AC Milan has confirmed the appointment of Paulo Fonseca as their new manager on a three-year contract, following the departure of Stefano Pioli.
Stefano Pioli left the San Siro at the end of the season after five years in charge, culminating in a second consecutive trophyless campaign. Milan finished 19 points behind Serie A champions Inter Milan, leading to a mutual decision to part ways with the Scudetto-winning manager.
Despite speculation linking the club with Antonio Conte and Roberto De Zerbi, AC Milan has chosen Fonseca to succeed Pioli. Fonseca returns to Serie A after a three-year absence, having previously managed Roma for two seasons. During his tenure with the Giallorossi, the team finished fifth and seventh, respectively, before he was replaced by Jose Mourinho in 2021.
Following his stint in Italy, the 54-year-old coach moved to France to manage Lille. In his first season, Lille finished fifth, and in the 2023/24 season, they improved slightly to fourth place, narrowly missing automatic Champions League qualification by two points to third-placed Brest. Fonseca was noted for his attacking style of play and attractive football during his time in France.
Fonseca’s appointment signals a new chapter for AC Milan. One of his initial tasks will be to find a replacement for Olivier Giroud, with Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee identified as a potential candidate. If negotiations with Zirkzee’s agent, Kia Joorabchian, do not succeed, Milan may consider Jonathan David from Lille, who is reportedly ready to leave after two years.
Additionally, AC Milan aims to strengthen their squad by adding a deep-lying midfielder and a quality center-back, as they strive to close the gap on Inter following an underwhelming league campaign.
