The only club in Italy that achieved this feat: Inter Milan conquered Europe without giving up its title.
Sixteen years ago, the season at Santiago Bernabéu came to an end. In the Alps, this season is still considered a “golden standard” for football. Diego Milito’s two goals, Jose Mourinho’s tactical discipline, and the final against Bayern Munich—where the Munich team couldn’t find a way to counter Inter’s attacks—all contributed to Inter’s success. Inter became the first and so far the only Italian club to achieve this remarkable feat: winning the Coppa Italia, the Serie A, and the Champions League in the same calendar year.
History doesn’t tolerate ambiguity, but the numbers speak for themselves. Since 2010, no other club from Serie A has been able to replicate this achievement. Juventus and Milan came close to achieving this feat, but they stopped short of it. The reason isn’t just due to the evolution of European football, but also because of the unique circumstances of that season: an unbreakable defense, deadly counterattacks, and the team’s psychological resilience, which allowed them to play at their physical and tactical limits. Mourinho created a system where every player knew their role. The final against Bayern Munich was the perfect ending to his efforts.
Today, this feat isn’t just a historical record. It’s a benchmark that all Italian clubs strive to achieve. But it hasn’t been achieved again yet. In an era of intense pressure, financial regulation, and a globalized transfer market, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to replicate Inter’s achievement. But precisely because of this, May 22nd, 2010 remains a day remembered as the day when Milan won three trophies at once. And while there’s only one such set of trophies on the shelves of Italian football, the “Nereiduri” truly deserve to be called the only ones who’ve achieved this feat.