Inter Milan vs AC Milan: All-time greatest combined XI

Inter Milan vs AC Milan; the Milan derby or Derby della Madonnina as it is called in native Italian, was once Italy’s answer to Spain’s much-vaunted El Clasico. The two clubs, who share the same stadium, the San Siro, named after one of their own legendary players, once boasted an array of superstars in their ranks which only made the derby more glamourous.The two sides share one of the most illustrious tales in history in Italy and were once the most decorated sides. Sadly with time, both the Nerazzurri and the Rossoneri have endured a dramatic fall from grace and the teams who once contested fiercely for the prestigious Scudetto, have now been reduced to mid-table minnows. The stellar names are long gone and so has the gloss of this cross-town rivalry.However, those names continue to grace the folklore of the Milan derby. Those names have left a lasting legacy and here we enumerate 11 of those names who form a team full of the all-time greatest Milan players in a combined XI.

#1 Goalkeeper: Walter Zenga (Inter Milan)

Having emerged through the ranks at Primavera (Inter’s academy), an 18-year old Walter Zenga back in 1978 was on the cusp of making it to the senior team. But realizing that he was unlikely to displace veteran Ivano Bordon from then Inter manager Eugenio Bersellini's line-up, Zenga made a wise decision to leave Inter Milan and embarked on his professional career with Italy’s lower division teams.

Four years later, when Bordon departed for Sampdoria in 1982, Zenga returned to his boyhood club and then there was no looking back. Zenga would go on to spend the next 12 years of his career with La Beneamata and also establish a reputation as one of the all-time greatest Inter Milan players.

Donning the No.1 shirt throughout his time at the San Siro outfit, his acrobatic saves, astonishing flexibility and excellent reflexes earned him the moniker “Spiderman”. He was pivotal to Inter’s surge to the summit of Europe’s footballing pyramid in the early 1990s and was also key to Italy’s strong performance at the 1990 World Cup, where he set the record for not conceding a single goal in 518 minutes – a record that still stands.

#2 Right-back: Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan)

The symbol of modern Inter, Baneamata’s long serving “Il Capitano” Javier Zanetti graced the black and blue of Milan for 14 long years before stepping down in 2014.

Zanetti started his professional career in his native Argentina playing for a local club Banfield. Having done the hard yards for 5 years there, he was transferred to Inter Milan in 1995, thus becoming team owner Massimo Moratti's first-ever purchase.

Zanetti earned a mammoth 858 caps with the club, surpassing Giuseppe Bergomi as the highest capped player. In his immaculate career, he led his side to great heights and won a total of 16 trophies, which includes the historic treble he won in 2010.

The Argentine earned the nickname El Tractor for his stamina and tireless runs up and down the wings to aid both attack and defence. He was known amongst his teammates for his consistency and fitness regime, which he has credited with prolonging his career. He was well-respected by both fans and the opposition for his leadership, calm demeanour and conduct as Inter's captain.

#3 Centre-back: Paolo Maldini (AC Milan)

Another defending legend, Paolo Maldini played at the top of European football for almost a quarter of the century. Having made his senior debut for the red half of Milan in 1985, Maldini committed his entire career to the Rossoneri. In 25 years, the Italian made a record-breaking 902 appearances and in the process, lifted 26 major titles which included 7 league trophies and 5 European Cups.

Maldini was renowned for his technical ability, athleticism, sliding tackles, stamina, and fast energetic forward runs. He was also an excellent crosser of the ball and was an effective attacking threat, scoring and assisting several goals throughout his career.

A famous one-club man, Maldini was also widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time and in 2004, was named in FIFA’s top 100 list of the world's greatest living players.

#4 Centre-back: Franco Baresi (AC Milan)

Before Maldini, it was Franco Baresi, who was the spearhead of the Milan defence. The Milan great was once an Inter reject, but the Rossoneri were well aware of his talent and welcomed him to their camp with open arms. A brilliant leader and reader of the game, the “Little One” was touted to be the greatest defender in the history of football and was also voted as Milan’s player of the century.

In 20 years at San Siro, Baresi made 719 apearances for the club and won countless silverware with Milan. Another famous one club man, Milan retired his No.6 shirt in his honour when he called it quits in 1997.

#5 Left-back:Giancinto Faccheti (Inter Milan)

Like Carlos Alberto, Giacinto Facchetti was a modern day full-back who played in an era where wing-backs had not yet appeared in the football vocabulary. Then Inter manager Helenio Herrera was impressed by talent and soon landed him at the training ground. Considering his august tackling ability and impressive physique, Helenio deployed him as an attacking fullback and Facchetti simply thrived in the role.

