GdS: ‘Goodbye Pioli’ – four main candidates top list of potential replacements | OneFootball

Stefano Pioli’s time at AC Milan is drawing to a close, and now the leadership are beginning to think about who will be his successor.

This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) confirms that at the end of the season, barring any unexpected surprises, Pioli will conclude his time with the Rossoneri. Even if he were to triumph in the derby, it feels like the decision has been made.

The club’s disappointment at the defeat at the Olimpico in Rome led to an initial assessment: in mid-April Milan no longer had any ambitions or trophy targets, something that goes against what the ownership want.

The league stopped being an objective a long time ago and Inter’s imminent Scudetto prevails over the joy of Champions League qualification. The Coppa Italia campaign ended in the quarter-final, the UCL exit came in the group stage and then the Europa League knockout arrived most recently,

It is not acceptable for the club and for Gerry Cardinale (expected at the derby but developments have taken away the certainty of his presence). Hence the need to change course, and the study phase of finding a new coach has already begun.

An international profile

Milan are looking for an international coach, with a recognisable style of play, who is good at working with young players, in line with the club’s project: ambition but also sustainability and with 20-year-olds to develop.

The management have already moved in recent months to obtain information on two candidates: Julen Lopetegui, now out of action after his experience at Wolverhampton, and Paulo Fonseca, formerly of Roma, now at Lille.

More Stories / Exclusive

SM Exclusive: Milan hold talks with Atalanta over Scalvini – how the deal could work

9 April 2024, 19:19

SM Exclusive: Milan in talks with Celtic talent over deal with player keen – the details

28 March 2024, 21:00

SM Exclusive: Longo explains why Bennacer-level ‘sacrifice’ is more likely than a huge sale

26 March 2024, 20:30

There were dialogues, via telephone and beyond. With Lopetegui, also very recent. Furthermore, Christophe Galtier, now at Al-Duhail (Qatar) after his experience at PSG, and Marcelo Gallardo, a River legend now at Al-Ittihad (Arabia), should not be overlooked.

The four candidates – the former two more than the latter two – remain in the minds of Giorgio Furlani and Geoffrey Moncada, who guided Milan’s choices in the last year and are still the men who will make the big calls.

The Z factor

Ibrahimovic, however, has Cardinale’s total trust and the final decision will pass through him. The meetings with Furlani and Moncada will be fundamental, considering that Ibra has always said he wants to see (and therefore rebuild) a great Milan, worthy of its noble past.

Will he give his total approval to Lopetegui or Fonseca? Of course, focusing on a coach with a heavy CV is difficult because many are busy and some are against with the corporate logic that envisages a young Milan.

Furthermore, today there are more attractive leagues than Serie A. Speaking of big names, Antonio Conte is not a concrete option at the moment. Conte is very attracted to the idea of coaching Milan but for now the club has oriented itself towards different profiles.

This is probably considering the fact that the coach in the past has asked to work with ready-made stars with big salaries and the way he left both Juventus and Inter caused a fire.

One thing is for sure: the Pioli era is coming to a close, so now the leadership can get to work making sure they pick the right man to replace someone who will forever remain in the record books.