The 9th edition of the tournament between the Rossoneri Football Schools kicks off in Cattolica, going international and including a special initiative to children from the area hit by the flooding
Milan, 16 June 2023 – Rossoneri passion has its roots in the city of Milan, propagating itself thanks to the more than 500 million AC Milan fans, as well as the young athletes, educators and coaches who every day nurture the AC Milan Academy project, in Italy and around the world.
Between Friday 16 and Sunday 18 June, the Giorgio Calbi Stadium in Cattolica, Emilia-Romagna, will be the catalyst for this passion, hosting no less than 196 matches between around 700 children and 100 coaches from 48 Rossoneri Football Schools and Technical Centres to launch the 2023 Milan Cup by Banco BPM. Now in its 9th edition, the tournament will feature young players from the Pulcini (2012 and 2013) and Primi Calci (2014 and 2015) categories of AC Milan’s affiliated clubs, accompanied by their families to celebrate sport as a moment of joy and sharing.
In addition to being a celebration that rounds off the Rossoneri Academy’s season, the Milan Cup is tangible proof of the vision of a Club with its sights set on the future, always attentive to the new generations and aware of the importance of cultivating talent both on and off the pitch, raising young players but also the citizens of tomorrow. This new edition also reflects AC Milan’s international nature, involving for the first time two foreign teams: Academy Craiova (Romania) and FC Glattal Dübendorf (Switzerland).
Following in the footsteps of the themes promoted by UEFA within its sustainability strategy in the world of football, the Club has also chosen ‘Football for All Abilities’ as the theme for this edition of the Milan Cup and the parade of banners that will be designed by all the participating Football Schools, with the aim of promoting an inclusive culture through sport. A value that has always been a priority for Fondazione Milan, which – in addition to promoting a special integrated football match – will choose one of the messages proposed on the banners: the most significant one will be displayed at San Siro during the 2023/24 season and will become the slogan of the next Milan Cup. The current one, winner of last year’s edition, is: ‘A rectangle and a sphere, together to overcome every barrier.’
Aware of the crisis taking place in the Romagna area that will host the event, the Rossoneri family will side with the local population with a fund-raising campaign – created by Fondazione Milan – that will support the initiative of a Special Camp, a sporting experience of fun and training, dedicated to 160 children from the areas affected by the recent flooding, completely free of charge. The five-day camp will be held in September at the Tullo Morgagni Stadium in Forlì.
During the opening ceremony, presented by actor and Rossoneri speaker Gegio and Sara Federico, the participating children will take the traditional oath of fair play and will then see spectacular performances and testimonies by special guests such as Erin Cesarini, a Rossonere Primavera footballer, and Cesena-born Sebastiano Rossi, the legendary goalkeeper who won five Scudetto titles and a Champions League at AC Milan.
On the same occasion, the Club will remember Patrizio Billio, coach of the Rossoneri’s Football School in Kuwait who died prematurely at the beginning of the year, and after whom the prize for the best goal in the competition will be named.
