SILVIO BERLUSCONI: AC MILAN PAY TRIBUTE TO ‘UNFORGETTABLE’ OWNER, WHO HAS DIED AT 86
AC Milan have paid tribute to “unforgettable” former owner Silvio Berlusconi following his death at the age of 86 on Monday.
Berlusconi bought his hometown club in 1986 and turned the struggling side into one of football’s most successful clubs.
Under his leadership, Milan won five European Cups, as well as eight Italian league titles.
In 2017, he sold the club to Chinese investors for 740m euros (£628m).
The former Italian prime minister returned to football less than 18 months later when his holding company, Fininvest, bought 100% of shares in third-division side Monza in 2018.
Berlusconi and former Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani guided the club to Serie A for the first time in their 110-year existence.
A Monza statement read: “Forever with us. Adriano Galliani and all AC Monza mourn the loss of Silvio Berlusconi.
“A void that can never be filled, forever with us. Thank you for everything President.”
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, during his playing career, helped Milan lift their first league title of the Berlusconi era in 1988 and returned to manage the club from 2001 to 2009.
The Italian was criticised by Berlusconi during his early seasons for his supposedly defensive tactics but would go on to win the Champions League twice, the Coppa Italia and secure the Serie A trophy with an Italian record 82 points from 34 games. [BBC]