Brazilian star Kaka is hoping his old pal Ronaldo will help him lead AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League. Bodog.com has AC Milan entering this tournament listed at 11 to 1 (Bet $1.00 to win $11.00) odds to win UEFA Champions League. Associazione Calcio Milan is an Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. They play in red and black stripes, giving them the nickname Rossoneri ("red-blacks"). The team is known commonly as Milan, while its cross town rival is known simply as Inter. Milan is a three-time World Champion club.
One of the most successful clubs in the world, AC Milan has won the prestigious UEFA Champions League six times (second only to Real Madrid), the World Club crown (Intercontinental Cup) 3 times, the Italian Serie A title 17 times (only rivals Juventus F.C. have more Scudetti) and the Coppa Italia (Italian Cup) five times.
In total they have won 12 European trophies, sharing the record with Real Madrid. It is also one of the most supported football clubs in the world, and along with Juventus and Inter Milan are one of the most popular teams in Italy.
The club was founded in 1899 by Alfred Edwards, a British expatriate. In honour of its origins, the club has retained the English spelling of its city's name, instead of changing it to the Italian Milano, it should be noted that the Italian pronunciation is actually MEE-lahn, even though the English one is the same as in the local dialect and many other dialects of Northern Italy.
Amongst their corps they have Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, known around the world simply as Kaká, short form of Ricardo in Portuguese.
Bodog.com has AC Milan at 11 to 1 to win the UEFA Champions League.
He joined AC Milan in 2003 for US $8.5 million, a fee described in hind-sight as "peanuts" by club owner Silvio Berlusconi. Within a month, he became a first team regular, and he has been a starter ever since. He debuted in Serie A in an away match against Ancona, which Milan won 2-0. He scored 10 goals in 30 appearances that season, winning the Italian Serie A Championship and the European Super Cup.
Kaká was an integral part of the five man midfield in the 2004-05 season, usually playing in a withdrawn role behind striker Andriy Shevchenko. He scored 7 goals in 36 league appearances, and also won the Italian Super Cup with the club. Milan finished second to Juventus in the Serie A, and lost the UEFA Champions League final to Liverpool on penalty kicks. He was voted the best midfielder of the Champions League tournament. He also ended up in the ninth place in the 2005 Golden Ball poll, earning 19 votes.
One of Kaká's most notable goals has been the one against Fenerbahçe SK in the AC Milan's first game in the 2005-06 Champions League, won 3-1 by the Rossoneri. It had pundits draw instant comparisons to Diego Maradona, as Kaká started his run from the midfield and skipped past three tackles before entering the area and finishing with a low shot under Fenerbahçe goalkeeper Volkan Demirel.
Most recently it has been almost agreed that AC Milan will hire Ronaldo away from Real Madrid after he passes his medical. That is most likely since Coach Ancelotti announced Ronaldo’s alleged over wieght was a myth. These two players together are bound to make impact.
UEFA Club competition honors
Winners European Champions Club’s Cup
1962/63, 1968/69, 1988/89, 1989/90
Winners UEFA Champions League
1993/94, 2002/03
Winners UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup
1967/68, 1972/73
EUSA CUP
1969, 1989, 1990
UEFA Super Cup
1989, 1990, 1994, 2003
