The Conquerors: How Carlo Ancelotti Made AC Milan World Champions

The Conquerors is a homage to AC Milan's legendary era, charting their rise, fall, and resurgence under Carlo Ancelotti in 2001. It is a story of talent, iconic moments, and improbable redemption.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 24 April 2023
Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd

Fresh from a coaching baptism of fire at either end of the top Italian divisions, former club favourite Carlo Ancelotti returned to a then-disjointed Rossoneri dressing room as first-team manager in 2001. Out of sorts, out of form and out of touch with the standards set by the side in Ancelotti s day, AC Milan found a much-needed stabilising influence in the new coach, who helped them through a phase of transition. Though his impact wasn t immediate, nor without its share of dissenters, Ancelotti would ultimately return the team to its former glory.

The 1980s were a golden era for AC Milan, with the club winning six Serie A titles and two European Cups. However, the 1990s were a difficult period for the club, with the team struggling to maintain its position at the top of the Italian league. In 2001, Carlo Ancelotti was appointed as the club s new manager, and he quickly set about rebuilding the team.

Ancelotti s first task was to bring in new players to strengthen the squad. He signed the likes of Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi and Roberto Carlos, who were all veterans of the Italian national team and had a wealth of experience at the highest level. These signings helped to stabilize the defence and provide a solid foundation for the team.

Ancelotti also made some tactical changes to the team s playing style. He implemented a more possession-based game, which allowed the team to control the ball and create chances for scoring. This change in philosophy was met with some resistance from some of the older players, who were used to a more direct and physical style of play.

Despite the challenges that Ancelotti faced, he was able to guide the team to success. In 2003, AC Milan won the Serie A title for the first time in 11 years, and they went on to win the Champions League the following year. This was a remarkable achievement, and it cemented Ancelotti s place as one of the greatest managers in the history of the sport.

In the years that followed, AC Milan continued to be a dominant force in Italian football. They won another Serie A title in 2007, and they also reached the final of the Champions League in 2009, where they were defeated by Barcelona. However, the team s success began to decline in the 2010s, with the club struggling to maintain its position in the top four of the Serie A.

In 2011, AC Milan was sold to a Chinese consortium, and this marked the beginning of a new era for the club. The new owners brought in a new manager, Massimiliano Allegri, and they began to invest heavily in the team. They signed the likes of Mario Balotelli, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Andrea Pirlo, and they also built a new stadium for the team.

Under Allegri, AC Milan enjoyed a period of resurgence. The team won the Serie A title in 2013, and they also reached the final of the Champions League in 2014, where they were defeated by Real Madrid. However, the team s success was short-lived, and they were unable to maintain their position at the top of the league in the following years.

In 2016, AC Milan was sold to a new Italian consortium, and this marked the beginning of a new era for the club. The new owners brought in a new manager, Gennaro Gattuso, and they began to rebuild the team. They signed the likes of Leonardo Bonucci, Franck Kessie and Hakan Calhanoglu, and they also brought in young players from the club s academy.

Under Gattuso, AC Milan enjoyed a period of resurgence. The team won the Serie A title in 2017, and they also reached the final of the Champions League in 2018, where they were defeated by Liverpool. However, the team s success was again short-lived, and they were unable to maintain their position at the top of the league in the following years.

In 2019, AC Milan was sold to a new Italian consortium, and this marked the beginning of a new era for the club. The new owners brought in a new manager, Stefano Pioli, and they began to rebuild the team. They signed the likes of Rafael Leao, Sandro Tonali and Theo Hernandez, and they also brought in young players from the club s academy.

Under Pioli, AC Milan has enjoyed a period of resurgence. The team has won the Serie A title in 2020, and they have also reached the final of the Champions League in 2021, where they were defeated by Inter Milan. This is a remarkable achievement, and it shows that the club is once again a force to be reckoned with in European football.

In conclusion, The Conquerors is a tribute to one of the greatest club sides in football history. It s a story of incredible talent, iconic moments and the kind of improbable redemption usually reserved for Hollywood movie scripts. The club has experienced a rollercoaster of success and failure over the years, but it has always been able to bounce back and reclaim its place as a dominant force in Italian football. The story of AC Milan is a testament to the power of perseverance, hard work and dedication, and it is a story that will continue to inspire generations of football fans.

Dimension: 222 x 144 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781801503945