Kolarov to become Inter assistant coach under Chivu | OneFootball

Aleksandar Kolarov is set to return to San Siro and become the new Inter assistant under recently-announced head coach Cristian Chivu, multiple outlets in Italy are reporting.

Kolarov, who spent the final two years of his playing career with the Nerazzurri, will return to take up the assistant role under Chivu, who was appointed as the successor to Simone Inzaghi on an initial two-year contract on Monday.

The former Lazio, Manchester City and Roma left-back took his sporting directorship qualifications at Coverciano in 2023, had a brief experience as sporting director of Pisa in 2024, before becoming the head coach of Serbia’s U21s later that year.

This will be Kolarov’s first experience as part of a senior coaching set-up at club or international level.

MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 21: Aleksandar Kolarov of FC Internazionale competes for the ball with Breel Embolo (back) of Borussia Monchengladbach during the UEFA Champions League Group B stage match between FC Internazionale and Borussia Moenchengladbach at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 21, 2020 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Why Inter changed head coaches

Simone Inzaghi left his role as Inter head coach four years to the day after he was appointed, with the club confirming his decision to leave on June 3, just a few days on from the 5-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.

epa12148298 Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi walks past the trophy after losing the UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Internazionale Milano, in Munich, Germany, 31 May 2025. EPA-EFE/ANNA SZILAGYI

The 49-year-old left the club after winning one Scudetto, two Coppa Italia titles and three in the Supercoppa Italiana.

The 2024-25 season ended in disappointment, however, as Inter had been on course for a treble in April, only to go on and lose the Serie A title to Napoli by one point, as well as the Coppa Italia semi-final to Milan and the Champions League final to PSG.

Meanwhile, it had been reported that Inzaghi had been offered a lucrative deal to take over as head coach of Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, an offer which he decided to accept almost immediately after the Champions League final.

Inzaghi had one year remaining on his Nerazzurri contract at the time.

He has since been replaced by former Nerazzurri defender Chivu, who returns to San Siro after helping Parma to Serie A safety in the second half of the 2024-25 season.