2010–11 Inter Milan season
The 2010–11 season was Football Club Internazionale Milano's 102th in existence and 95th consecutive season in the top flight of Italian football.
The team took part in the Serie A, UEFA Champions League and the Coppa Italia, as titles holders of all these competitions. Internazionale won the Supercoppa Italiana against Roma, and Club World Cup against TP Mazembe, but lost the UEFA Super Cup to Atlético Madrid.
Season overview
; Departure of Mourinho and arrival of BenítezLess than a week after winning the Champions League, on 28 May, Inter manager José Mourinho left the club and joined Real Madrid. On the 10 June, Inter signed Rafael Benítez from Liverpool on a two-year contract, ending a six-year stint as manager in the English side.
; Summer transfer window
During the summer transfer window, Inter signed Luca Castellazzi from Sampdoria, and also bought the entire rights to Jonathan Biabiany from Parma. After spending his last two seasons with Vasco da Gama in Brazil, Philippe Coutinho returned to Inter. Inter sold Ricardo Quaresma to Beşiktaş and Mario Balotelli to Manchester City, as well as also sold half of the rights to Rene Krhin to Bologna, Andrea Mei to Piacenza, and sent on one-year loan Vid Belec to Crotone, Victor Obinna to West Ham United and Andrea Ranocchia to Genoa after brought the half of his contract.
; World Cup
Meanwhile, during 2010 World Cup in South Africa ten players from Inter were included in their national teams, these players were Walter Samuel and Diego Milito with Argentina; Rene Krhin with Slovenia; Dejan Stanković as a captain of Serbia; Sulley Muntari with Ghana; Wesley Sneijder with the Netherlands; Samuel Eto'o as a captain of Cameroon; and Júlio César, Maicon, and Lúcio as a captain with Brazil. The Netherlands, including Wesley Sneijder, reached and lost the final match of the tournament against Spain after extra time.
; Completing the Quintuple
Inter starts their season with a win over Roma in Supercoppa Italiana, to secure their first trophy of the season. Six days later Inter lost to Atlético Madrid in UEFA Super Cup, this defeat meant Inter lost their chance to collect six trophies in the same year, as Barcelona had done the year before. In December, Inter claimed the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time after a 3–0 win against TP Mazembe in the final. Inter completed The Quintuple, becoming the fourth team in the world after Liverpool in 2001, Al-Ahly in 2006 and Barcelona in 2009.
; Departure of Benítez and arrival of Leonardo
After this win, however, on 23 December, due to his poor performance in Serie A and separated by 13 points from the leader Milan, Inter announced on its website the departure of Rafael Benítez to be replaced by Leonardo the following day.
; Leonardo's impact in January
Leonardo has huge impact on the team even with the absence of Samuel Eto'o due to suspension, and Wesley Sneijder and Júlio César due to injury. Inter won their match against Napoli with two goals from Thiago Motta and another one form Esteban Cambiasso. Inter continues their good start with Leonardo with five wins in raw in all competitions, until they lost against Udinese, but Inter got in their feet quickly by qualifying to the semifinal of Coppa Italia and winning against Palermo after great comeback from 0–2 to win with 3–2 and two goals from new signing Giampaolo Pazzini.
; Winter transfer window
Meanwhile, the winter transfer window for Inter was busy with transfers. Due to the long-term injury of Walter Samuel, Inter bought the remainder of Andrea Ranocchia's contract from Genoa to become Leonardo's first signing. On 13 January, Mancini left the club to join Atlético Mineiro. On 28 January, Inter announced the signing of Giampaolo Pazzini from Sampdoria, as part of the deal that saw Jonathan Biabiany join Sampdoria. The next day, Houssine Kharja joined Inter on a loan deal from Genoa with option to sign permanently, while Sulley Muntari joined Sunderland on loan. On the last day of winter transfer window, Inter sent Nelson Rivas to Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk on loan, and brought Yuto Nagatomo from Cesena as part of the deal that sent Davide Santon in the opposite direction, also on loan. Both Joel Obi and Nwankwo Obiora signed co-ownership by Parma, however Obi will remain with Inter and Nwankwo will spend the rest of the season with Parma. Inter also signed Marco Andreolli from Chievo in co-ownership, and will remain at Chievo the rest of the season.
