It's official: Stefano Pioli will no longer be the coach of Milan. The announcement came this morning through a joint statement in which the Rossoneri club and the coach confirm the decision not to continue together next season, ending a professional relationship that began in October 2019.
Milan expressed their thanks to Pioli and his staff for having led the team in the last five years, underlining the value of the unforgettable Scudetto won and the club's return to the most important European competitions. “Stefano, with his professionalism and humanity, has been able to enhance the team and has embodied the club's fundamental values from day one”, we read in the note from Milan.
For his part, Pioli thanked Milan for the opportunity to be part of the club's history, expressing gratitude towards the ownership, management, team and fans for the support received. Pioli, who arrived in October 2019 amid general skepticism, initially struggled to connect with the dressing room, finishing his first season in sixth place in the league and qualifying for the second qualifying round of the Europa League.
The trust of then technical director Paolo Maldini allowed Pioli to extend his contract until 2022. In the 2020/21 season, Pioli led Milan to the group stage of the Europa League and achieved a historic qualification for the Champions League, finishing the championship in second place. The following season, despite the difficulties in the Champions League, saw Milan graduate as champions of Italy for the 19th time, with Pioli winning his first trophy as a coach.
At the start of the following season, Pioli renewed his contract until 2025. However, the championship saw Milan exit the Scudetto race early, managing to secure fourth place thanks to the penalty imposed on Juventus. In the Champions League, Milan reached the semi-finals, where they were eliminated by Inter in a double derby.
This season has been marked by rumors of a possible farewell for Pioli, which have affected the team's performance. Eliminated in the group stage of the Champions League and from the Europa League by Roma, Milan managed to secure qualification for the Champions League with a comeback in the second half of the season, finishing in second place behind Inter. However, the six consecutive defeats in the derby have marked the definitive break with the ownership, who have decided not to renew their faith in him.
Pioli will not hold the usual pre-match press conference on the eve of the last championship match against Salernitana, but will speak in the post-match for the usual greetings and interviews. With his departure, an important chapter in the recent history of Milan, marked by successes and memorable moments, closes.
Article published on May 24, 2024 - 12:44 pm
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