1978–79 AC Milan season
1978–79 season | |||
---|---|---|---|
Owner | Felice Colombo | ||
President | Felice Colombo | ||
Manager | Nils Liedholm | ||
Stadium | San Siro | ||
Serie A | 1st 10th title ![]() (in European Cup) | ||
Coppa Italia | First round | ||
UEFA Cup | Round of 16 | ||
Top goalscorer | League: Bigon (12) All: Bigon (17) | ||
Average home league attendance | 48,358[1] | ||
| |||
During the 1978–1979 season, Milan Associazione Calcio competed in Serie A, Coppa Italia and UEFA Cup.
Summary
The summer of 1978 saw the signings of Walter De Vecchi, Walter Novellino and Stefano Chiodi, while Giuseppe Sabadini, Maurizio Turone and Egidio Calloni left Milan after a long spell at the club. The 1978-79 season started with the elimination in the first round of the Coppa Italia, where Milan closed group 4 in second place with five points, thanks to two victories against Lecce and Foggia in the first two days, the defeat against SPAL in the third and the draw in the fourth and final match with Catanzaro, who qualified for the quarter-finals with a 2-point lead over the Rossoneri.
In the league, Milan achieved four wins and a draw in the first five games, taking the lead in the standings with nine points. In the following match, the Rossoneri lost at home to the reigning Italian champions Juventus and left the top of the rankings to Perugia. The Umbrians were joined by the Rossoneri two rounds later and passed on matchday 11; Milan closed the first half of the season at the top of the table, with 25 points with Perugia three lengths behind. In the second half of the season, the dualism with the Umbrian team continued; Milan arrived on the matchday 25 against Perugia with a two-point lead which they maintained thanks to the 1-1 draw. On May 6, 1979, on the penultimate game of the championship, Milan could celebrate the conquest of their long-awaited tenth Scudetto, that of the first stella, thanks to a goalless draw with Bologna. Perugia (runner-up) ended the championship undefeated, first among the Italian teams to succeed in such an achievement (equaled by the Rossoneri who won the Serie A in 1991-1992 and by Juventus in 2011-2012).
In the UEFA Cup the Rossoneri eliminated the Czechoslovaks of Lokomotíva Košice on penalties in the round of 64 (1-0 home win in the first leg and defeat with the same result in the second leg in Košice) and the Bulgarians of Levski Spartak in the round of 32 (1-1 in Sofia and 3-0 in Milan). In the round of 16, Milan faced English side Manchester City who, after a 2-2 draw at San Siro, eliminated the Rossoneri and qualified for the next round thanks to a 3-0 victory at Maine Road.
At the end of the season, captain Gianni Rivera retired from football, after 19 seasons with the club in which he played 658 matches (a record at the time) scoring 164 goals.[2] Nils Liedholm also left Milan to move to Roma, due to contractual disagreements with the management.
