Ray Wilkins

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Wilkins joined AC Milan in the summer of 1984 after Manchester United accepted a £1.5 million offer, becoming one of only two foreign players alongside Mark Hateley. The Italian team had suffered relegation in the 1981–82 season and struggled for form, but Wilkins adapted quickly despite the intense focus on fitness required by the coaching staff to reduce his body fat. He led Milan to a fifth-place finish in his first year, scoring two goals in 29 league games—the only Serie A goals of his career—one against Avellino and another against Sampdoria. That season, he helped eliminate Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-finals before securing a runner-up medal. In 1986–1987, despite falling out of the first-team structure following Roberto Donadoni's arrival, Wilkins played 105 games for Milan (74 in Serie A) and saw the club beat Inter twice under new owner Silvio Berlusconi.

In Their Own Story

Wilkins' time at AC Milan was marked by both on-field triumphs and off-pitch turmoil. The pair of Englishmen, Wilkins and Hateley, helped secure a victory over rivals Inter Milan in the Milan Derby that October, earning plaudits from the Italian press and fans. However, the club suffered significantly when owner Giuseppe Farina absconded to South Africa amid accusations of bribery and theft. Wilkins' final season at Milan saw him play just 105 games overall as he fell behind Agostino Di Bartolomei and Alberigo Evani in the pecking order. Corriere della Sera later eulogized him as a 'serious and meticulous professional who was immediately appreciated for his long and precise passes.' His departure to Paris Saint-Germain in mid-1987 proved short-lived, as he failed to break into the team ahead of Gabriel Calderón and Safet Sušić, leading to a move to Scotland.

Reader's Guide

Wilkins' playing style revolved around his role as a deep-lying playmaker, using vision and passing range to control matches from central midfield. He was renowned for his 'Razor' nickname (Rasoio in Italian), coined for the precise, driven nature of his passes delivered with the instep—a rare technique at the time. Though not a prolific scorer, he could produce spectacular goals, such as his long-range strike in the 1983 FA Cup Final replay against Brighton & Hove Albion while at Manchester United. His international career included memorable moments like lobbing the entire Belgian defence and then the goalkeeper during a group game at UEFA Euro 1980. In 1986, he became the first Englishman sent off at a World Cup after throwing a ball at referee Gabriel González in protest of an offside call, missing the quarter-final against Argentina due to suspension.

Did You Know?

• Wilkins was appointed captain of Chelsea at the age of 18, taking the armband from long-time Blues captain John Hollins.
• He scored the only two Serie A goals of his career while at AC Milan: one against Avellino and another against Sampdoria.
• Wilkins became the first Englishman to be sent off at a FIFA World Cup during the 1986 tournament in Mexico.
• His nickname 'Razor' (Rasoio) was given by Italian fans to reflect the sharp, precise nature of his passing.
• After leaving Rangers in December 1989, he received a standing ovation from a crowd of 40,000 despite only playing two seasons for the club.