built under Berlusconi, including seven Ballon d’Or winners, which up to these days, still stand as a record.

Let’s see who would make the list of AC Milan’s best XI from the late Berlusconi’s era.

GK: Dida

Dida arrived at Milan in 2000 and was their star for years in the start of the 21st century.

The FIFAPro 2005 Goalkeeper of the Year winner had very little to none who can compare with him during his peak.

While the Brazilian great had numerous great moments and titles won, his greatest would always be the three penalties he saved in the 2003 Champions League final against rivals Juventus.

RB: Cafu

Cafu is unarguably one of the best full-backs in football history and also went down as one of the first modern type of this position who was terrific at attacking and defending.

Despite having arrived at Milan during his 30s, the right-back still performed at the highest level and ended his career as a Rossoneri player in 2008 after winning a Scudetto, an Italian Super Cup, two European Super Cups, a Champions League, and a Club World Cup.

CB: Alessandro Nesta

Nesta and Maldini – a dream combo that any club could ever dream of, and Milan had the duo for more than a decade.

Nesta was among Milan’s most expensive signings when he moved from Lazio in the early 2000s, costing 30m euro, but he was Berlusconi’s most wanted then.

Did he live up to expectations? Way more than that, Nesta was recognized as the artist of defending with all his characteristics: timing, anticipation, tackling, and distribution.

LB: Paolo Maldini

Cafu on the right, Maldini on the left, that was for ages, any attacker’s nightmare during their peak.

Maldini is the most extraordinary one-club man who spent 25 seasons, or his entire career, wearing Milan’s kit and was made their skipper from 1997 onwards.

The Italian great is simply one of the greatest defenders ever, who won 26 trophies with Milan including the European Cup/UEFA Champions League five times, seven Serie A titles, one Coppa Italia, five Supercoppa Italiana titles, five UEFA Super Cups, two Intercontinental Cups and one FIFA Club World Cup.

CB: Franco Baresi

Before Maldini, there was Baresi, who set the example for a devoted man who spent his entire 20-year career with the Rossoneri.

Baresi is the club icon who won three UEFA Champions League titles, six Serie A titles, four Supercoppa Italiana titles, two European Super Cups, and two Intercontinental Cups.

After Baresi left, Milan retired his number to honor him.

CM: Clarence Seedorf

Seedorf is a rare breed of midfielder who modernized the role and made it easy while beautiful and crucial.

The Dutch man joined in 2002 and left 10 years later, remaining to be the only player to win Champions League with three different clubs, including the 2008 with Milan.

CM: Frank Rijkaard

‘Tre Tulipani’ (Three Tulips) – that’s what they call the Dutch trio midfielders who set the foundation of Milan’s triumph.

Rijkaard is the second Dutch midfielder of the trio as he joined from Sporting CP in 1988 and went on to score 26 goals in 201 club’s appearances.

His best memory would be the winning goal in the 1990 European Cup final against Benfica.

CM: Ruud Gullit

Gullit arrived a year before Rijkaard, joining Milan from PSV for a world record transfer fee, winning the Ballon d’Or too in 1987.

He scored 56 goals and registered 40 assists as the club won two European cups and three Serie A.

CAM: Kaka

The Ballon d’Or 2007 winner and Champions League top scorer in the same season is among the best players of the 2000s.

Joined Milan from Sao Paoli in 2003 for an €8.5m fee, Kaka was an absolute bargain deal who scored 104 goals, assisted 81 times, and won the club five trophies.

ST: Andriy Shevchenko

The former Kyiv striker joined Rossoneri for a fee of around 25m euro.

Sheva racked up 175 goals and earned his place as the club’s second-top scorer. He won five titles with Milan during the seven-year spell and clinched the 2004 Ballon d’Or.

ST: Marco van Basten

The last name of Three Tulips during Berlusconi’s time as Milan owner, is Van Basten.

The Dutchman scored 125 goals and added 49 assists in 201 games for Milan, who he joined from Ajax. Van Basten won the Ballon d’Or three times – in 1988, 1989, and 1992 – and 10 trophies with the Rossoneri.