Inter
Football Club Internazionale Milano, commonly known as Inter Milan or simply Inter, is an Italian professional football club based in Milan, Lombardy. Founded in 1908, the club plays at the iconic San Siro stadium, which they share with city rivals AC Milan. Inter competes in Serie A, Italy's top division, and holds the unique distinction of being the only Italian team never to be relegated from the top flight since their debut in 1909. The Nerazzurri have achieved remarkable success throughout their history, winning 20 Serie A titles, 9 Coppa Italia trophies, and 3 European Cup/Champions League titles, including an unprecedented treble in 2010. Since May 2024, the club has been owned by American asset management company Oaktree Capital Management.
History
Overview
General information about the club
Inter Milan was founded on 9 March 1908 following a schism within the Milan Cricket and Football Club (now AC Milan). The founding members wanted to create a club that would accept foreign players alongside Italians, hence the name "Internazionale." The club has maintained its home at the San Siro stadium since 1947, sharing the 75,817-capacity venue with their city rivals. Inter holds the distinction of being the only Italian club to have competed in every season of the top division since 1909, never experiencing relegation to Serie B.
Most recent season and achievements
In the 2023-24 season, Inter secured their 20th Serie A title, defeating Milan 2-1 at San Siro to clinch the championship. The team finished with 94 points, 19 ahead of second-place Milan, demonstrating their dominance with the best attack (89 goals) and defense (22 goals conceded) in the league. This victory marked their second star and continued their recent success under manager Simone Inzaghi.
History
Early years
The club was founded on 9 March 1908 when a group of players left Milan Cricket and Football Club to form a new club that would welcome foreign players. Inter won their first championship in 1910 under captain and coach Virgilio Fossati, who was later killed in World War I. The club secured their second title in 1920 and faced early challenges, including near-relegation in 1922.
During the Fascist era, the club was forced to merge with Unione Sportiva Milanese in 1928 and renamed Società Sportiva Ambrosiana for political reasons. The team temporarily wore white jerseys with a red cross before returning to their traditional black and blue colors in 1929. The club won championships in 1930 and 1938, with the latter achieved under 33-year-old coach Armando Castellazzi, setting a record as the youngest coach to win the national title.
The star of this period was Giuseppe Meazza, who remains Inter's all-time leading scorer with 284 goals. His 38 goals in 39 matches during the 1929-30 season remains an unbeaten club record. Inter also competed in the Central European Cup, reaching the final in 1933 under coach Árpád Weisz.
Successful period
The most glorious era in Inter's history came during the 1960s under Argentine coach Helenio Herrera, who joined in 1960. Despite initial setbacks, including a controversial title loss to Juventus in 1961, Herrera transformed Inter into a European powerhouse. He implemented the famous "catenaccio" system, a defensive tactical approach that proved highly effective.
The "Grande Inter" period saw the club win three Serie A titles between 1963-1966 and achieve unprecedented European success. They won back-to-back European Cups in 1964 and 1965, defeating Real Madrid 3-1 in the 1964 final in Vienna and Benfica 1-0 in the 1965 final at home. Both victories were followed by Intercontinental Cup triumphs, making Inter the first Italian club to become world champions.
Key players of this era included goalkeeper Giuliano Sarti, defender Giacinto Facchetti, sweeper Armando Picchi, playmaker Luis Suárez, and forward Sandro Mazzola. The team reached another European Cup final in 1967 but lost 2-1 to Celtic, marking the end of the Grande Inter cycle.
Crisis and recovery
Following the golden 1960s, Inter experienced a period of mixed fortunes. They won their eleventh league title in 1971 under Giovanni Invernizzi and reached another European Cup final in 1972, losing 2-0 to Ajax. The club secured their twelfth Scudetto in 1980, notable for being the last Serie A title won by a team composed entirely of Italian players.
The 1990s proved challenging, with Inter failing to win a single Serie A championship during the decade. However, they found success in European competitions, winning three UEFA Cups in 1991, 1994, and 1998. Key players during this period included Lothar Matthäus, who won the Ballon d'Or in 1990, and later acquisitions like Ronaldo and Christian Vieri.
Current period
The modern era began with Roberto Mancini's appointment in 2004, leading to a period of domestic dominance. Inter won five consecutive Serie A titles from 2006-2010, with the 2006 title awarded retrospectively due to the Calciopoli scandal that saw Juventus relegated.
The pinnacle came in 2010 under José Mourinho, when Inter achieved the historic treble - Serie A, Coppa Italia, and Champions League. They defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 in the Champions League final, with Diego Milito scoring both goals. This made Inter the first and only Italian club to win the treble.
Recent years have seen continued success under Antonio Conte and Simone Inzaghi. Conte led the club to the 2021 Serie A title, ending Juventus' nine-year dominance, while Inzaghi has delivered multiple trophies including the 2024 Scudetto and several Supercoppa Italiana victories.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
Inter have won 37 domestic trophies throughout their history. Their 20 Serie A titles include the recent 2024 championship and the historic treble-winning 2010 season. The club has claimed the Coppa Italia nine times, with recent victories in 2022 and notable wins during their treble season. They have also secured eight Supercoppa Italiana trophies, including three consecutive wins from 2022-2024.
The club's domestic dominance is highlighted by their five consecutive Serie A titles from 2006-2010, equaling the all-time record at that time. Their 1989 championship, known as the "Scudetto dei Record," saw them finish with 58 points out of 68, setting multiple records for the most points, victories, and goal difference in Serie A history.
