AC Milan will undergo big changes in the summer and one of them will involve picking a new head coach, with various profiles under observation.
According to Calciomercato.com, Milan will first appoint a sporting director and potentially a director of football, but regardless of who those figures are, Sergio Conceicao’s fate seems sealed. Mixed results, the spokesperson saga and questionable man-management will see him depart after six months.
Thus, Milan are studying which could be the best option to replace him. The new director(s) would naturally have a say given that some of them have personal connections or ideas about playing principles, so several names are in the frame.
Roberto De Zerbi
The current coach of Marseille – who arrived in France in the summer of 2024 – is leading the transalpine team towards qualification for the next edition of the Champions League. Although 16 points away from the top occupied by PSG, second would be an excellent result.
Milan like him because of his playing principles including inclination to ball possession, immediate pressing and counter-pressing, building from the back and the wise use of spaces to attack both out wide and in behind. It must be coupled with winning, though, which he is showing he can do.
Cesc Fabregas
Ahead of Saturday’s game against Como, Fabregas is a profile that appeals for a number of reasons, including his international experience at the highest levels as a footballer and, above all, an evident hunger to establish himself as a coach.
The Spaniard has a style of play that is as fun as it is effective, he is developing young talents well and has built a group that fights for every point. His game is modelled around playing well and dominating, which ticks boxes.
Antonio Conte
Conte’s philosophy appeals for a different reason and because it is based around one thing only: the result. The Italian demands blood, sweat and tears from his players, which he often gets because they believe in his message. He has won league titles in Italy and in the Premier League, too.
He seems to be a guarantee in terms of winning because of the discipline, dedication and commitment he gets from the team. Conte would have been tempted by Milan last summer and it cannot be ruled out he leaves Napoli, so the paths could finally converge.
Massimiliano Allegri
Last but not least, the candidate in pole position: Massimiliano Allegri. The coach from Livorno is another profile that is finding increasing support within the management and ownership of the club, again because he is driven by results.
Allegri corresponds to security, both in terms of his style of play and his CV of work in Italian football. He is an excellent manager of dressing rooms and talent, he gets the most of the resources available and can accommodate the requests of the club. Moreover, Max already knows the pressures of Milan, has delivered silverware before and has a burning desire for redemption.
