AC Milan wasn't founded by an Italian — it was founded by an English textile worker from Nottingham who just wanted somewhere to play football.
THE DESK — NOTES & REMARKS
Sixth entry in the FOUNDED series. Facts checked against AC Milan's own club history and the Comune di Milano's record of the 2024 Famedio reinterment.
THE LOWDOWN — THE FULL HISTORY
THE ENGLISHMAN
Herbert Kilpin arrived in Italy in 1891. In December 1899, with businessman Alfred Edwards and a room of English and Italian friends, he created the Milan Foot-Ball and Cricket Club — cricket included. “Milan,” the English name of the city, has never changed since.
THE PROMISE
Kilpin coached the team, captained it, and played. The club still attributes one promise to him: “We will be a team of devils. Our colours will be red like fire… and black to invoke fear in our opponents.”
THE CHAMPIONS
Less than two years later, Milan beat Genoa — winners of every previous Italian championship — 3–0, and were champions of Italy.
THE FORGOTTEN GRAVE
Kilpin never saw what his devils became. He died in 1916, aged 46. His grave lost his name — cemetery records called him “Alberto.” A Milan supporter found the numbered vault in 1998.
THE FAMEDIO
In December 2024, 125 years after he founded the club, Kilpin's remains were moved into the Famedio, where Milan lays its most distinguished citizens to rest. The Englishman the city forgot now rests among its greats, beneath a club that still carries his English name, in the red and black he chose.
THE NEXT CHAPTER
Nine years after Milan's birth, an argument inside the club ended with a group walking away and creating its greatest enemy. The night Milan split in two, and Inter was born.
MORE FROM FOUNDED
THE TERRACES — DISCUSSION
The argument also lives in the YouTube comments ↗.