Having lost the Coppa Italia final, the time has come for AC Milan to make strong decisions, and one of them will be the head coach position.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes this morning, Milan can no longer procrastinate. Even if in the last two league games Conceiçao can qualify for a European competition in 2025-26, the management cannot wait any longer.
The rebuild must start with a winning coach and on their list – in addition to Massimiliano Allegri and Gian Piero Gasperini – Vincenzo Italiano’s name has popped up. The Bologna coach has been on the Rossoneri’s notebook for some time, but the way he won the Coppa Italia has ‘enchanted’ Milan.
Milan need a signal to plan a resurgence after a ‘failed season’, as CEO Giorgio Furlani honestly defined it before leaving the Olimpico on Wednesday night. The only way to change direction is to hire a winning coach, who will bring a breath of enthusiasm to a frustrated fan base.
The Curva Sud have announced that they will boycott Sunday’s trip to Rome, and the comments on social media are vitriolic. Milan must win back their trust, and they must also complete the corporate structure with a sporting director of proven ability and experience.
These are the two moves that will have to come in about ten days, a couple of weeks at most, to plan a winning 2025-26 and not start again with a handicap like a few months ago.
Beyond the reassuring statements about Conceiçao’s future released by the directors in the various pre-match press conferences, Milan have been working on a new coach for some time, at least since mid-February-March, when the team exited the Champions League and lost all their direct clashes in the league.
One of these was at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, against Italiano’s Bologna, who has been on the Rossoneri’s radar for some time. The ‘lesson’ given by Bologna on Wednesday night impressed Furlani, Moncada and Ibrahimovic and now the 47-year-old is a ‘strong idea’.
Why is he admired? For the aggressive style he plays, for the work he does on the team, but also for the moral values he highlighted by dedicating the cup victory to the family of former Fiorentina manager Joe Barone.
Transforming the idea into reality will not be easy, however, because Italiano has already spoken about a renewal with Bologna and the will of the parties, especially after the triumph in the Coppa Italia, seems to be to move forward together.
Joey Saputo’s club certainly has no doubts and Giovanni Sartori wants to secure him by extending the current agreement until 2027. At present italiano seems set to stay, but if Milan choose him and raises the level of pressure, will he change his mind?
To get him, the Rossoneri will have to start a negotiation with the Rossoblù and sit down at a table to negotiate, perhaps making the good relationships created during the Tommaso Pobega and Davde Calabria operations count.
The management have understood that to reverse the negative trend of this season, they need a coach who is followed by everyone for his DNA as a leader and for the results obtained in his career. Not necessarily in terms of trophies lifted.
Italiano – with the three finals reached with Fiorentina, promotion and then salvation with Spezia and the Coppa Italia with Bologna – would have a nice calling card. Even better is Gian Gasperini who lifted last year’s Europa League and consistently brought Atalanta into European competitions.
He has an agreement with La Dea that expires in a year, but it remains to be seen whether it will be respected, extended or ended. Then there is Massimiliano Allegri, the most successful of all, the coach who, together with the six Scudetti celebrated in Italy, knows Milan well.
Max is free and wants to get back in the game with a big team that will allow him to take revenge on Juventus. The Rossoneri could be the right solution. Roberto De Zerbi and Maurizio Sarri, explored in recent weeks, at the moment seem to have lost momentum.
The question of the coach is linked to that of the sporting director who will arrive. After months of casting and the indecision whether or not to add a new figure, the decision seems to have been made.
The idea is to quickly identify a new director, who will be operational on the market and will support the coach in daily life at Milanello. There have been discussions with Fabio Paratici, whose candidacy fell through, and then with Igli Tare.
However, the profiles of Tony D’Amico, Sartori and Giovanni Manna are also liked, even if their respective clubs do not want to let them leave. Milan are reflecting, but will soon take action. There is no time to waste after a failed season.
