Legendary Team's: Capello's AC Milan 'Invincibles' set a new standard in Serie A, and Europe
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Gregory Caltabanis
3 Yrs Ago
Replacing Arrigo Sacchi at AC Milan was never going to be easy for Fabio Capello, but the Italian stepped up admirably and led the Rossoneri back to the pinnacle of Italian football with great aplomb in the 1990s.
Labeled The Invincibles after posting an undefeated Serie A season in 1991-1992 and reaching three straight Champions League finals, the AC Milan of the early to mid-90s was one of the best teams ever assembled. Capello helped guide a team featuring the likes of Marco Van Basten, Frank Rijkaard and Ruud Gullit to European Cup glory, as well as Serie A dominance.
Initially, Capello's appointment in 1991 was a controversial one with doubts lingering over Milan's aging squad. The Friuli native had previously coached Milan's youth teams, but was inexperienced at the highest level.
Capello opted against a squad revolution and largely maintained Sacchi’s setup in place in his first season. Pressure mounted on the Italian tactician early on as Milan drew three of their first five games with Capello at the helm.
Led by the lethal Van Basten, the Rossoneri quickly found their feet, winning 12 of their next 14 clashes and took a commanding lead over Juventus. Van Basten finished the season as the league's leading goalscorer with 25 goals, propelling the side to their 12th Scudetto.
AC Milan finished the season undefeated, winning their first league title in three years. Capello's Milan were promptly dubbed The Invincibles for their impressive exploits, going on a 58-game unbeaten run extending until 1993. Today, the record stands alone across Europe's top five leagues.
The Rossoneri dominated Italian football in the early 90's and followed up their unbeaten season with consecutive league titles. Capello's Milan was ruthless in the final third with the Dutch trio of van Basten, Rijkaard and Gullit combining to devastating effect.
Capello deployed a traditional 4-4-2, making the most of Milan's mercurial wingers. Roberto Donadoni and Carlo Ancelotti provided some much-needed creativity from out wide and proved to be willing runners in their own third, offering defensive support when needed.
Capello relied heavily on Milan's veteran core and fielded an experienced double pivot of Frank Rijkaard and Demetrio Albertini in the middle of the park. Together, the duo anchored the midfield and offered the side's wingers the freedom to get forward. With Albertini sitting deep, Rijkaard often roamed dangerously in support of Milan's frontline, netting five goals and eight assists in their unbeaten season.
Behind them, Franco Baresi commanded the back four brilliantly alongside Alessandro Costacurta, forming an uncompromising centerback partnership. With Paolo Maldini and Mauro Tassotti flanking them, the quartet formed one of Italy's best defenses, conceding a mere 21 goals on route to the 1991-1992 Scudetto.
The veteran rearguard was put to the test in the 1994 Champions League final against Johan Cruyff's Dream Team. Baresi and Costacurta missed the final through suspension while van Basten was sidelined with an injury. Milan emerged comfortable winners despite their notable absences and put on a clinic in Athens, dispatching Barcelona 4-0.
The performance spoke volumes of Capello's Milan and demonstrated their incredible resolve. In many ways, the win allowed Capello to emerge from Sacchi's shadow and establish himself as one of Europe’s premier tacticians.
Today, AC Milan is struggling to reach its former heights and is heading into yet another rebuild come summertime. As the memories of Capello’s Invincibles linger, Milan will be eager to recreate its past glories and return to the upper echelons of European football once again.