Italian made big strides in that role and also formed a great partnership in the defence with his compatriot, Burgnich. Facchetti amalgamated his defensive and attacking prowess and it helped him on the counters of Helenio’ Catenaccio system in his Grande Inter side that hegemonized Europe in the 1960s.

A gentleman on and off the pitch, Faccheti had a glittering career with The Big Grass Snake which saw him lifting 9 trophies, that constitutes 4 Scudettos and 2 European Cups and was sent off only once throughout his career.

#6 Midfielder: Zvonimir Boban (AC Milan)

A player not so widely remembered, but remains one of the hallmarks of AC Milan history. Zvonimir Boban was a vital component of the Milan midfield for nearly 10 years and was a driving force behind four Scudetti and the club's fifth UEFA Champions League conquest.

Technically able and sublime passing range, Boban provided creativity from the midfield and his versatility allowed him to play in several midfields throughout his career.

Boban represented Il Diavolo 251 times and acrrued a total of 30 goals in the process.

#7 Midfielder: Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan)

A modern football great, Andrea Pirlo may be plying his trade with Juventus for the past 4 years, but some of his most memorable days came in Milan colours. After 3 unsuccessful spells with the blue half, Pirlo joined the red side of Milan in 2001 and would go on to establish himself as one of their greatest ever central midfielders in his 10 decade long span with the club.

A deep-lying playmaker and a great orchestrator of a game, Pirlo’s excellent ball control and ability to read the game were something to behold. His dynamism made him a battering ram of the Milan side that rocked Italy and Europe in the early 2000s.

He left for league rivals Bianconeris in 2011, after chaperoning them to 2 league titles, 2 European titles and 5 other titles in his decade-long spell.

#8 Midfielder: Ruud Gulllit (AC Milan)

When Silvio Berlusconi bought Milan in the 1980s, he immediately made his impression on the club, making one of the greatest investments of all time when he brought in three of the greatest Dutch players to ever play the game. One of these players was Ruud Gullit.

Right from the word go, Gullit was an outstanding player for Milan, and his consistency made him an indespensible figure in the club’s machinations. Playing mostly as an attacking midfielder and providing inspiration in the attack, Gullit helped Milan to the Scudetto for the first time in nine years. From then on, the Milan of the late '80s and early '90s would become one of the most dominant teams ever.

#9 Forward: Gianni Rivera (AC Milan)

When somebody mentions AC Milan, a number of big names spring to mind. The likes of Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini are synonymous with the club that has seven European titles. However, another name is a man who spent almost two decades with the club and prides himself on an equally legendary status at the club – Gianni Rivera.

Adept at set-pieces and taking penalties, Rivera’s technical abilites and dribbling skills helped his side a lot going forward and much of his side’s creative influence stemmed through him.

Dubbed Italy's "Golden Boy" by the media, the Alessandria native made over 650 appearances for the San Siro outfit, netting 164 times. Rivera was a part of the Milan side that lifted their first ever European cup in 1963 and also has 3 league titles under his belt.

#10 Forward: Guissepe Maezza (Inter Milan)

“To have him in the team was to start 1-0 up”, eulogized Vittorio Pozzo, the manager of Italy’s World Cup winning team of the 1934 and 1938. Such was the eminence of the Italian to his team. Maezza was one of Italy’s first superstar, and so was for Inter Milan.

Joined Inter in 1927, Maezza plied his trade there for 13 long years in which he also became of their most prolific goalscorers, having amassed 242 goals in 365 games and led his side to 3 Scudettos.

His majestic footballing skills and prolific goalscoring ability earned him the moniker “il genio”. Inter Milan immortalized him by naming their stadium after him when he passed away in 1979.

#11 Forward: Gunnar Nordahl (AC Milan)

A Swede by nationality, Nordahl joined the Italian side in 1949 after 3 highly-stellar spells in his native. Suffice to say, the forward continued his grand exploits when he moved to Italy as he scored 210 goals in 257 appearances.

In his 11-year stay, Nordahl was critical to the 8 titles which the club won during that period and a multitude of individual honors. He still stands as the all-time top scorer of AC Milan.

#12 Substitutes

Goalkeeper: Sebastiano Rossi (AC Milan)

One of the most lauded ‘keeper in the history of AC Milan, Sebastiano Rossi is arguably the most successful ‘keeper if not most spectacular since the early nineties.

Rossi was an indispensable member of one of the greatest Milan, during the early 90s, that romped to 5 Serie A titles and also a Champions League in 1994. The Italian, despite his dexterity in goal, may have never earned a call-up from the national team, but acquired a legendary status at the club where he made over 300 appearances and also made the record for the longest streak without conceding a goal in Serie A history when he kept a clean sheet for 929 consecutive minutes.

