Alberto Zaccheroni had made a miraculous start to his Milan career in 1999 by inspiring the club to a surprise Serie A title after a mid-table toil for the previous couple of seasons.

The 1999 - 00 campaign was less successful with the title defence undermined by too many drawn games and the European campaign ending early, but a trio of of the new signings brought great hope for an exciting future. Serginho and Gennaro Gattuso both started well, but it was the Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko arriving from Kyiv who dazzled. His debut season brought 29 goals in all competition and he worked brilliantly alongside the German Oliver Bierhoff who had been the star of the title season.