All right, Ladies and Gentlemen: Time to reveal the solution to our quiz from yesterday. We mentioned that strips don’t lie and indeed the mysterious team of this week are exactly who they look – Milan, in their 1978-79 version.
The 1978-79 campaign was a very important one for the Rossoneri, as they won the title after a 11-year drought and conquered what in Italy we call the Scudetto della Stella (“Shield of the Star”). That’s when a team collect their 10th domestic title and gains the right to display a star patch on their jerseys.
Milan, coached by football legend (and former Rossonero player) Nils Liedholm, did so at the end of an incredible battle with underdog Perugia. If truth be told, while the red-and-blacks won the title, it was the Umbrian club to impress the world of calcio more by ending the Serie A season unbeaten and catching a unprecedented second place in the table.
Many were the notable players among the Rossoneri lines. Milan legend Gianni Rivera was still the captain but, at 36 years of age, that would be his last season before retirement. And, well, what a season that was!
Aged 39, goalkeeper Enrico “Ricky” Albertosi was also living the last days of a glorious career, but during the season would prove that he was still holding his own pretty well. Fabio Capello was “just” 33, but a string of injuries would limit his playing time during the campaign.
For many stars that were preparing to leave the calcio stage, there was one that was just about to rise. Sitting second from right in the front row of the above picture is an 18-year-old product of the Milan youth academy. His name was Franco Baresi and he was ready to ideally pick up the baton from the likes of Rivera and co.
Many more glorious days awaited Milan, but not before the Rossoneri would enter their worst period in their ultra-centennial history, just two years later. This is another story, however. One for another day.