AC Milan to honour boyhood supporter Kobe Bryant by wearing black armbands during Coppa Italia clash

Italian football club, AC Milan have revealed plans to honour their boyhood supporter and NBA legend, Kobe Bryant. who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday with his 13-year-old daughter Gigi and seven others. 

Before his death, the 41-year-old was a football fan who grew up supporting AC Milan with Marco van Basten his idol.

In memory of the Los Angeles Lakers legend, AC Milan will wear black armbands for their Coppa Italia quarter-final against Torino on Tuesday night. There will also be tributes before the club.

‘In agreement with @SerieA, tonight #ACMilan will wear the black armband in memory of Kobe Bryant, who died in a tragic helicopter crash together with his daughter Gianna Maria and 7 other victims,’ the club tweeted. ‘The whole San Siro will also pay a tribute just a few minutes away from kick-off.’

In March 2016, Kobe Bryant revealed his love for football. 

‘I grew up a huge AC Milan fan. Marco van Basten was my favourite player. [Frank] Rijkaard, [Ruud] Gullit, and you know [Paolo] Maldini was just getting started, and [Franco] Baresi.’