One of the most iconic scenes of the season, and of the entire career of Gianni Rivera, occurred on the day of the aforementioned title-winning game against Bologna. The San Siro was undergoing some maintenance work in a section of the second tier, but, before the start of the game, some fans invaded that area, putting themselves and those in the surroundings at risk. The probability was high that, if the situation was not resolved quickly, the sports judge would have forfeited the match with a defeat for Milan. Thus, Rivera took the microphone and improvised a speech to the crowd where he explained the situation and warned about the risk of a forfeited game. The tifosi, trusting their idol, slowly evacuated the area, allowing the match to start regularly, 26 minutes later than scheduled.[3]
Squad
[4] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Transfers
In | |||
---|---|---|---|
Pos. | Name | from | Type |
MF | Walter De Vecchi | Monza | |
MF | Walter Novellino | Perugia | |
FW | Stefano Chiodi | Bologna |
Out | |||
---|---|---|---|
Pos. | Name | To | Type |
DF | Giuseppe Sabadini | Catanzaro | |
DF | Maurizio Turone | Catanzaro | |
FW | Egidio Calloni | Hellas Verona | |
FW | Luciano Gaudino | A.S. Bari | |
FW | Ugo Tosetto | Avellino | |
FW | Sergio Valentinuzzi | Savona |
Competitions
[5]
Serie A
League table
Pos | Team
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Milan (C) | 30 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 46 | 19 | +27 | 44 | Qualification to European Cup |
2 | Perugia | 30 | 11 | 19 | 0 | 34 | 16 | +18 | 41 | Qualification to UEFA Cup |
3 | Juventus | 30 | 12 | 13 | 5 | 40 | 23 | +17 | 37 | Qualification to Cup Winners' Cup |
4 | Internazionale | 30 | 10 | 16 | 4 | 38 | 24 | +14 | 36 | Qualification to UEFA Cup |
5 | Torino | 30 | 11 | 14 | 5 | 35 | 23 | +12 | 36 |
(C) Champions
Result by round
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; P = Postponed; = Leader, 1979–80 European Cup; = 1979–80 UEFA Cup
Matches
1 October 1978 1 | Milan | 1–0 | Avellino | Milan |
Buriani ![]() | Report | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 42,147 Referee: Mattei |
8 October 1978 2 | Roma | 0–3 | Milan | Roma |
Report | ![]() ![]() | Stadium: Stadio Olimpico Attendance: 69,410 Referee: Agnolin |
15 October 1978 3 | Milan | 0–0 | Ascoli | Milan |
Report | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 45,149 Referee: D'Elia |
22 October 1978 4 | Atalanta | 1–3 | Milan | Milan |
Garritano ![]() | Report | ![]() ![]() | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 31,788 Referee: Reggiani |
29 October 1978 5 | Milan | 4–1 | Fiorentina | Milan |
Minoia ![]() Bigon ![]() | Report | ![]() | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 46,136 Referee: Ciulli |
5 November 1978 6 | Juventus | 1–0 | Milan | Torino |
Bettega ![]() | Report | Stadium: Stadio Comunale Attendance: 66,377 Referee: D'Elia |
12 November 1978 7 | Milan | 1–0 | Inter | Milan |
Maldera ![]() | Report | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 65,965 Referee: Michelotti |
19 November 1978 8 | Lanerossi Vicenza | 2–3 | Milan | Vicenza |
Paolo Rossi ![]() Guidetti ![]() | Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Stadium: Stadio Romeo Menti Attendance: 30,572 Referee: Menicucci |
26 November 1978 9 | S.S.C. Napoli | 1–1 | Milan | Napoli |
Savoldi ![]() | Report | ![]() | Stadium: Stadio San Paolo Attendance: 68,185 Referee: Ciulli |
3 December 1978 10 | Milan | 1–1 | Perugia | Milan |
Antonelli ![]() | Report | ![]() | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 44,825 Referee: Longhi |
10 December 1978 11 | Milan | 1–0 | Torino | Milan |
De Vecchi ![]() | Report | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 37,415 Referee: Menicucci |
17 December 1978 12 | Hellas Verona | 1–3 | Milan | Verona |
Spinozzi ![]() | Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Stadium: Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi Attendance: 30,917 Referee: Reggiani |
7 January 1979 13 | Milan | 4–0 | Catanzaro | Milan |
Chiodi ![]() Bigon ![]() Novellino ![]() Antonelli ![]() | Report | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 35,309 Referee: Lo Bello |
