AC Milan Launches Its Own Hall of Fame with This Player
Milan has unveiled its new Hall of Fame, inaugurating it with one of its legends, Italian Franco Baresi. He spent his entire career as a 'rossonero' and now serves as the club's honorary vice president.
"The Milan family is proud to announce the launch of its Hall of Fame, presented by Emirates, to honor the players and key figures who have left an indelible mark in the club's history," the Italian club stated in an official announcement.
The seven-time European champions initiated this project to celebrate their 125th anniversary and recognize the "excellence, passion, and values that have defined the 'rossonero' club over the decades."
Franco Baresi was the first chosen to take a spot in the Hall of Fame. The historic defender and Milan captain played for the club for 19 seasons, from 1977 to 1997, and has been linked to the organization ever since, totaling 50 years of connection, now as honorary vice president.
"It’s a great honor for me to be selected by Milan as the first member of the Hall of Fame, representing the glorious history of this club, preserving the legacy of Milan icons and celebrating my 50 years as a 'rossonero,'" he expressed in the statement.
"This recognition fills me with pride. Milan is not just about victories and titles; it embodies style, passion, and sacrifice—values and people who have made this club great. I hope this project inspires future generations to continue building on our legacy," he added.
The Hall of Fame will have two categories of members: the "Elected," chosen by votes from Milan fans, and the "Honorary," selected by the club. To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, candidates must have played at least 50 official matches and demonstrated excellence and talent, in addition to having retired from professional football.
In this first year, the candidates for fan voting will be forwards. Voting will open on Tuesday, October 8, revealing the names of 24 players, who will progress through rounds based on votes until only 9 are selected. On November 4, fans will vote, and the top 3 with the most support will enter the Hall of Fame. Each of the first four years will focus on specific playing positions, starting with forwards in 2024 and expanding to midfielders, defenders, and goalkeepers in the following years. Starting from the fifth year, the process will open up to all positions.
