As San Siro approaches its 100th anniversary this September, Milan legend Alessandro Costacurta has opened up about his lifelong relationship with the stadium that will soon be replaced by a new arena jointly developed by Milan and Inter.
Costacurta's first visit to San Siro came at age 12, tagging along with his father and older brother, a Milan supporter, to watch a match against Bologna. The experience was cut short by a sudden downpour, since the stadium lacked a roof at the time. "After a quarter of an hour he just said: 'No, that's it, we've got to go,'" Costacurta recalled of his father's decision to leave early.
Despite that inauspicious start, Costacurta would go on to become one of the most decorated players in Milan's history. Signed by the club's academy a year after that rainy afternoon, he made 663 appearances for the first team, trailing only Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi in club history. Alongside them and Mauro Tassotti, he formed part of a defensive unit many consider among the finest ever assembled, helping Milan capture seven Serie A titles and five European Cups.
Now, with Milan and Inter having completed their joint purchase of San Siro and surrounding land from Milan's city council late last year, construction on a replacement stadium is set to begin early next year, with completion targeted for 2031 in time for Euro 2032. The new venue, designed by Foster + Partners and Manica, will anchor a broader redevelopment including retail and hospitality spaces.
While acknowledging the emotional weight of the stadium's impending farewell, Costacurta was frank about its shortcomings. "San Siro is not a modern stadium," he said. "It's an icon, it's incredibly beautiful, but it's not functional." He pointed to issues like insufficient elevators, outdated hospitality areas, and famously poor bathroom facilities as reasons the move is necessary.
The defender also reflected on the unusual warmth between Milan and Inter fans despite their fierce rivalry. "It's rare to breathe such friendly air when you go to different derbies around the world," he said, noting the mingling between supporters and, during his playing days, between players themselves.
Costacurta recalled one of his most satisfying victories at San Siro came in a Milan derby in May 2001, when his side thrashed Inter 6-0 while playing as the technical "away" team. "At 4-0 we could see their fans walking out," he said.
He described the stadium's steep stands as its most distinctive architectural feature, contrasting it with venues like Real Madrid's Bernabéu. The steepness left a lasting impression from his early days as a ballboy. "It made me almost afraid," he admitted. "It felt like all those people were going to fall on top of me."
San Siro's third tier, completed with a roof ahead of the 1990 World Cup, initially caused unexpected problems. Costacurta remembered the pitch suffering from poor airflow management following the addition. "For a year and a half, our pitch was the worst in Europe," he said, though he suggested the difficult conditions may have actually disadvantaged visiting teams more than Milan, whose famous 58-game unbeaten league run began not long after.
Costacurta also shared lighter memories from his early career, including the affectionate but mocking nickname "pè de ghisa" (iron foot) given to him by fans in Milanese dialect due to his technical limitations as a young player, and the simple chant of "Billy! Billy! Vai! Vai! Vai!" that followed him throughout his career.
Although saddened by San Siro's inevitable departure, Costacurta drew comparisons to Arsenal's transition from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium, a move he witnessed firsthand having played there during a European Super Cup match. "I think everyone suffered the change at first, but the Emirates is great now," he said. "So why not?"
Based on reporting from The Guardian.