Reaction to the new of Silvio Berlusconi’s passing continues to roll in from the entire footballing community as well as AC Milan legends.
Berlusconi had been in and out of hospital for some time but was re-admitted on Friday to be treated for chronic leukaemia, and it was confirmed earlier today that he passed away with family by his side.
The media tycoon and politician owned Milan from 1986 to 2017, overseeing 29 trophy wins which makes him one of the most successful owners in the history of the sport, a remarkable achievement considering the club were near bankruptcy when he took charge.
Given the sheer magnitude of his tenure and the amount of players who came and went under his watch, it is no surprise that there are a number of tributes pouring in for Berlusconi which we have collated below.
Arrigo Sacchi: “I’m sick, despite everything I didn’t expect it. A brilliant friend to whom I owe everything. Silvio Berlusconi was a generous man and he tried to change this difficult country, made up of individualists.
“Was he too? No, he thought of the whole and saw far: when he hired me I told him ‘you’re either mad or a genius’. Given the results, you give me the answer…”
Paolo Maldini: “A genius, visionary, and dreamer is leaving us, but above all, a friend who has changed the history of our Italy. Thank you for everything, President. You made us, all the fans of Milan, live a dream for over 30 years. No one will ever be like you.”
Adriano Galliani: “It is a total void that can never be filled. Disheartened, speechless, with immense pain I cry for my friend, the master of everything, the person who changed my life for over 43 years. Rest in peace dear President. With much, much love.”
Kakhaber Kaladze: “Dear Silvio, today a part of the history of football and of Italy loses a protagonist, a man who has made it possible to lead Milan to conquer all the club titles, a man always ready for anything, a winning man, a man who made history in football. Thank you president! I offer my sincere condolences to the Berlusconi family.”
Carlo Ancelotti: “Today’s sadness does not erase the happy moments spent together. There remains infinite gratitude to the president, but above all to an ironic, loyal, intelligent, sincere man, fundamental in my adventure as a footballer first, and then as a coach. Thank you President.”
Roberto Mancini: “We are very sorry, Berlusconi was an extraordinary man for sport and for politics. Today is a very sad day. A personal memory? There are many, I think of a derby when we won and he went into the locker room to compliment us.
“He was very sporty. My entire career has been linked to Berlusconi, president of Milan. It’s a difficult and sad day, a man who represented so much for Italy.”
Ariedo Braida: “(Voice breaking with emotion) I can’t, I can’t speak.”
Franco Baresi: “I feel more alone. For me he was like a father, a unique and affectionate president for everyone. He made my dreams come true. An extraordinary president and an extraordinary person, he always knew how to find the right words on every occasion. In football he was a visionary, he created a fantastic team and made my childhood dreams come true. I owe him a lot.”
Alessandro Nesta: “There are not enough words to show esteem and gratitude. Rest in peace, immense President.”
Filippo Galli: “Name the new Milan stadium after Silvio Berlusconi? It could be an idea. He took the club and brought it to the top of the world. If the idea started from a popular initiative, it would be a solution that could be followed.
“The club’s last decades are linked to him. Personally, I have many memories, personal and public. I remember the enthusiasm with which he explained to us about the presentation at the Arena Civica, his arrival of the helicopter. He had incredible enthusiasm and this, along with many other things, made us understand the greatness of what he had in mind.”
Fabio Capello: “Silvio Berlusconi was a genius. He had a vision that he was years ahead of. In many fields he has done incredible things, such as in football and in the business world, in other areas they have persecuted him.
“I owe my entire coaching career to him. After four years at the desk he called me to Milan. This surprised me but he made me proud and we achieved extraordinary results.”
Filippo Inzaghi: “After more than a decade at her side, I am sure that of all the photos that portray him, he would have chosen this one. I will always carry in my heart his intelligence, his ability to always surround herself with good and insightful people, his exuberance and his hunger for victory: the secrets of his success! Together with you we have written many special pages of Italian football and you will always and only be the only, great President for me.”
Carlo Pellegatti: “Berlusconi was a mad dreamer. It is said that the difference between a madman and a genius is success and therefore it is easy to understand whether he was a madman or a genius.
“Milan was his father Luigi’s team, the purchase of club was dictated by affection. Some told him not to buy it, in the end he decided to buy it. At that moment Milan were in danger of failing. Berlusconi saved Milan, but not only because it allowed them to win everything He bought and convinced many champions.
“When there was an empty square at Milanello, it meant that President Berlusconi was about to arrive. He loved talking to journalists, they were beautiful days. He gave me one of the most beautiful compliments.
“After hearing one of my celebrations in the commentary, he said that I was one of Milan’s added values. His Milan had to win and convince. Sacchi’s Milan was elected the strongest club team ever. Those who knew him he always loved, he was always polite and respectful.”
Massimo Ambrosini: “There will hardly be anyone in the world of football with the same genius, passion, ambition and courage. Thank you very much, dear president, for giving me the chance to be part of a winning and unrepeatable story.”
