White proves a winner for Maldini’s Rossoneri
Milan, whose last three European Cup final victories were all achieved wearing white shirts, were given permission by European football's governing body UEFA to play in the same colour in Manchester.
Normally dressed in black and red striped shirts, an all-white Milan won a dramatic penalty shoot-out 3-2 after the match ended goal-less following extra time.
It was the club's sixth European success following previous victories in 1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994.
Milan captain Paolo Maldini celebrated his fourth European Cup triumph, 40 years after his father Cesare helped the club to their first success in the competition.
"To put your hands on the trophy and look down at the captains armband is an extraordinary feeling," said Maldini, who played in all 19 matches (including two qualifying matches) of Milan's Champions League campaign, setting a new tournament record.
"It's incredible to be back at this stage of my career, 13 years after my first European Cup win and 40 years after my father did it. I can't say this is better than my other wins but to be the captain is a whole new emotion. I can't describe it."
In guiding Milan to victory coach Carlo Ancelotti became only the second person to lift Europe's premier club prize as a player and as a coach with the same team after Real Madrid's Miguel Munoz. "This success repays me for the disappointments I had at Juventus I can hardly believe it," he said. "It may have taken penalties to decide it but on the night we were the better team."
In winning the trophy Milan's Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf became the first player to win the European Cup with three different clubs.
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