14 January 1979 14 | Bologna | 0–1 | Milan | Bologna |
Report | ![]() | Stadium: Comunale Attendance: 47,709 Referee: Menegali |
21 January 1979 15 | Milan | 2–0 | Lazio | Milan |
Maldera ![]() Bigon ![]() | Report | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 39,090 Referee: Pieri |
28 January 1979 16 | Avellino | 1–0 | Milan | Avellino |
Vincenzo Romano ![]() | Report | Stadium: Stadio Partenio Attendance: 47,286 Referee: Michelotti |
4 February 1979 17 | Milan | 1–0 | Roma | Milan |
Antonelli ![]() | Report | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 46,396 Referee: Milan |
11 February 1979 18 | Ascoli | 0–1 | Milan | Ascoli Piceno |
Report | ![]() | Stadium: Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca Attendance: 37,256 Referee: Ciulli |
18 February 1979 19 | Milan | 1–1 | Atalanta | Milan |
Bigon ![]() | Report | ![]() | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 44,532 Referee: Lattanzi |
4 March 1979 20 | Fiorentina | 2–3 | Milan | Firenze |
Lelj ![]() Baresi ![]() | Report | ![]() ![]() | Stadium: Stadio Comunale Attendance: 55,140 Referee: Benedetti |
11 March 1979 2 | Milan | 0–0 | Juventus | Milan |
Report | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 65,235 Referee: Michelotti |
18 March 1979 22 | Inter Milan | 2–2 | Milan | Milan |
Oriali ![]() Altobelli ![]() | Report | ![]() | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 64,868 Referee: Agnolin |
25 March 1979 23 | Milan | 0–0 | Lanerossi Vicenza | Milan |
Report | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 43,806 Referee: Longhi |
1 April 1979 24 | Milan | 0–1 | Napoli | Milan |
Report | ![]() | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 51,311 Referee: Menicucci |
8 April 1979 25 | Perugia | 1–1 | Milan | Perugia |
Casarsa ![]() | Report | ![]() | Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Attendance: 28,717 Referee: Agnolin |
14 April 1979 26 | Torino | 0–3 | Milan | Torino |
Report | ![]() ![]() | Stadium: Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino Attendance: 56,429 Referee: Lattanzi |
22 April 1979 27 | Milan | 2–1 | Hellas Verona | Milan |
Rivera ![]() Novellino ![]() | Report | ![]() | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 51,247 Referee: Ciulli |
29 April 1979 28 | Catanzaro | 1–3 | Milan | Catanzaro |
Ranieri ![]() | Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Stadium: Stadio Comunale Attendance: 25,491 Referee: Longhi |
6 May 1979 29 | Milan | 0–0 | Bologna | Milan |
Report | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 65,044 Referee: Menicucci |
13 May 1979 30 | Lazio | 1–1 | Milan | Roma |
Bruno Giordano ![]() | Report | ![]() | Stadium: Stadio Olimpico Attendance: 53,550 Referee: Terpin |
Coppa Italia
First round
Group 4
30 August 1978 1 | Lecce | 2–3 | Milan | Lecce |
Biondi ![]() Magistrelli ![]() | ![]() ![]() | Stadium: Comunale Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Vittorio Benedetti |
3 September 1978 2 | Milan | 3–0 | Foggia | Milan |
Maldera ![]() Chiodi ![]() | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 22,146 Referee: Prati |
10 September 1978 3 | SPAL | 3–1 | Milan | Ferrara |
Pezzato ![]() Gibellini ![]() | ![]() | Stadium: Comunale Attendance: 22,000 Referee: Menegali |
17 September 1978 4 | Milan | 2–2 | Catanzaro | Milan |
Chiodi ![]() Bet ![]() | ![]() ![]() | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 34,236 Referee: Agnolin |
UEFA Cup
First round
![Slovakia](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Flag_of_Slovakia.svg/23px-Flag_of_Slovakia.svg.png)
13 September 1978 | Milan | 1–0 | ![]() | Milan |
Novellino ![]() | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 34,529 Referee: ![]() |
![Slovakia](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Flag_of_Slovakia.svg/23px-Flag_of_Slovakia.svg.png)
27 September 1978 | ![]() | 1–0 (6–7 p) | Milan | Kosice |
Ján Kozák ![]() | Stadium: Stadion Lokomotiva Attendance: 30,000 Referee: ![]() | |||
Penalties | ||||
Kozák ![]() Ujhely ![]() Jacko ![]() Móder ![]() Suchánek ![]() Dobrovič ![]() Fecko ![]() Repík ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Round of 32
![Bulgaria](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Flag_of_Bulgaria.svg/23px-Flag_of_Bulgaria.svg.png)
