AC Milan’s poor season so far has apparently cost Paulo Fonseca his job. The coach is said to be on the verge of being fired.
With grand statements and an all-encompassing plan that had envisaged particularly dominant Milan football, Paulo Fonseca had been presented as the new AC coach in the summer. But after only a few months, it can confidently be noted: the Portuguese coach’s plan to turn the Lombards around in the long term seems to have failed completely.
As a reminder, Stefano Pioli (2019 to 2024), who was previously employed, had led the Rossoneri to the 2021/22 championship and most recently to the runner-up spot.
Release already decided?
Milan are ranked with a meager 27 points from 17 games in 8th place after the 1:1 draw at the end of the Serie A season this Sunday against the equally disappointing Roma (Fonseca’s ex-club), who were, however, closer to victory and had made a more positive impression in recent games. 27 points from 17 games in 8th place. So miles away from what predecessor Pioli had left behind – although he was also released by the bosses in May for reasons of “lack of success”.
Even before the home game against the Romans, Italian newspapers such as Sky Sport Italia, Sport Mediaset, La Gazzetta dello Sport and Sportitalia had been talking about the imminent dismissal – despite the recent backing of management employee and Milan icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic. But a conversation between the owners (the traditional club has been controlled by RedBird Capital Partners since 2022) and the coach is said to have led to a final break between the parties.
A Portuguese for a Portuguese
The tension in the Milan camp – the club’s ultras have also been annoyed for weeks by the owners, the coach, the careless stars like Rafael Leao or captain Theo – Fonseca’s behavior in the duel with AS Roma now fits perfectly into the picture. Towards the end of the first half, the 51-year-old was so incensed by a penalty that was not given that he was sent off and could only be taken to the dressing rooms with difficulty.
A successor is said to be ready and is also Portuguese. His name is Sergio Conceicao, a former Serie A player for Lazio Roma, Parma and Inter between 1998 and 2004 and a long-standing coach of FC Porto (2017 to 2024).
