Why Massimo Ambrosini Deserves More Credit for Milan's Success
There are some players in football that never got the credit they deserved. They were oftentimes the substitutes, the rotation options, and so on that were there to back up the stars, which is why most fans don't give them their flowers. Italian midfielder Massimo Ambrosini is a perfect example of that, having played with AC Milan during one of the club's best eras for almost 18 years and yet doesn't get the credit he deserves.
©
Massimo Ambrosini in a duel against Inter's Javier Zanetti
This is the career of Massimo Ambrosini.
The 90s - The Start of the Career
Ambrosini started his career in professional football at Cesena, slowly making his way to the first team as a 17-year-old. He made a name for himself as a rising talent in Serie B during the 1994/95 season, which prompted AC Milan, then led by manager Fabio Capello, to sign him. When considering that Milan were coming off the back of a phenomenal period since the mid-80s, this was a great achievement by Ambrosini.However, as one might guess, the talented midfielder was still learning the ropes and wasn't getting a lot of playing time, although he did get a chance to play the derby against Inter Milan during the 1995/96 season.
"The derby of my heart? The first (on March 1996)," he said in 2019. "I still have the glance of San Siro in my mind, I was a kid, we lost but it was a thrill. And then of course, the derby that brought us to the Champions League final. How do I see this challenge? Very balanced. For Milan it's easier to play well against big teams, because they'll have more space."
He would be loaned to Vicenza during the 1997/98, which is where he would begin to shine and make a name for himself beyond just being a promising player. It would also be during this period that he would gain notoriety with AC Milan since they found his improvement quite notorious, with Ambrosini replacing Zvonimir Boban in midfield the following season and starting to become important at Milanello.
"I have a great relationship with him (Boban), even though I took his place when he wanted to play as a central midfielder in Alberto Zaccheroni's 3-4-3, but he just couldn't do it (laughs). He is a guy of culture which is rare in the world of football. He has remarkable interpersonal skills, and he understands people's emotions."
©
Massimo Ambrosini with one of the trophies he won with AC Milan
The 2000s - During the Golden Era
Barring the odd serious injury here and there, Ambrosini would be a regular performer during the 2000s for AC Milan, especially during their golden era with coach Carlo Ancelotti. Granted, the Italian midfielder would be a bit more utilitarian during this period of his career, having to adjust to the demands of the team and the fact there were more important players in the squad.Indeed, the likes of Clarence Seedorf, Ricardo Kaká, and Andrea Pirlo made it difficult for the former Vincenza man to be a regular starter, but he still managed to provide for the side when called upon. His box-to-box playing style, which became more defensive-minded with age, was a valuable asset for such a world-class squad.
This is how he managed to win two UEFA Champions League with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007, which is something that the club didn't achieve since 1994. Furthermore, he slowly gained more leadership in the dressing room, becoming one of the club's captains during the latter portion of his career.
The 2010s - The Final Years
The 2010s were a peculiar time for Ambrosini. AC Milan were slowly heading into decline. Carlo Ancelotti left in 2009 to coach FC Chelsea in England and Paolo Maldini, the club's legendary captain, retired that same year. Moreover, while some talented players, such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva, were joining, the core members of the 2000s squad were leaving, retiring, and getting older, with the midfielder being more demanded because of this."A few months ago I would never have imagined so many players to leave Milan," he said in 2012. "If I was surprised about so many players leaving Milan at once? I was surprised by the way it happened. Gattuso and Nesta made their decision to leave Milan right at the final moment. How do I feel in the locker room with the senators? The worst moment was during the week where I realized that the senators were leaving. Now I feel fine."
Indeed, this was a very complicated time for the club, even if the won the 2011 Scudetto with some truly amazing performances from time to time. However, the lack of investment and finding suitable replacements for the likes of Alessandro Nesta, Clarence Seedorf, Filippo Inzaghi, and many more would prove to be a costly mistake that would hamper the club for more than a decade.
However, all good things must come to an end. After having signed one-year contracts with the club for several seasons, Ambrosini decided to leave in the summer of 2013 and joined Fiorentina for one season, helping them gain the fourth position in the league and qualify to the UEFA Champions League, but decided to end his player career after that.
Ambrosini 489 matches across all competitions for AC Milan and is one of the club's most underrated legends. Therefore, he deserves a lot more recognition for his consistency and professionalism.