Right-back: Guiseppe Bergomi (Inter Milan)

Before Javier Zanetti, the distinction for being the best and most famous right-back at Inter belonged to Guiseppe Bergomi, an Inter veteran who spent his entire 20-year career there.

Bergomi began training with the Inter’s first team squad at the age of 16 itself and later in 1980, made his professional debut. The 20 campaigns with Inter were although spent largely in the shadows of AC Milan as he won the Scudetto only once, but made it to the finals of UEFA competitions 4 times, winning 3 of them. For a while, he held the records for both the most appearances in European competitions by an Italian player and the most Milan derbies played, both later broken by Paolo Maldini. Lo zio, for many years, held the all-time appearances record with Inter, until it was broken by Zanetti.

Centre-back: Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan)

A proven world class defender when he joined Milan from Lazio in 2002, Nesta's career went from strength to strength upon arriving at the San Siro. He joined the club for a fee of around €30 million and stayed there for the next 10 glimmering years which saw trophies flowing through his career.

Best known for his artistic tackles and tight marking on opponents, Nesta made over 320 appearances and formed arguably the greatest centre back partnership in the world with compatriot, Paolo Maldini. A decade long career with Milan saw him lifting a total of 10 titles, which includes 2 league and 2 Champions League triumphs.

Centre-back: Armando Picchi (Inter Milan)

The Livorno-born defender played largely for Inter Milan during his career and was one of the greatest ever Italian to play the game of football.

He featured for Inter Milan in the 1960s and was a vital cog of the Grande Inter side. Picchi won the European Cup twice with Inter and captained them to three Italian championships.

Left-back: Aldo Maldera (AC Milan)

Maldera has plied his trade in Italy for the entire career, but largely with AC Milan. A left-footed player, Maldera possessed an accurate and powerful shot, which earned him the nickname "Aldo-gol", due to his prolific goalscoring ability, despite his more defensive playing role; he was a hard-working team player, who was capable of aiding his team both offensively and defensively.

In his decade-long stretch with the Milanese club, Maldera won 3 domestic trophies and played a part in the 1984 European cup final which they lost to Liverpool on penalties.

Midfielder: Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan)

Being the Argentine footballer with the most honours in history, Esteban Matias Cambiasso has truly been the heartbeat of Inter's midfield in recent years.

Cuchu has played 267 games with the Serie A side, and he was a key player in the midfield of the Jose Mourinho-coached team which won the treble in 2010.

Midfielder: Kaka (AC Milan)

The Brazilian is one of the most decorated players in Milan history and was also one of the best during his heydays.

Having started his career in his native Brazil with Sao Paolo, Kaka moved to Milan in 2003 and endured the greatest moments of his career. He was a quick, strong, agile, highly skilful and creative team player, capable of dribbling past defenders in one on one situations as well as during counter-attacks.

He won every possible major honor with Milan and also produced one of the greatest ever individual displays in Milan’s 2006-07 Champions League triumph, for which he was later bestowed with the prestigious Ballon d’Or honour.

Midfielder: Lothar Matthaus (Inter Milan)

The versatile German midfielder was the most important Inter Milan player during the late 80's and the early 90's. He made 115 appearances with Inter and led them to the UEFA Cup trophy in 1991.

In 1990, Lothar Matthaus was named the European Footballer of the Year, as an Inter player.

Forward: Mario Corso (Inter Milan)

Nicknamed Mariolino, Mario Corso was a great left-winger who was somewhat inconsistent. Yet his sheer talent and tricks were enough to make him one of the best ever players to feature for Inter Milan. He played for the Italian powerhouse between 1958 and 1973 and won the European Cup twice and was a crucial piece of the Grande Inter puzzle. Corso was noted for his exquisite crosses and lovely free-kicks

Forward: Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan)

Shevchenko joined Milan in 1999 after making a bright start to his professional career with Dynamo Kyiv and for the next 7 years, moluded himself into one of the all-time best forwards of Milan.

He made a total of 322 appearances in the Red and Black of Milan, scoring 175 times. Shevchenko is the second most prolific player in the history of the club, and is also the all-time second-best scorer of the Milan derby with 14 strikes. He won a total of 5 trophies in his Milan career, including the historic 2003 Champions League cup.

Forward: Marco van Basten (AC Milan)

One of the game's most complete forwards, Van Basten was the final piece of the famous Dutch trio at Milan that also featured Rijkaard and Ruud Gullit.

Van Basten won the Serie A three times with Milan and was received the Ballon d'Or award three times in 1988, 1989 and 1992. In 201 appearances, the Dutchman accrued 124 strikes and former AC Milan and England manager, Fabio Capello described Van Basten as ''the greatest striker he ever coached.''