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The Curse of the AC Milan Captaincy: A Legacy of Decline

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The Curse of the AC Milan Captaincy: A Legacy of Decline
The Curse of the AC Milan Captaincy

Since Paolo Maldini retired in 2009, AC Milan has seen a troubling pattern emerge; captains who inherit the armband often experience a decline in form, struggle with injuries, or face unceremonious departures. This recurring misfortune has led fans to speculate that there may be a “curse” on the Milan captaincy. Below, we examine each captain’s fate since Maldini’s departure.

1. Massimo Ambrosini (2009–2013) – Injuries and Unceremonious Exit

A loyal servant of Milan, Ambrosini took over the captaincy following Maldini’s retirement. However, his tenure was marred by frequent injuries and a gradual decline in influence. By 2013, Milan opted not to renew his contract, effectively pushing him out of the club. He played one final season with Fiorentina before retiring.

2. Riccardo Montolivo (2013–2017) – Plagued by Injuries

Montolivo was expected to lead Milan into a new era, but his captaincy was riddled with misfortune. A severe ACL injury in 2016 kept him sidelined for months, and he never regained his previous form. By the time his contract expired in 2019, he had been completely frozen out of the squad, and he retired soon after.

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3. Leonardo Bonucci (2017–2018) – A Short-Lived and Controversial Spell

Bonucci’s arrival from Juventus in 2017 was meant to symbolize Milan’s resurgence, and he was given the armband immediately. However, his performances dipped, and he struggled to integrate into the team. After just one disappointing season, he pushed for a return to Juventus, leaving Milan in what felt like an embarrassing failed experiment.

4. Alessio Romagnoli (2018–2022) – Benched and Forgotten

A promising young defender, Romagnoli initially looked like a worthy captain. However, injuries and inconsistent performances saw him lose his place to the emerging duo of Fikayo Tomori and Pierre Kalulu. By 2022, he was no longer a regular starter, and Milan allowed him to leave on a free transfer to Lazio.

5. Davide Calabria (2022–January 2025) – Stripped of Captaincy

Calabria, a homegrown talent, wore the armband with pride, but his tenure was turbulent. He struggled to maintain consistent performances, and following internal conflicts, Milan decided to strip him of the captaincy in January 2025. Just a month later, he left the club, ending an 18-year association with Milan in a rather bitter manner.

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6. Theo Hernández (Occasional Captain) – A Symbolic Leader with Inconsistencies

Hernández has occasionally worn the captain’s armband, and while he remains a fan favorite, his tenure has had its share of struggles. On his 27th birthday in October 2024, he endured a nightmare match; conceding a penalty, missing a penalty, and receiving a red card, all in one game. While he remains a crucial player, moments like these raise questions about the Milan captaincy’s influence.

7. Mike Maignan (January 2025–Present) – Struggling Under Pressure

Following Calabria’s exit, Maignan was appointed captain in January 2025. However, since taking on the role, his performances have taken a hit. Milan has conceded in nearly every match, including a devastating 2-1 loss to Torino and a 1-1 draw against Feyenoord that saw them eliminated from the Champions League. Once considered one of the world’s best goalkeepers, Maignan now faces growing scrutiny.

The Curse of the Milan Captaincy – Coincidence or Reality?

The pattern is undeniable; since Maldini, nearly every Milan captain has seen their career take a downturn. Injuries, loss of form, and abrupt exits have plagued those who wear the armband. Whether a genuine curse or just a run of bad luck, the question remains: will Maignan break the cycle, or will the curse claim yet another victim?

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Adli’s Dramatic Late Strike Caps Fearless Bournemouth Night as Cherries Outlast Liverpool

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Adli’s Dramatic Late Strike Caps Fearless Bournemouth Night as Cherries Outlast Liverpool

Amine Adli delivered a moment Bournemouth supporters will treasure for years, scoring a stoppage-time winner to seal a thrilling Premier League victory over Liverpool and end the visitors’ 13-match unbeaten run at a rain-soaked Vitality Stadium.

In a pulsating contest that swung repeatedly, Adli reacted quickest to a goalmouth scramble in the fifth minute of added time, sending the home crowd into raptures just when it seemed Liverpool’s resilience might earn them a point. The goal crowned a performance full of belief and bravery from Andoni Iraola’s side, who refused to settle for a draw even after being pegged back from a two-goal lead.

Liverpool had shown their trademark fighting spirit to recover late on. With 10 minutes remaining, Dominik Szoboszlai struck his second free-kick of the week to make it 2-2, after Virgil van Dijk had earlier headed them back into contention. Yet Bournemouth continued to press, and their ambition was ultimately rewarded in dramatic fashion.

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The match turned sharply during a chaotic seven-minute spell in the first half that proved costly for Liverpool. Evanilson opened the scoring in the 26th minute after Van Dijk failed to clear his lines, with Alex Scott’s sharp ball across goal punishing the lapse. In the same phase, Joe Gomez was injured after colliding with goalkeeper Alisson while trying to block the shot, leaving Liverpool temporarily down to 10 men.

With play continuing as Wataru Endo prepared to come on, Bournemouth took full advantage. In the 33rd minute, Alex Jimenez timed his run perfectly to meet James Hill’s through ball and calmly finished through Alisson’s legs to make it 2-0, underlining the Cherries’ ruthlessness.

Liverpool eventually regrouped and responded impressively. On the brink of half-time, Van Dijk rose highest to head home from a Szoboszlai corner, restoring hope. That belief carried into the second half, and Mohamed Salah cleverly rolled a free-kick into Szoboszlai’s path, allowing the Hungarian midfielder to fire low past Djordje Petrovic for the equaliser.