Cristian Brocchi: “You don’t need many words, unique, inimitable, unattainable! RIP President.”
Demetrio Albertini: “In sport, percentages of merit are not usually given, but objectively he had the merit of uniting an idea with the feasibility of a goal. So he had a huge impact. I lived under Silvio Berlusconi’s presidency from a young player to the first team, until I became one of the old guard.
“He always had the right words at every stage of my sporting life. Before he entered politics, he always came to lunch with us on the eve of the matches, I also remember his jokes. He was a president who was always there.”
Ruud Gullit: “Forever grateful for the opportunity given me to play at your glorious club.”
Alessio Romagnoli: “Thank you president, have a good trip.”
Andrea Pirlo: “A great man, a great President. I had the honour and good fortune to have lived many moments together. Your precious teachings will always remain with me. Thank you Silvio, you will be missed. RIP.”
Sergino: “Today started badly with the sad news of the loss of our great president Berlusconi…I thank God for having had the opportunity to meet a legend…of a unique intelligence….Thank you very much and always Forza Milan.”
Marco Amelia: “”I joined the family of the great Milan in 2010, welcomed like a son by the President Silvio Berlusconi, a charismatic man, an enlightened leader, a visionary entrepreneur.
“Every day at Milanello one experienced the extraordinary atmosphere created by a dreamy President, who shaped the mentality of the Club in his image and likeness: ambitious, successful, dominant. Impossible to forget what he did for Milan, but also for Italian and world football.
“I join in the feeling of deep gratitude of all those who, like me, they had the privilege of knowing him and being part of the big Rossoneri family, in which everyone felt involved and important thanks to his extraordinary empathy and humanity. Thanks for everything, President!”
Alexandre Pato: “”Grazie per tutto Presidente.”
Vincenzo Montella: “Proud to have given you the last trophy as President of your beloved Milan. Rest in peace.”
Kakà: “It is with deep sadness that I receive the news of the passing of President Silvio Berlusconi. My life will always be connected to Milan, and that is thanks to the opportunity he gave me. My thoughts and prayers are with his family in this time of sorrow.”
Gianluigi Buffon: “Today we say goodbye to Silvio Berlusconi, a visionary, passionate and romantic football president. He transformed Milan into a world power, conquering the hearts of millions of fans. His legacy in the world of football will always be remembered.”
Massimiliano Allegri: “My first memory of President Berlusconi is when I met him for the first time at Milanello: on that occasion during our chat he struck me a lot when he told me how many projects and ideas he had in mind and how to realise them all he would have to to live to at least 120!
“Here, in paying homage to him on this day of great pain, I would like to underline his great charisma and his vision of the world that had no limits. Confident and extremely positive in planning the future.
“This will to live and fighting for every goal is a legacy he left to all those who had the opportunity to collaborate with him and that will not be forgotten.”
Marco van Basten: “Beautiful and unforgettable moments. Thank you, President.”
Silvio was one in a lifetime.
Unfortunately today AC Milan has to deal with some random guy named Gerry Cardinale…….
riposa in pace il nostro grande presidente del club
Rest in peace, legend
RIP to the man who made Milan the best club in the world
Sad Month to be a Milan fan Ibra, Paolo Maldini and now Berlusconi!
I watched the full first AC Milan match when I was 12 years old in 1989 on white and black television, the replay of semifinal Champion Cup 1989, vs Real Madrid 5-0, in Sumatra, Indonesia. That Milan is the greatest ever of football club I had seen for many years. Many Champion Cup finals of Milan followed with many of joys and story, all under Berlusconi era. The best football club President.
Thanks for everything you did for AC Milan.
It was always hard to seperate the politics from the football.
I started supporting Milan as a child.
My brother supported them and the three Dutchmen were magical.
Dad had started wavering and decided to stop supporting Milan because he couldn’t see past the politics.
I’m probably the same now. If dirty man came to Milan now I’d probably have to bow out.
Berlusconi did so much for the club I love. He did a huge amount of damage to the country I love – the original Trump.
He mainstreamed corruption, embraced Gaddafi and Putin, took Italy to war, and divided the nation with his embrace of Lega Nord.
Then on the pitch celebrated diversity and togetherness.
What a strange life. I have very mixed feelings today. I know what dad would say…
Very well said. Il Cavaliere was as divisive a figure as can be but we become Milan fans from his Grande Milan teams that reached the highest heights with quality, character and style. RIP Silvio and thank you for those years.
Agree to disagree but respectfully of course. All the best.
from Silvio Berlusconi to gary cardinale
Literally the best owner we could have ever had. Legend who understood milan at its core. He embodied the city and the club and its sad to see the type of club we have become without him. Not talking about victories but of what it meant to be Milan in the past v now. Great Great Presidente. Thank you for all the wonderful memories. Rest peacefully legend.
RIP Presidente.
R.i.p the pm