AC Milan’s head coach, Stefano Pioli, has been relieved of his duties. The club made the announcement in an official statement on Friday.
Despite leading the team to a commendable second-place finish this season, they were overshadowed by their city rivals, Inter Milan, who defeated Pioli’s team 2-1 in April.
Pioli previously achieved great success in 2022 by securing AC Milan‘s first league title since 2011. He also guided them to the semi-finals of the Champions League last season, a milestone they hadn’t reached since 2006-2007, although they were ultimately eliminated by Inter.
However, their early exit from this season’s Champions League and failure to challenge Inter for the title raised concerns. Reports suggest that Paulo Fonseca, the current coach at French club Lille, is being considered as Pioli’s replacement.
In a heartfelt farewell statement, the Milan board expressed their gratitude and appreciation for Pioli’s contributions.
“AC Milan extends heartfelt thanks to Stefano Pioli and his entire staff for securing an unforgettable League title and re-establishing AC Milan’s consistent presence in the top European competition.
“Stefano’s professionalism and human touch have significantly contributed to the growth of the squad, embodying the Club’s core values from day one,” the club’s statement reads.
Pioli, who has previously managed clubs like Lazio and Inter, expressed his gratitude to the club and praised the “unwavering dedication” of its supporters.
The statement concluded by mentioning Pioli’s appreciation to AC Milan “for the opportunity to be part of the history of this glorious Club.”
