AC Milan have appointed Portuguese manager Paulo Fonseca as their new head coach on a three-year contract, succeeding Stefano Pioli.
Pioli’s departure comes after a season where Milan finished second in Serie A, trailing champions Inter by 19 points. Additionally, Milan’s performance in the Champions League and domestic cups was underwhelming, prompting the club to seek new leadership.
Fonseca, 51, brings a wealth of experience to Milan. His managerial career began in 2005 with the youth team of Estrela Amadora. He later took charge of Porto in 2013, followed by successful stints with Braga and Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk. During his tenure at Shakhtar, Fonseca won the Ukrainian Premier League three times consecutively, cementing his reputation as a successful coach. His other accolades include the Portuguese Super Cup with Porto in 2013 and the Cup of Portugal with Braga in the 2015-16 season.
“The club would like to wish Paulo and his staff a warm welcome,” Milan said in a statement.
Fonseca’s last managerial position was with French side Lille, and he also managed AS Roma from 2019 to 2021. His diverse experience across European leagues is expected to bring fresh tactical insights to Milan as they aim to reclaim domestic and European glory.
Pioli, who took over Milan in 2019, led the Rossoneri to their first Serie A title in over a decade in 2022. Despite this success, the club felt a change was necessary following the recent season’s performance.
“AC Milan can confirm that Paulo Fonseca has been appointed as the head coach of the men’s first team,” the club reiterated in their official announcement.
Fonseca’s appointment signals Milan’s ambition to rebuild and strengthen their squad. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the new manager implements his strategies and whether he can bring the club back to the top of Italian and European football.
