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AC Milan fired coach Massimiliano Allegri and CEO Giorgio Furlani on Monday after what it called “an unequivocal failure” of a season.
The team’s American owner, RedBird, cleaned house a day after Milan missed out on a Champions League spot by one point after blowing a 1-0 lead and losing at home to also-led Cagliari 2-1. The Rossoneri were booed off the pitch by their own supporters.
Milan have spent much of Serie A in the top two positions and fighting for the title, but a run of just two wins in their last eight matches dropped them to fifth place on Sunday, the final day of the season.
“The home stretch was completely inconsistent with the performance thus far, with last night’s disappointing defeat in the final game turning the season into an unequivocal failure,” RedBird said in a statement.
“Now is the time to completely change and reorganize football operations. Effective immediately, we part ways with CEO Giorgio Furlani, Sporting Director Igli Tare, Head Coach Massimiliano Allegri and Technical Director Geoffrey Moncada. We thank everyone for their hard work and dedication to AC Milan during their respective tenures.”
RedBird only kept special advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Allegri’s conservative tactics ultimately snuffed out the team’s creative spark.
Key attackers, including US men’s national team star Christian Pulisic, who finished the Serie A campaign with 8 goals and 4 assists, were left without service in a collapse that saw Milan win just two of their last eight matches.
Allegri returned to Milan last year with a mission to lead the Rossoneri back to the Champions League after the team finished eighth in Serie A the previous season. Allegri oversaw 42 matches, resulting in 22 wins, 10 draws and 10 losses.
RedBird managing partner Gerry Cardinale is now expected to work closely with Ibrahimovic to restructure the club, including choosing a coach, CEO and sporting director.
“Further announcements regarding upcoming nominations will be made in due course – with the aim of being ready and well prepared for the next season,” the statement concluded.