19 October 1978 | ![]() | 1–1 | Milan | Sofia |
Milkov ![]() | ![]() | Stadium: Georgi Asparuhov Attendance: 55,000 Referee: ![]() |
![Bulgaria](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Flag_of_Bulgaria.svg/23px-Flag_of_Bulgaria.svg.png)
1 November 1978 | Milan | 3–0 | ![]() | Milan |
Maldera ![]() Bigon ![]() Chiodi ![]() | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 24,635 Referee: ![]() |
Eightfinals
![England](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/be/Flag_of_England.svg/23px-Flag_of_England.svg.png)
23 November 1978 | Milan | 2–2 | ![]() | Milan |
Bigon ![]() | ![]() ![]() | Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 27,102 Referee: ![]() |
![England](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/be/Flag_of_England.svg/23px-Flag_of_England.svg.png)
6 December 1978 | ![]() | 3–0 [6] | Milan | Manchester |
Booth ![]() Hartford ![]() Kidd ![]() | Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 50,000 Referee: ![]() |
Statistics
Squad statistics
Competition[7] | Points | Home | Away | Total | GD | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | W | D | L | Gs | Ga | G | W | D | L | Gs | Ga | G | W | D | L | Gs | Ga | |||
1978-79 Serie A | 44 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 18 | 5 | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 28 | 14 | 30 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 46 | 19 | +27 |
1978-79 Coppa Italia | – | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 7 | +2 |
1978-79 UEFA Cup | – | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
Total | – | 20 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 29 | 9 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 33 | 24 | 40 | 21 | 13 | 6 | 62 | 33 | +29 |
Players statistics
No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | 1978–79 Serie A | 1978-79 Coppa Italia | 1978-79 UEFA Cup | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
GK | ![]() | Albertosi | 40 | -33 | 30 | -19 | 4 | -7 | 6 | -7 | |
DF | ![]() | Collovati | 34 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
DF | ![]() | Baresi | 40 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
DF | ![]() | Bet | 27 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 0 | |
DF | ![]() | Maldera | 40 | 13 | 30 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 1 | |
MF | ![]() | Novellino | 40 | 5 | 30 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
MF | ![]() | Bigon | 34 | 17 | 26 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | |
MF | ![]() | Buriani | 39 | 1 | 29 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
MF | ![]() | De Vecchi | 37 | 5 | 28 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
FW | ![]() | Chiodi | 33 | 11 | 24 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 2 | |
FW | ![]() | Antonelli | 29 | 5 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
GK | ![]() | Rigamonti | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
MF | ![]() | Rivera | 22 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
MF | ![]() | Morini | 19 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
DF | ![]() | Boldini | 16 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
MF | ![]() | Capello | 11 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
FW | ![]() | Sartori | 13 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
DF | ![]() | Minoia | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Source: http://calcio-seriea.net/presenze/1978/808/
References
- ^ "Attendance Statistics of Serie A". stadiapostcards.com.
- ^ "6 maggio 1979". archiviostorico.gazzetta.it (in Italian). Retrieved 24 June 2023.
- ^ "Il discorso di Rivera". guerinsportivo.it (in Italian). Retrieved 24 June 2023.
- ^ "ACM Squad". footballsquads.co.uk.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Milan season 78–79" (PDF).
- ^ suspended on 5 December 1978 due to fog: Almanacco illustrato del Milan, 2ª ed.,March 2005 (in Italian), Panini, p. 419.
- ^ "Milan Associazione Calcio 1979–80" (PDF). p. 2. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
External links
- RSSSF – Italy 1978/79
- it:Classifica calcio Serie A italiana 1979