Awards
; Individual| Player | Nat. | Award | Source |
| Wesley Sneijder |  | World Cup Silver Ball | |
| Wesley Sneijder | | World Cup Bronze Boot | |
| Wesley Sneijder | | World Cup All-Star Team | |
| Maicon |  | World Cup All-Star Team | |
| Júlio César | | UEFA Club Best Goalkeeper of the Year | |
| Maicon | | UEFA Club Best Defender of the Year | |
| Wesley Sneijder | | UEFA Club Best Midfielder of the Year | |
| Diego Milito |  | UEFA Club Best Forward of the Year | |
| Diego Milito | | UEFA Club Footballer of the Year | |
| Javier Zanetti | | Gaetano Scirea career achievement | |
| Samuel Eto'o |  | FIFA Ballon d'Or | |
| Júlio César | | FIFA Ballon d'Or | |
| Maicon | | FIFA Ballon d'Or | |
| Wesley Sneijder | | FIFA Ballon d'Or | |
| Samuel Eto'o | | African Footballer of the Year | |
| Dejan Stanković |  | Serbian Footballer of the Year | |
| Goran Pandev |  | Macedonian Player of the Year | |
| Maicon | | Samba d'Or | |
| José Mourinho |  | The World's best Club Coach by IFFHS | |
| Maicon | | FIFA/FIFPro World XI | |
| Lúcio | | FIFA/FIFPro World XI | |
| Wesley Sneijder | | FIFA/FIFPro World XI | |
| José Mourinho | | FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men's Football | |
| Maicon | | UEFA Team of the Year | |
| Wesley Sneijder | | UEFA Team of the Year | |
| José Mourinho | | UEFA Team of the Year | |
| Diego Milito | | Serie A Footballer of the Year | |
| Diego Milito | | Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year | |
| Júlio César | | Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year | |
| Walter Samuel | | Serie A Defender of the Year | |
| José Mourinho | | Serie A Coach of the Year | |
| Maicon | | Serie A Goal of the Year | |
| Samuel Eto'o | | Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year | |
| Wesley Sneijder | | Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year | |
| Mario Balotelli |  | Serie A Young Footballer of the Year | |
| Andrea Ranocchia | | Gillette Future Champion | |
| José Mourinho | | Albo Panchina d'Oro |
italic: nominated
; Team
| Award Name | Source |
| European Club of the Year | |
| Guirlande D'Honneur by the FICTS | |
| The World's best Club by IFFHS | |
| Laureus World Sports | |
| Serie A Team of the Year | |
| Sporting Merit | |
| 2010 Gianni Brera | |
| 5th Europe's Club of the 1st Decade of the 21st Century | |
| Ambrogino d'Oro |
italic: nominated
Key dates
; 2010- 28 May: Inter and Real Madrid presidents Massimo Moratti and Florentino Pérez reach agreement over manager José Mourinho, which saw the Portuguese coach moving to Real Madrid in a four-year deal.
- 10 June: Rafael Benítez signed a two-year contract that will run until 30 June 2012.
- 13 June: Inter and Beşiktaş agreed a transfer fee in the region of €7.3 million for Ricardo Quaresma.
- 15 June: Inter presents new coach Rafael Benítez at the Angelo Moratti Sports Centre.
- 17 June: Luca Castellazzi, formerly of Sampdoria, joined Inter, signing a two-year contract until 2012 with the option of a one-year extension.
- 25 June: McDonald Mariga and Jonathan Biabiany joined Inter permanently from Parma.
- 29 June: Paolo Orlandoni signed a one-year deal, which extended his contract with Inter until 30 June 2011.
- 6 July: Vid Belec joined Crotone on loan until 30 June 2011.
- 7 July: Francesco Toldo announced his retirement from football.
- 21 July: Andrea Ranocchia joined Inter, the former defender of Genoa, signed a five-year co-ownership contract until 2015. Ranocchia, however, will remain at Genoa for the 2010–11 season.
- 27 July: Inter and Bologna agreed a co-ownership deal for Rene Krhin, allowing him to play for the club during the 2010–11 season.
- 31 July: Luca Castellazzi and Philippe Coutinho made their debut for Inter against Manchester City
- 3 August: Philippe Coutinho scored his first goal for Inter against Panathinaikos
- 9 August: Javier Zanetti signed a two-year extended his deal, which extended his contract with Inter until 30 June 2013.
- 9 August: Diego Milito signed a one-year extended his deal, which extended his contract with Inter until 30 June 2014.
