Olimpia Milano, was created in 1936 under the zodiac sign of success, is also known as EA7 Emporio Armani Olimpia Milano after its title sponsor, and is the most successful team in the history of the Italian Basketball. Its colors are white and red, and the team is often referred to as the “Scarpette Rosse” (The Red Shoes) because team officials initially negotiated for Pirelli to make red Superga sneakers and then in 1971 the Club imported red sneakers from Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars from the U.S.A. for its players. The nickname stuck and is still used by the Club’s many fans throughout Italy.
From its founding in 1936 until 1955 the Club was sponsored by Borletti and was called Borletti Milano. From 1956 to 1973 it was renamed Simmenthal. Other famous sponsorships were Billy, Simac, Tracer, Phillips, Recoaro, Stefanel, Sony, Adecco, Pippo, Breil, Armani Jeans and presently EA7-Emporio Armani. Olimpia Milano has been owned by fashion icon Giorgio Armani since 2008.
Olimpia Milano is the most successful basketball team in Italy, having won 26 Italian Championships (scudetti), 3 Euroleague Championship Titles, 4 Italian Cup Championships, 1 Intercontinental Cup Title, 3 Saporita Cups Titles, 2 Korac’ Cup Titles and many junior team titles.
Olimpia Milano by the Numbers:
26 Italian Championships: 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1972, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1996, 2014
4 Italian Cup Championships: 1972, 1986, 1987, 1996
3 Euroleague Championships (Coppa dei Campioni): 1966, 1987, 1988
1 Intercontinental Cup Title: 1987
3 Eurocup Titles: 1971, 1972, 1976
2 Korać Cup Titles: 1985, 1993
1 Triple Crown: 1987
1 Little Slam: 1972
No club outside the NBA has more representatives in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in Springfield than does Olimpia Milano: Coaches Ceare Rubini and Sandro Gamba, and players Dino Meneghin, Senator Bill Bradley and Bob McAdoo. The list of great players who used to play for Olimpia is impressive and also includes Mike D’Antoni, Danilo Gallinari, John Gianelli, Albert King, Rolando Blackman, Joe Barry Carroll, Skip Thoren, and Antoine Carr.
Olimpia Milano has retired the numbers of two players: Mike D’Antoni (Number 8) and Arthur Kenney (Number 18). Senator Bill Bradley wore Number 15.