Continental and global competitions
Inter's European success includes three UEFA Champions League/European Cup victories in 1964, 1965, and 2010. Their back-to-back European Cup wins in the 1960s established them as a continental powerhouse, while the 2010 triumph completed their historic treble under José Mourinho.
The club has also won three UEFA Cups/Europa League titles in 1991, 1994, and 1998, demonstrating consistent European competitiveness across different eras. They have claimed two Intercontinental Cups in 1964 and 1965, becoming the first Italian club to achieve world champion status. In 2010, they added the FIFA Club World Cup to their collection, defeating Mazembe 3-0 in the final.
Symbols and Colors
Current logo and logo history
The Inter logo was originally designed in 1908 by painter Giorgio Muggiani, incorporating the letters "FCIM" within a series of circles. The basic design elements have remained consistent throughout the club's history, with modifications made to finer details over the years.
From 1999-2000, the original crest was reduced in size to accommodate the club's name and foundation year. In 2007, the logo returned to its pre-1999 design with a more modern appearance, featuring a smaller Scudetto star and lighter color scheme. The most recent rebranding occurred in July 2014, with the significant change being the omission of the star from media except match kits.
Traditional home and away kits colors
Since 1908, Inter have predominantly worn black and blue stripes, earning them the nickname "Nerazzurri" (black and blues). According to tradition, these colors represent the nocturnal sky, as the club was founded on the night of 9 March at 23:30. Blue was specifically chosen by Giorgio Muggiani as the opposite color to red, worn by their rivals Milan Cricket and Football Club.
During the 1928-29 season, the Fascist regime forced Inter to abandon their traditional colors. The club was renamed Società Sportiva Ambrosiana and wore white jerseys with a red cross, inspired by Milan's flag. The black and blue jerseys were restored in 1929, and after World War II, the club reverted to their original name and colors permanently.
Traditional club anthem
The grass snake, called "Biscione," represents Inter as their traditional symbol. This snake appears in Milanese heraldry as a coiled viper with a man in its jaws and is present on the coat of arms of the House of Sforza, the city of Milan, and the historical Duchy of Milan. For the 2010-11 season, Inter's away kit featured this snake symbol.
Traditional Rivals
AC Milan
The Derby della Madonnina with AC Milan is Inter's most significant rivalry, existing since Inter split from Milan in 1908. The derby name refers to the Blessed Virgin Mary atop Milan Cathedral. These matches create an electric atmosphere with numerous banners and flares, though the latter led to the abandonment of the 2005 Champions League quarter-final second leg when a flare struck Milan goalkeeper Dida.
Juventus
The Derby d'Italia against Juventus represents Inter's other principal rivalry. Until the 2006 Calciopoli scandal that saw Juventus relegated, both clubs had never played below Serie A. This rivalry intensified during periods when both teams competed for domestic supremacy, with numerous controversial encounters throughout their history.
AS Roma
Inter developed a significant rivalry with Roma during the 2000s, when Roma finished as runners-up to Inter in four of their five consecutive Scudetto-winning seasons between 2006-2010. The two clubs have contested five Coppa Italia finals and four Supercoppa Italiana finals since 2006, creating numerous memorable encounters.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Sponsors
Inter's commercial partnerships have evolved significantly over the years. The club has had various kit suppliers and shirt sponsors, with recent partnerships reflecting their global appeal and commercial growth under different ownership structures.
Nicknames
The club is commonly known as "Nerazzurri" (black and blues) due to their traditional colors. They are also called "La Beneamata" (the beloved) by their supporters. Internationally, they are often referred to as "Inter Milan" to distinguish them from other clubs named Internazionale.
Ownership and finances
Inter's ownership has changed significantly in recent years. Massimo Moratti served as president from 1995 until selling a 70% stake to Indonesian businessman Erick Thohir in 2013. In 2016, Chinese company Suning Holdings Group acquired the majority stake for €270 million. Most recently, in May 2024, American asset management firm Oaktree Capital Management assumed ownership following Suning's default on a €395 million loan.
The club has worked to comply with UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations, leading to significant changes in transfer policy and salary structures from 2011 onwards. Despite financial challenges, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, Inter has maintained their competitive edge while working toward financial sustainability.
Traditions and culture
Inter's supporters, known as "Interisti," are renowned for their passionate support. The traditional ultras group "Boys San," founded in 1969, is one of Italy's oldest ultras groups. The Curva Nord houses the club's most vocal supporters, who create spectacular displays with banners and flags during matches.
According to recent research, Inter is the second-most supported football club in Italy. The club's fan culture includes various supporter groups with different political orientations, from the apolitical Boys San to right-wing Irriducibili and left-wing Imbastisci groups.
Stadium
The San Siro, officially named Stadio Giuseppe Meazza after the Inter legend, has been the club's home since 1947. With a capacity of 75,923, it is Italy's largest stadium and is shared with AC Milan. The stadium was originally built in 1926 and has undergone several renovations, including major structural updates for European competitions and the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics.
Plans for a new stadium have been discussed since 2012, with Inter and Milan announcing an agreement in 2019 for a new shared facility in the San Siro area. The project has evolved to include potential relocation options in Greater Milan, with construction expected to proceed after the 2026 Olympics.