Soccer-Milan hailed by thousands on open top bus tour

MILAN, May 24 (Reuters) Thousands of fans lined the streets today to welcome home AC Milan a day after they clinched their seventh European Cup with a 2-1 win over Liverpool.

The players toured the city in an open-top bus which struggled to move through the crowds on its way to Piazza del Duomo, where jubilant fans had lit bonfires the previous night after watching the Athens final on a big screen.

The team eventually paraded the trophy in front of the packed square, with supporters again waving giant red and black flags while one banner read ''Thank you Pippo'' in reference to striker Filippo Inzaghi's two goals.

The team had earlier been greeted by fans at Milan's Malpensa airport having flown in from Athens following an all-night party laid on by club president Silvio Berlusconi.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters that the victory would mean one major sacrifice. He had promised his children he would stop smoking if they lifted the trophy.

''Now I will give up smoking,'' he said. ''After a very difficult year we have won something extraordinary so there is plenty of happiness and satisfaction. We did great things because there was little hope.'' European soccer's governing body UEFA had been reluctant to let Milan take part in this season's Champions League after their role in last year's match-fixing scandal in Italy.

A related eight-point deduction in this campaign effectively ended their hopes of challenging for the Italian title, which was won by bitter city rivals Inter.

Another AC Milan party will take place at the San Siro on Friday, two days before Inter are awarded the Italian league trophy at the stadium.

REUTERS SZ PM3000