Adriano Galliani Italian football manager and entrepreneur Date of Birth: 30.07.1944 Country: Italy

1. Early Life and Career
2. Partnership with Silvio Berlusconi
3. Lega Nazionale Professionisti Role
4. Calciopoli Scandal
5. Tax Evasion Allegations
6. Napoli Fan Attack

Early Life and Career

Adriano Galliani, an Italian football manager and entrepreneur, holds a bachelor's degree in surveying. For eight years, he worked for his hometown's administration in Monza, where he also ran for mayor as a member of the Christian Democratic Party.

Later, Galliani acquired a small company named Elettronica Industriale, which specialized in telecommunications equipment distribution. Within a few years of starting his business, he became a leading provider for Telemontecarlo, making him the fourth largest player in Italy's telecommunications sector.

Partnership with Silvio Berlusconi

Galliani's business success led to a partnership with Silvio Berlusconi in 1979, who owned Telemilano58 at the time. Together, they founded Canale 5, with Galliani transferring 50% ownership of his company to Berlusconi.

In 1986, Berlusconi became the owner and president of A.C. Milan. He appointed Galliani as the club's vice-president, a role in which they achieved great success, with Milan winning the most UEFA trophies in its history.

Lega Nazionale Professionisti Role

In 2002, Galliani accepted the role of president of the National Professional League (Lega Nazionale Professionisti), while continuing as vice-president of A.C. Milan. This sparked controversy within Italian football as a potential conflict of interest.

Calciopoli Scandal

Following the Calciopoli scandal, Galliani resigned from his position as Lega Nazionale Professionisti president on June 22, 2006. In a letter, he maintained his innocence but was subsequently suspended for nine months by the Italian Football Federation. The suspension was later reduced to five months, and he was fined by the Italian National Olympic Committee.

Tax Evasion Allegations

In 2007, the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office reopened an investigation against Galliani and other A.C. Milan and Internazionale officials for alleged tax evasion related to player transfers from 1999 to 2003. The charges were dropped in 2008 after a Milanese judge ruled that Galliani's actions did not constitute an offense.

Napoli Fan Attack

In March 2008, Galliani was attacked by S.S.C. Napoli fans, who threw objects at his car.