Quick Read
- Dejan Savicevic played for AC Milan from 1992 to 1998, winning three Serie A titles and the 1993-94 UEFA Champions League.
- He recalls seven Milan derbies, scoring two goals, and describes both euphoric wins and painful injuries.
- Savicevic’s most memorable derby was in 1994, his best season, while his worst memory was a knee injury in 1998.
- He believes the Milan derby remains unpredictable and emotionally charged, regardless of era.
Dejan Savicevic: The Genius Who Lit Up the Milan Derby
There’s a chill that runs through San Siro on derby night. Some say it’s the wind swirling above the stands; others swear it’s the ghosts of legends past. For Dejan Savicevic, the man the Italian press christened ‘Il Genio’, those nights were a test of nerve, skill, and—sometimes—sheer luck.
Savicevic joined AC Milan in 1992, stepping into a club bursting with world-class talent and ambition. For six years, he was part of a side that etched its name into football history, collecting three Serie A titles and the 1993-94 UEFA Champions League trophy along the way. But for all the silverware, it was the Milan derbies—those fiercely contested matches against Inter—that left the deepest marks on his memory.
The Foreigners’ Dilemma and a Slow Start
“Well, I don’t know… not many,” Savicevic laughed when asked how many derbies he actually played. The rules of the time limited each side to three foreign players per match, meaning Savicevic often found himself watching from the sidelines. With stars like Rijkaard, Gullit, and Van Basten also vying for spots, competition was brutal. In his first season, he played just ten league games—an abrupt adjustment for a player used to being the main man at Red Star Belgrade.
Still, his debut came with a bang. In the 1992 Coppa Italia against Ternana, Savicevic scored twice, once from the penalty spot and once with a thunderous strike from twenty meters. It was a sign of things to come, but also a reminder that patience would be key in a squad overflowing with talent.
Derby Memories: Triumphs and Heartbreaks
Savicevic’s tally: seven Milan derbies, two goals. The numbers barely scratch the surface of his memories, though. His first taste of the derby ended in a goalless draw, but the memory is still vivid. “San Siro applauded me, it was beautiful,” he recalled. The match had a personal twist, too—his close friend Darko Pancev, a former Red Star teammate, was lining up for Inter. “I gave him six or seven balls in front of goal, and he scored two goals. Everyone said: ‘Well done, Pancev!’”
The 1993-94 season was his pinnacle. Milan edged Inter 2-1 in the derby, clinched the league, and then conquered Europe. “A splendid season,” Savicevic said. He nearly scored in that derby, but his shot was deflected. “Today, with VAR, they’d give it to me.” It remains his only league derby win—a bittersweet statistic for a man who thrived on the biggest stages.
Of course, not every memory is golden. In 1998, Milan crushed Inter 5-0 in the Coppa Italia, a night Savicevic describes with a smile: “Five goals, a good number. A cold and special evening.” But the second leg brought anguish. Already through to the semifinals, Milan lost 1-0, and a late foul from Bergomi left Savicevic with a serious knee injury. “It ruined my season and my farewell to Milan. I was out for a year.”
The Anatomy of a Derby: Pressure, Rivalry, and Unpredictability
Savicevic insists the derby is like no other fixture. “You breathe it in, you prepare for it with different tensions,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I don’t think the atmosphere has changed; anything can happen on the pitch.” The rivalry, the expectations, the shifting fortunes—these are constants, immune to the passage of time.
He is quick to analyze the modern teams, too. Inter, he says, are “strong, they score easily,” yet he cautions against labeling them favorites. Milan, meanwhile, have struggled with wasted chances and inconsistency. He points to players like Leao, who “is very good in one-on-one situations,” and Pulisic, whose absence has been felt. New faces like Esposito at Inter have caught his eye, and he speaks with the keen observation of someone who knows the smallest details can decide these matches.
Watching from Afar: A Legend’s Perspective
Where will Savicevic watch the next derby? “On TV, at home, in Podgorica. Calm, serene. I’m curious to see Modric and Sucic. One is always top, a Ballon d’Or winner. The other is interesting, he has vision, brains, and good shots.” Even from afar, the pull of the derby remains powerful. The stakes, the spectacle, the sense of something unpredictable about to unfold—it’s all still there.
“The spectacle should not be lacking,” he notes, before adding a dose of old-school wisdom: “But Allegri is right, to talk about goals we have to wait until spring. And also the commitments and results in the cups.”
Dejan Savicevic’s derby reflections are more than just nostalgia—they’re a window into the rarefied air of elite football, where glory and heartbreak are often separated by a single touch. His career reminds us that football’s greatest matches are as much about memory as they are about results. The Milan derby, with its drama and its ghosts, continues to inspire, challenge, and enthrall—just as it did for ‘Il Genio’ himself.