- 13 August: Inter and Manchester City agreed a transfer fee in the region of €30 million for Mario Balotelli.
- 21 August: Inter won the Supercoppa Italiana for the fifth time, defeating Roma in the final 3–1.
- 27 August: Inter sent Victor Obinna to West Ham United on one-year loan.
- 27 August: Inter lose 2-0 to Atlético Madrid in UEFA Super Cup.
- 28 October: Wesley Sneijder signed a two-year extended his deal, which extended his contract with Inter until 30 June 2015.
- 14 November: The 46 home matches unbeaten streak in Serie A was ended by losing the Derby della Madonnina
- 18 December: Inter won the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time, defeating TP Mazembe in the final 3–0.
- 23 December: Inter and Rafael Benítez reach agreement over separating by mutual agreement
- 24 December: Leonardo appointed as Inter new coach, and signed a contract that will run until 30 June 2012.
- 29 December: Inter and Massimo Moratti officially presents their new coach Leonardo at the Angelo Moratti Sports Centre.
- 3 January: Andrea Ranocchia signed a deal until June 2015.
- 12 January: Mancini joined Atlético Mineiro permanently from Inter.
- 19 January: Javier Zanetti overtake Inter's legend Giuseppe Bergomi in Serie A appearances
- 28 January: Giampaolo Pazzini signed a deal until June 2015, as part of the deal Jonathan Biabiany joined Sampdoria.
- 29 January: Houssine Kharja joined Inter on a loan deal with option to sign permanently on June 2011.
- 29 January: Sulley Muntari joined Sunderland on a loan deal until the end of the season.
- 31 January: Nelson Rivas joined Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk on a loan deal until the end of the season, with option to sign permanently.
- 31 January: Yuto Nagatomo joined Inter on loan as part of the deal Davide Santon moved to Cesena on loan also until the end of the season
- 31 January: Joel Obi and Nwankwo Obiora signed co-ownership by Parma, however Obi will remain with Inter and Nwankwo will spend the remainder of the season with Parma.
- 31 January: Inter signed Marco Andreolli from Chievo in a co-ownership deal; however, he will remain at Chievo for the remainder of the season.
Players
Squad information
From youth squad">Inter Milan Youth Sector">youth squad
Transfers
In
Total spending: €34.5 millionOut
Total income: €67,100,000Net Income: €26,600,000
Out on loan, co-ownership deals
- Updated 29 January 2011
- L=Serie A
- C=Coppa Italia, Super Cup
- E=Europe
- W=World
Club
; Medical staff
; Rehabilitation staff
Pre-season and friendlies
TIM Trophy
Other friendlies
Competitions
Overview
Serie A
League table
Results summary
Results by round
Matches
Coppa Italia
Round of 16
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Supercoppa Italiana
UEFA Champions League
Group stage
Knockout phase
Round of 16
Quarter-finals
UEFA Super Cup
FIFA Club World Cup
Statistics
Squad statistics
Appearances and goals
- Updated on 2 April 2011
- GS=Games started
- App.=Appearances
- Min.=Minutes
Starting 11
Goalscorers
Last updated: 29 May 2011Disciplinary record
- Updated on 2 April 2011
Goals conceded
- Updated on 2 April 2011
Own goals
- Updated on 14 September 2010
Suspensions during the season
| Date | Player | Suspension for | Punishment | Source |
| November 23, 2010 | Samuel Eto'o | Headbutt Chievo's player Boštjan Cesar | Three-match ban & €30,000 fine | |
| January 23, 2011 |  Iván Córdoba | Fourth yellow card in Serie A | One-match ban | |
| January 23, 2011 |  Cristian Chivu | Fourth yellow card in Serie A | One-match ban | |
| January 23, 2011 | Dejan Stanković | Fourth yellow card in Serie A | One-match ban | |
| February 3, 2011 | Cristian Chivu | Punch Bari's Marco Rossi in the face | Four-match ban | |
| February 13, 2011 | Thiago Motta | Fourth yellow card in Serie A | One-match ban | |
| February 25, 2011 | Maicon | Fourth yellow card in Serie A | One-match ban | |
| March 14, 2011 | Lúcio | Fourth yellow card in Serie A | One-match ban |
