Inter Milan 05/06 – Away Shirt

The 2005–06 season was Inter Milan’s 97th year of existence and their 90th consecutive season in Serie A. Under the management of Roberto Mancini, Inter had a mixed campaign on the pitch but ultimately found success in multiple competitions, along with a controversial league title awarded after the Calciopoli scandal. Inter began the season with a significant triumph in the Supercoppa Italiana, defeating Juventus 1–0 in extra time thanks to Juan Sebastián Verón’s decisive goal. In Serie A, the team experienced a strong start, highlighted by a dramatic 3–2 victory in the Milan Derby, their first such win since 2002. However, their form dipped during the second half of the campaign, ultimately finishing third in the league. The Champions League campaign also ended in disappointment, with Inter being eliminated in the quarter-finals by Villarreal, despite being one of the tournament favorites. Domestically, Inter did secure the Coppa Italia title with a victory over Roma, providing some consolation for their uneven league form. The season’s defining moment came after its conclusion, with the Calciopoli scandal breaking over the summer. Juventus and AC Milan were implicated in a match-fixing scandal, leading to Juventus being stripped of their Serie A title and relegated to Serie B. As a result, Inter were retroactively awarded the 2005–06 Serie A championship, marking their first league triumph since 1989 and their 14th Scudetto overall. Julio Cruz was the team’s top scorer, netting 15 goals in Serie A and 21 across all competitions. Despite some challenges, the season cemented Inter’s place as one of Italy’s top clubs and laid the groundwork for their future dominance.