Milan weigh up Perth pre-season return after success of Sam Kerr Football Centre stay
AC Milan’s love for Perth has the seven-time European champions seriously considering an extended pre-season camp here in the next few years.
Milan take on Perth Glory at HBF Park tonight, 14 months after they played a high-profile friendly with Serie A rivals AS Roma at Optus Stadium.
They are already in negotiations to bring their Serie A clash with Como to Perth next February, as Milan’s San Siro stadium is hosting the opening ceremony for the 2026 Games on the weekend that the game is scheduled to take place.
They arrived in Western Australia on Sunday, turning the Sam Kerr Football Centre into a mini Milanello, the club’s famed training base.
And former Milan and Socceroos goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac says the state-of-the-art facilities at the Queens Park venue, along with the relative anonymity of the WA capital, are ideal for their preparation.
“They are talking about it as a place to do a proper pre-season camp and stay here longer, because the conditions are good, the fields are good, and it’s the right time of year to do it,” he said.
Kalac, a Champions League winner with the Rossoneri, is with the squad this week as a club ambassador. He was watching on from the stand of the Sam Kerr Football Centre as new head coach Max Allegri and his staff put the players through their drills.
He said: “They’ve loved it here. They think the facilities are fantastic. The fields are in great condition, the gym’s been excellent for them. They love that – and the Italians are right into the strength and conditioning! They don’t talk about doing a longer camp here for pre-season if the facilities are rubbish.
“The hotel is unreal, too, and they can relax here. That’s the beauty of it.
“They wouldn’t be able to do this in Italy, simple things like go for a walk or go to certain beaches. They get pestered, whereas here, we’re a little bit laid back. Someone might come and ask for an autograph and a photo but that’s it. They come here for pre-season and they don’t have time [for distractions]. You’re so tired, double sessions every day, it’s constant work, work, work.”
Allegri has returned to Milan after 11 years away, during which he won five Serie A titles with Juventus. Kalac is confident he will bring back the good times to Milan, who have been Italian champions just once since he led them to the league in 2010-11.
“He’s a champion, a really good signing,” Kalac said.
“You can already see the difference in the group. The mood in the camp is fantastic and it starts with the leader. He’s the leader, he drives it all. As you can see, they’re punctual, they’re on time all the time, there’s no coming late. He’s very big on his discipline but very good on team camaraderie and team spirit.”
Earlier in the week, Kalac joined Milan players Samuele Ricci, Matteo Gabbia, Filippo Terracciano and Yunus Musah on a visit to Perth Children’s Hospital.
He said: “It was brilliant. That was really good, it was excellent. And that’s what Milan’s about. They always give back to charities, they want to leave a mark and help, and that’s what the club’s always been about.”
Tonight’s game against Glory concludes Milan’s pre-season tour to Asia and Australia, which saw them face Arsenal in Singapore and Liverpool in Hong Kong. They fly back to Italy on Friday.
“I’m lucky the last two years they have come to Perth and I’ve helped them with all their interviews and such and it’s been fantastic,” said Kalac, who played for the Socceroos at the 2006 World Cup finals.
“I’ve got some really nice jobs in Sydney. I’m head of football at Scots College, and head of football at Inter Lions, and I have my own academy.
“I’m also goalkeeper coach for Iraq under Graham Arnold, who recently got the job as head coach. So I’ve got plenty on my plate at the moment. But coming here and being with the team is special.”