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Both sides sensed victory was there to be claimed. Alisson was forced into a fine save to tip Ryan Christie’s effort over the bar, while at the other end Petrovic produced a stunning stop to deny Florian Wirtz, preserving Bournemouth’s momentum and belief.

As the clock ticked into stoppage time, neither team appeared content with a draw. Bournemouth pushed forward once more, and when the ball broke loose in the Liverpool box, Adli kept his composure to finish and spark wild celebrations. Petrovic sprinted to the touchline to embrace the dugout as the Vitality Stadium erupted in collective joy.

The result hands Liverpool their first defeat since November and extends their wait for a Premier League win in 2026. They remain fourth in the table, while Bournemouth climb to 13th, boosted by a result that could prove pivotal for their confidence.

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Despite an injury-hit squad and the mid-season loss of Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City, Iraola’s players produced a fearless, high-energy display in difficult conditions. While they briefly sat deeper in the second half, their willingness to attack late on defined the evening.

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Sancho’s Breakthrough Strike Sends Aston Villa into Europa League Last 16

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Sancho’s Breakthrough Strike Sends Aston Villa into Europa League Last 16

Jadon Sancho marked a memorable milestone by scoring his first goal for Aston Villa as the Premier League side secured a hard-fought victory over Fenerbahce in Istanbul, sealing qualification for the Europa League last 16 with a game to spare.

The decisive moment came in the 25th minute when Sancho reacted sharply to a deflected cross from Matty Cash, rising at close range to nod the ball past Fenerbahce goalkeeper Ederson. It was a composed finish that underlined Villa’s growing confidence on the European stage and gave them a crucial early advantage in a challenging away fixture.

That goal proved enough to maintain Villa’s impressive momentum in the competition. With six wins from their opening seven matches, Unai Emery’s side now sit third in the league phase table and are mathematically guaranteed a top-eight finish, ensuring direct passage into the knockout rounds. The achievement highlights Villa’s consistency and depth as they continue to balance domestic and European ambitions.

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Despite the positive outcome, Villa’s victory was not without tension, particularly in the closing stages. With 15 minutes remaining, Fenerbahce thought they had drawn level when Kerem Akturkoglu finished clinically, only for a video assistant referee review to rule the goal out for an offside in the build-up involving former Villa striker Jhon Duran. The intervention proved decisive in preserving Villa’s narrow lead.

Villa, who made six changes from their weekend Premier League draw at home to Everton, controlled much of the contest and created the clearer chances for long spells. Sancho came close to adding a second goal shortly before half-time when he rounded Ederson after being played through by Morgan Rogers, but his effort was dramatically cleared off the line by Fenerbahce captain Milan Skriniar.

Rogers briefly thought he had scored from the rebound, only for play to be stopped after the ball struck the referee in the build-up, bringing the move to an unfortunate end. The forward was again denied later in the match when another effort was ruled out, this time after Sancho had strayed offside before squaring the ball for what would have been a simple finish.

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Villa continued to threaten, with Cash going close to a spectacular goal when his dipping 25-yard strike crashed against the far post. At the other end, goalkeeper Marco Bizot played a vital role in preserving the clean sheet, producing an excellent diving save to his right to deny substitute Talisca after the attacker had broken through on goal midway through the second half.

Fenerbahce pushed hard in the final moments, but Villa remained disciplined and resilient, seeing out the game with maturity and composure. The win not only confirms their place in the last 16 but also reinforces the sense that Emery’s side are growing into serious contenders in the competition.

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Senegal Claim Dramatic Afcon Glory After Controversial Final Against Morocco

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Senegal Claim Dramatic Afcon Glory After Controversial Final Against Morocco

Senegal were crowned Africa Cup of Nations champions for a second time after a tense and dramatic final against hosts Morocco, a match that will be remembered as much for its controversy as for the resilience and composure shown by the eventual winners.

The decisive encounter was overshadowed late on when Senegal’s players briefly refused to continue play after Morocco were awarded a highly contentious stoppage-time penalty with the score still level at 0-0. The incident unfolded in the 98th minute, prompting a heated reaction from the Senegalese bench and players on the pitch.

Head coach Pape Thiaw attempted to usher his team off the field in protest after referee Jean Jacques Ndala pointed to the spot, ruling that defender El Hadji Malick Diouf had brought down Brahim Diaz inside the penalty area. The decision was confirmed following a VAR review, intensifying Senegal’s frustration at a critical moment of the final.

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When play eventually resumed, Real Madrid forward Diaz stepped up to take the penalty, attempting an audacious panenka. However, the effort was brilliantly saved, lifting Senegal and restoring belief among the players and supporters after a chaotic few minutes.

Thiaw, 44, was visibly irritated not only by the penalty decision but also by the earlier disallowing of a Senegal goal moments before the spot-kick was awarded. Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr had appeared to give Senegal the lead from close range, only for the goal to be ruled out after a foul by Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi in the build-up.

As tensions rose, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy briefly made his way toward the dressing room, before returning to the pitch following encouragement from captain Sadio Mane, who played a key leadership role in urging his team-mates to remain focused and see out the match.

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Referee Ndala brought the 90 minutes to an end immediately after the penalty drama, sending the final into extra time. Senegal carried their momentum forward and were rewarded early, with Pape Gueye breaking the deadlock just four minutes into extra time to give his side a crucial lead.

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