‘I will always be grateful’, ‘Fantastic years’ – Milan stars pay tribute to Pioli | OneFootball

The AC Milan players have begun sending in their tributes to Stefano Pioli given that tonight will be his last game in charge before he departs.

Milan announced yesterday morning that Pioli will leave the club at the end of the current season, following a tenure of nearly five years at the club. The game against Salernitana will be his last with the club, therefore, and tonight’s match will be full of emotions.

For many of the players in the squad Pioli is the only head coach that they have known, with only the likes of Davide Calabria, Theo Hernandez, Rafael Leao and Ismael Bennacer predating his arrival.

Leao wrote on Instagram: “Thank you for everything mister, after 12 years you have brought a huge joy to all Milan fans and as a result your name has entered the history of Milan! Thank you for helping me get my name in the football elite and gain an important place in this great club! I will always be grateful.”

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Theo Hernandez said on his story: “Thank you mister for everything you have done for me and this Milan. I wish you all the best for the your future.”

Mike Maignan: “Thank you mister for these three years of fighting and learning.”

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Davide Calabria: “Mister, I want to thank you for everything you have done for me, for us and for this team. They were fantastic years, in which we managed to create harmony and a beautiful group. We have gone through good and bad times, but we have always come through them together. We won together, and this will be forever. You deserve and I wish you the best.”

However, it is not just the head coach who will get a send off from the fans because Olivier Giroud and Simon Kjaer are among those who are also confirmed to be leaving the club when their contracts expire. Thus, there will likely be a few tears shed tonight.