AC Monza

Silvio Berlusconi's last great football ambition. The former Italian prime minister who built AC Milan into a European powerhouse purchased Monza in 2018 with one goal: reach Serie A. He never saw the final chapter — but the story continues.

Monza, Lombardy, Italy

U-Power Stadium (Brianteo)

First Serie A 2022

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AC Monza

AC Monza is one of Italian football's most fascinating clubs — not just for what happens on the pitch, but for the extraordinary human story behind the club's rapid rise. In 2018, Silvio Berlusconi — the media mogul, former Italian Prime Minister, and the man who made AC Milan the most glamorous club in Europe — purchased Monza and handed operational control to his long-time partner Adriano Galliani, the legendary Milan CEO who helped deliver eight Serie A titles and five Champions League trophies.

Berlusconi's dream was to take Monza — then a modest Serie B club — to the top flight of Italian football. That dream was realised in 2022 when Monza won promotion to Serie A for the first time in the club's 110-year history. Berlusconi himself celebrated from the stands, openly emotional. He died in June 2023, before his vision could be fully completed. Galliani continues to lead the club, carrying forward the legacy of two men who changed Italian football.

Berlusconi's Final Project

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1936 – 2023

Silvio Berlusconi

Berlusconi's tenure at AC Milan (1986-2017) produced 8 Serie A titles and 5 Champions League trophies, transforming the club into a global brand. When he took over Monza in 2018 with Galliani alongside him, many assumed it was vanity. It was anything but. He invested heavily, backed Galliani's transfer policy, and attended matches regularly even as his health declined.

The 2022 Serie A promotion came three seasons after the takeover — remarkably fast for a club of Monza's historical standing. Berlusconi was visibly moved. "I promised you Serie A," he told supporters. "We did it together." He died the following year, leaving Galliani and the club to carry his legacy forward. For the 2025-26 season, Monza compete in Serie A in his memory.

Watch Monza Highlights

Galliani's Vision

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Adriano Galliani CEO

The architect of Milan's golden years now applies his decades of experience at a smaller scale. Galliani's transfer network and relationships across European football give Monza access to quality players they could never afford on the open market.

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Smart Recruitment

Galliani's approach: target experienced players from big clubs who need game time, and young talents on loan. The same model that made Milan champions, adapted for a club with different resources but the same ambition.

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U-Power Stadium

The Stadio Brianteo — rebranded U-Power Stadium for sponsorship — sits in the Brianza region between Milan and the Alps. Its 18,568 capacity is modest by Serie A standards but it creates an intimate, intense atmosphere on matchdays.