AC Milan have confirmed the appointment of former Inter Milan boss Stefano Pioli as their new manager. The 53-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the Serie A side to replace the sacked Marco Giampaolo.
Giampaolo paid the price for Milan’s dreadful start to the season and was dismissed earlier this week after just seven games in charge. It is the shortest reign in the club’s history.
Giampaolo was axed after former president Silvio Berlusconi told Paolo Maldini and Zvonimir Boban they’d made a mistake in hiring the coach.
Pioli, who has been out of work since resigning as Fiorentina boss back in April, faces a tough battle to get Milan back on track.
The Italian giants sit 13th in the Serie A table, having lost four of their opening seven fixtures, including a 2-0 defeat by rivals Inter.
Pioli is a former Inter Milan and Lazio boss and has vast experience as a coach, beginning his career in 1999, and was Milan’s No 1 target to take over the role.
However he is widely considered an underwhelming choice, given he failed with Inter and has not won any senior silverware in 16 years as a Coach.
The Rossoneri’s decision to bring in the 53-year-old has been nothing short of controversial as comments from his time at Inter have resurfaced, which do not make for good reading.
“My family are all Interista,” he was quoted as saying by Sport Mediaset.
“My profession took me elsewhere, but my faith was [Inter]. I grew up with the chant, ‘we’ll win the Scudetto with Beccalossi and Pasinato.’”
The Italian will take charge of his first AC Milan game next Sunday when they host fellow strugglers Leece.
