Home » The Thread of The Devil: Looking at AC Milan’s Kits 

The Thread of The Devil: Looking at AC Milan’s Kits 

AC Milan’s red and black stripes are one of football’s most noticeable and iconic kits of all time, during which it was at par to Real Madrid’s immaculate white, Barcelona’s fabled Blaugrana, the red diagonal stripe of River Plate, and many more. 

The simplicity of it all is as beautiful as the complex work of art during the Renaissance. In other words, you can see a Milanista from even miles away with that red and black combo. 

Origins 

The choice of colours was decided just after they were formed in 1899 as Milan Foot-ball and Cricket Clu. One of its founders, Nottingham native Herbert Kilpin had a simple explanation. 

 “We are a team of devils. Our colours are red as fire, and black, to invoke fear in our opponents!” 

And since that, the Rossoneri has become one of the grandest sporting symbols in the city that lives in style. 

Of Sponsors and Outfitters: The most Iconic Kits 

Since their first sponsored shirt came in 1981 (with Pooh Jeans adorning their kit when they returned to the Serie A), Milan had raked in not just cash, but also silverware along the way. 

The late 80s were happy times in the red half of the San Siro, with their fabled maglia was made by Italian brand, and sponsored by Mediolanum.  

With Sacchi at the helm and bolstered by the Dutch trio terrorizing opposition up front, the Rossoneri won back-to-back European Cups, the Super Coppa and a Scudetto. Also, Marco Van Basten took home the Ballon d’Or twice in a row (1988-89). 

Afterwards, it was sweet-loving Motta who took over at the front of the shirt by 1992, replacing the Milan-based bank after their invincible run to the scudetto. AC Milan lost to Marseille in the first-ever Champions League final in 1993, but rebounded a year later with a demolition of Barcelona. 

By 1994, an automotive company would see themselves being the longest sponsors of Milan, as GM’s Opel took over that sees them as partners with the Rossoneri. But it took them a return to adidas in 1998 that gave them the most iconic look in the 21^st century. 

With the Adidas-Opel bond, they’ve won two Serie A titles, a Coppa Italia, and a Champions League in 2003, cementing them as the most successful partnership. And with their previous wins, they won those with their white away kit that resembles a lucky charm. 

Opel left the San Siro in 2006, but it that did not stop Milan from picking up another scudetto and a European Cup alongside the Three Stripes, which made their kits until 2018 when Puma took over. 

With the Big Cat, Milan Finally ended a long wait to the top with their final day win to nab the Scudetto, as the airline Emirates on their front of the shirt.