Silvio Berlusconi, who died on Monday at the age of 86 from leukemia from which he had long suffered, was a businessman and politician. But also football. The imprint it leaves on the beautiful game, signed with a historic Milan who reigned for 31 years, is unrivaled with many other works of football architecture. That champion Milan will always be Berlusconi’s Milan.
Berlusconi started his career with the ‘rossonero’ team in 1986, 37 years ago. His rise to power in Milan was a strange one. Two administrative declines, in 1981 and 1983, and a president, Giovanni Nardi, on the run, created a breeding ground of uncertainty in northern Italy about the direction the Lombard entity would take.
BIG LANDS
But a 50-year-old Berlusconi, already established in the audiovisual market with his Mediaset, eager for business opportunities, appeared to take command. And he did it big. He landed by helicopter on the day of his new team’s presentation, July 18, 1986, in the center of an Arena Milano to the sound of Wagner’s ‘Ride of the Valkyries’, clarifying what his style was going to do . are. The one he wore, for better or for worse, to the end of his days.
Berlusconi’s idea with his new football son was clear. He wanted titles and didn’t have much patience. The fastest solution: capital. More than 700 million euros.
He gave the keys to Arrigo Sacchi in the first leg of glory, to Fabbio Capello in the second and to Carlo Ancelotti in the third; but he was still the main image, the protagonist of a team that rose to the top of Italy and Europe with players like Dida, Gattuso, Ibra, Kaka, Pirlo, Rijkaard, Gullit, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Sevchenko, Van Basten or Weah , among many others.
MILAN OF BERLUSCONI
It took only three years for the renewed project in Milan to bear fruit since the arrival of the tycoon. In 1989 he established himself as an ogre in Italy, winning the ‘Scudetto’ and the Italian Super Cup; and in Europe, raising the first orejona of his record. A year later, he won the second European Cup and established himself as a great in Europe. Berlusconi has achieved his goal.
The showcases began to fill with trophies: five Champions Leagues, five European Super Cups, eight ‘Scudettos’, one Mundialito, six Italian Super Cups and one Cup, among others.
Milan was the image of the success of a businessman who combined sports and politics, often indiscriminately between the two, taking refuge in the footballing glory of the numerous scandals that accompanied his career.
THE REJECTION
After three spells of undeniable success, 2007 marked the end of an era for Milan, with what was Berlusconi’s fifth Champions League. The decline of one of the most powerful entities of ‘calcio’ clearly began in 2006, when it was confirmed to be involved in what is known as the ‘Calciopoli case’, despite managing to retain the category.
Management, once a thrilling road to success, turned into a slide into decadence that dealt a final blow with Massimiliano Allegri and Berlusconi’s final ‘Scudetto’, won in 2010.
Seven years later, in 2017, as Milan plunged into a major economic, game and results crisis, Berlusconi stepped aside and ended the most important stage in Milan’s history.
THE MONZA, AN EXCITING PROJECT
But far from wanting to leave the world of football, just a year after leaving Milan, in 2018 and with a swift operation of almost three million euros, the media mogul kept 100% of a Serie C Monza. Berlusconi’s goal was clear, to reach Serie A as soon as possible.
‘Il Cavaliere’ was back in the ring and his rigidity and outbursts returned to the football world in 2022, when just four years later, thanks to his tenacity and portfolio, he returned to his natural habitat, the Serie A. center of attention in the football circus.
The owner of the Fininvest financial group imitated his Milanese model, also with the good results he achieved in his time. A fast-paced sports project, based on a checkbook. And 116 million euros later – divided into transfers, capital increase and new infrastructure for the team – an exorbitant amount for teams from the third and second division, he achieved it.
In fact, he could experience his own derby, the ‘Berlusconi Derby’, in a stadium. The nostalgia of what was with a giant and the illusion of what could come with a humble look in each other’s eyes. The beautiful memories of a bygone era full of successes and dreams for the future came together in an eleven against eleven match with a special spectator in the stands.
This Monza, his new Milan, gave him a great first season, finishing 11th in his historic debut in Serie A. But Berlusconi always wanted more, he held onto his ambition until the end. He said it last season at the promotion of his second football son. He pointed to the ‘Scudetto’ and the Champions League.
The last of his outlandish speeches and off-the-cuff remarks came in late 2022, when he promised the players a “bus full of prostitutes” if they beat one of Italy’s greats in Serie A.
Berlusconi was one of the few figures left of that football of the past. Part of the golden Milan also leaves with him. But what remains certain is his name linked to two historic stages, each in its own way, of two teams that knew the glory of his hand.
Source: El heraldo
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
