The 2000-01 campaign was a turbulent season for AC Milan, with the Rossoneri ultimately finishing 6th in Serie A and failing to meet the club's lofty expectations. The poor form resulted in the mid-season sacking of manager Alberto Zaccheroni, though the Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko remained a devastating force up front, firing in 24 goals in the league. The season's defining and most nostalgic moment, however, was a historic and cathartic 6-0 demolition of rivals Inter in the Derby della Madonnina, with captain Paolo Maldini leading the side.. The 2001-02 campaign was a season of pivotal transition for Rossoneri as Fatih Terim was replaced early on by Carlo Ancelotti, who steered the side to a crucial 4th-place finish in Serie A, securing Champions League qualification. Leading the line was the prolific Andriy Shevchenko, whose 14 league goals proved vital in a campaign built on a late surge and the debut of future legend Andrea Pirlo alongside veteran Paolo Maldini. It was a foundational year that marked the beginning of the club's next golden era.