The team, with the first denomination of Milan
Cricket and Football Club, was founded on December
16, 1899, by Alfred Edwards. The first elected
president was Alfred Edwards, a former British
vice-consul in Milan, and well-known personality of the
Milanese high society. Initially the team included a
cricket section, managed by Edward Berra, and a
football section assigned to David Allison.
The official colours chosen were red and black, in order
to represent the fiery ardour which would have been part of
the team members, and the fear of the opponents to
challenge the team. Immediately the team gained relevant
notability under Kilpin's guide; the first trophy to be won
was the Medaglia del Re (King's Medal) on January
1900, and won three national leagues, in 1901, 1906 and
1907. The triumph of 1901 was particularly relevant because
it stopped the consecutive series of wins of Genoa, which
was the only team to have ever won the Italian league
before that year.
In 1908, because of issues related to the desire to sign
foreign players, a "progressive" faction split from AC
Milan and founded the Internazionale
Milano (known as Inter).
In 1916, AC Milan won the Federal Cup, a national
trophy which somehow replaced the Italian league, suspended
because of the World War I. That cup has not ever been
recognized as the Italian title.
In 1919, the team changed its name to Milan Football
Club.
After the first triumphs, AC Milan were not able any
longer to repeat those high-level successes, obtaining only
a number of half-table placements, even if always playing
in the Italian top division.
In 1938 the fascist regime imposed a new italianized
name, Associazione Calcio Milano, for the team.
However, that name was abandoned immediately after the
World War II, but maintained the initial part: the team was
then called Associazione
Calcio Milan, which
is the current official name.