Scudetto 1956/57

It was the turn of Gipo Viani, otherwise known as the ‘Sheriff’, to take over the reins of the Rossoneri. The summer had seen the arrivals of Zannier, Bean, Galli, Soldan, the Norwegian Bredesen and the Argentine Cucchiaroni. But when the league season began, it wasn’t always plain sailing. AC Milan, having won their second Latin Cup in 1956 after beating Athletic Bilbao in the final, started off well. However, the team then hit a bump in the road, losing two consecutive matches against Napoli and Padova and conceding seven goals in the process.

The Derby on 21 October was a crucial juncture for the Rossoneri. AC Milan, who were the home side that day, held their own, securing a 1-1 draw thanks to a goal from Bredesen. From that point, the Diavolo never looked back: a 3-0 victory away to the then-Italian champions Fiorentina provided a huge confidence boost, and it wasn’t long before the team hit top spot. The remainder of the campaign was dominated by Viani’s men, with Gastone Bean proving to be a revelation: his 17-goal haul was highly significant in AC Milan’s Scudetto success.