Last updated: April 2, 2011
Injuries during the season
| Date | Player | Injury | Estimated Return Date | Source |
| 18 August 2010 |  David Suazo | Muscular problem | March–April 2011 | |
| November 6, 2010 | Walter Samuel | Severe injury of the anterior cruciate ligament and the outer side of the right knee | May–July 2011 |
Last updated: April 2, 2011
;Back in action
| Date | Player | Injury | Date of injury | Number of matches | Source |
| August 4, 2010 | Davide Santon | Clean-up surgery on his right knee | April 7, 2010 | 12 | |
| September 14, 2010 | Maicon | Knee problem | August 27, 2010 | 2 | |
| September 19, 2010 | Dejan Stanković | Hamstring muscle strain in his left thigh | September 10, 2010 | 2 | |
| September 22, 2010 | Wesley Sneijder | Foot injury | September 17, 2010 | 1 | |
| October 3, 2010 | Diego Milito | Slight thigh strain in right leg | September 25, 2010 | 1 | |
| October 17, 2010 | Javier Zanetti | Post-traumatic pneumothrorax | September 21, 2010 | 4 | |
| October 17, 2010 | Walter Samuel | Right thigh muscle strain | September 22, 2010 | 3 | |
| October 17, 2010 | Thiago Motta | Surgery on his right knee | August 20, 2010 | 10 | |
| October 20, 2010 | Goran Pandev | Ankle problem | September 25, 2010 | 3 | |
| October 20, 2010 | Iván Córdoba | Sustained a biceps femoris strain in his left leg | October 3, 2010 | 1 | |
| October 24, 2010 | Esteban Cambiasso | First-degree strain left hamstring muscles | October 8, 2010 | 2 | |
| November 2, 2010 | Diego Milito | First- to second-degree strain left hamstring muscles | October 8, 2010 | 4 | |
| November 10, 2010 | Dejan Stanković | Right calf strain | October 20, 2010 | 4 | |
| November 14, 2010 | Wesley Sneijder | Fainted during half time | November 6, 2010 | 1 | |
| November 21, 2010 | Esteban Cambiasso | Sustained posterior thigh strains in his left leg | October 29, 2010 | 4 | |
| November 28, 2010 | Thiago Motta | Knee problem | October 21, 2010 | 7 | |
| December 3, 2010 |  Sulley Muntari | Right calf strain | November 2, 2010 | 6 | |
| December 7, 2010 |  McDonald Mariga | Muscular problem | October 13, 2010 | 12 | |
| December 15, 2010 | Júlio César | Sustained posterior thigh strains in his right leg | October 29, 2010 | 9 | |
| December 15, 2010 | Diego Milito | First degree muscle pull at the base of his left hamstring | November 14, 2010 | 5 | |
| December 15, 2010 | Cristian Chivu | Thigh strain in his right leg | November 17, 2010 | 5 | |
| December 18, 2010 | Maicon | Muscle strain in the back of the left thigh | November 6, 2010 | 7 | |
| January 12, 2011 |  Joel Obi | Second degree muscle pull in his left hamstring | November 14, 2010 | 9 | |
| January 12, 2011 | Nelson Rivas | Fitness problem | August 18, 2010 | 27 | |
| January 23, 2011 | Thiago Motta | Minor injury | January 18, 2011 | 1 | |
| January 30, 2011 | Philippe Coutinho | Pulled hamstring | November 19, 2010 | 14 | |
| January 30, 2011 | Júlio César | Strained a thigh muscle | January 4, 2011 | 7 | |
| January 30, 2011 | Diego Milito | First degree muscle strain to the biceps femoris in his left hamstring | January 19, 2011 | 2 | |
| February 3, 2011 | Wesley Sneijder | Foot injury | December 14, 2010 | 9 | |
| February 6, 2011 | Esteban Cambiasso | Hamstring strain in his left thigh | February 3, 2011 | 0 | |
| February 6, 2011 | Iván Córdoba | Dislocated shoulder | January 27, 2011 | 2 | |
| February 6, 2011 | Luca Castellazzi | Right hand injury | January 29, 2011 | 2 | |
| February 16, 2011 | Dejan Stanković | Pulled a muscle in this right thigh | January 27, 2011 | 4 | |
| February 16, 2011 | McDonald Mariga | Srain in his right hamstring, more specifically to the biceps femoris and of a post-traumatic nature | January 28, 2011 | 4 | |
| February 23, 2011 | Lúcio | Pulled an adductor muscle in his right thigh | January 31, 2011 | 5 | |
| April 2, 2011 | Diego Milito | Second-degree hamstring strain | February 7, 2011 | 9 |