12 months ago today, Olivier Giroud officially signed for Milan. In the space of a year, his strong work on and off the pitch has seen him become a fan favourite.
The 35-year-old Frenchman joined the Rossoneri in a deal worth around €1m from Chelsea last year, and he was expected to play a similar role to Zlatan Ibrahimovic – that is, another veteran winner who could be a reference point for the young talents in the squad.
Giroud did not disappoint. On the pitch, he continue to show off his qualities as a hard-working, tactically flexible forward with a keen eye for goal. He scored 11 goals in 29 Serie A games and a number of these won vital points for Milan, who only finished top two points ahead of rivals Inter.
Off the pitch, Giroud has been a key leader in the dressing room, helping the young squad stay grounded and focused, even when the pressure was on. Teammates from Chelsea to France have underlined what a joy it is to play alongside the Frenchman and the fans are now seeing that again in Lombardy.