Milan launches its ‘Hall of Fame’, Baresi is the first member

Milan launches its Hall of Fame presented by Emirates, to honor key players and figures who have left an indelible mark on the Rossoneri’s history. The initiative is part of the celebrations of the Club’s 125th Anniversary. The Hall of Fame celebrates figures who have represented the Club in a distinctive way, both on and off the pitch. “Through their successes, their conduct and their commitment, these legends have written their name in the history of the Club, becoming a symbol of the Rossoneri spirit”, explains the club. “However, the Hall of Fame is not only a tribute to the achievements of the past, but also aims to be a source of inspiration for future generations, reflecting the Club’s dedication to cultivating excellence”.

Franco Baresi will be the first official member. This year he celebrates his 50 years with the Club and the recognition “wants to honor not only his legendary status as one of the greatest defenders in the history of football, but also underlines the dedication of a life spent at Milan, first as player and historic captain and then as Honorary Vice President of the Club”. Commenting on his entry into the Hall of Fame, Baresi said: “I am deeply honored to have been chosen by Milan as the first member to enter the Hall of Fame as a representative of the glorious history of this Club, and in celebration of my 50 years with the Rossoneri. This recognition fills me with pride. Milan is not just triumphs and titles, it is style, passion and sacrifice – values ​​and people that have made this Club great. I hope that this project can inspire future generations to continue building our history. ” The Hall of Fame will have two categories of members: Elected Members, chosen through a voting process by registered AC Milan fans,
and Honorary Members, who will be selected at the discretion of the Club.

In its inaugural year, the Hall of Fame will focus on forwards, with 24 AC Milan legends forming an initial selection from which three members will then be elected. The selected forwards will be announced on the AC Milan Together platform and on the Club’s social channels, with voting starting on 8 October.

The selection mechanism for elected members will be fan-driven and will follow a four-stage voting process. The initial list of 24 candidates, through the first three voting phases, will lead to the selection of 9 finalists. The final voting phase, which will open on 4 November, will then elect the three best Rossoneri forwards of all time to guarantee them a place in the prestigious AC Milan Hall of Fame presented by Emirates. Each of the first four years will be dedicated to specific roles, starting with forwards in 2024 and moving on to midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers in subsequent years. From the fifth year onwards, the process will be open to all positions, ensuring full recognition of the Club’s greatest talents. To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, potential candidates must have played at least 50 official matches for Milan and have demonstrated commitment and dedication to knitting. Furthermore, candidates must have embodied the values ​​of AC Milan throughout their career, and must be officially retired from professional football.

Boutros Boutros, Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications, Marketing and Brand at Emirates, commented: “Emirates has been an Official Partner of the Club for almost 17 years, working side by side to connect with fans and inspire future generations of footballers. The Hall of Fame of AC Milan presented by Emirates is another way to activate a great partnership by significantly involving the Rossoneri fan base, through an important recognition of legendary figures from the world of football who have had an impact on the Club and on sport, starting from Franco Baresi, Honorary Vice President of AC Milan and iconic captain. “I am committed to innovation and tradition, creating an institution capable of uniting past, present and future.