Massimiliano Allegri has been sacked as head coach of Milan, following their seventh defeat of the Serie A season on Sunday evening.
The Rossoneri are well off the pace for a UEFA Champions League qualifying spot this term, currently 20 points off third-placed Napoli. As for any hopes they had of winning the title at the start of the season, these were long extinguished and they currently languish a staggering 30 points adrift of leaders Juventus at the halfway stage.
Indeed, they are far closer to relegation, with just six points separating them and 18th placed Bologna. The patience of the board finally snapped on Sunday, when they were subjected to a surprise 4-3 defeat to lowly Sassuolo. This has proved to be Allegri’s last game in charge at the San Siro, after the club released the following statement:
“Milan announce that it has relieved of their duties as coach of the first team, with immediate effect, Massimiliano Allegri and his staff. Milan would like to thank Mr Allegri and his staff for the work done and wishes them the best of success professionally. The team is temporarily assigned to the technical guidance of Mauro Tassotti.”
Allegri was installed as Milan coach in June 2010, and went on to win the Scudetto in his first season. They then finished runners-up to the Bianconeri in the following campaign, and last term finished third. Whilst their Serie A results have been hugely disappointing this time round, the 46-year-old at least leaves them in good shape in the Champions League, where they face Spanish side Atletico Madrid in the last 16.
Clarence Seedorf, meanwhile, has been made the early favourite to succeed Allegri. The former Holland international, who currently plays for Botafogo, spent 10 years as a player at Milan, during which time he helped them to two Champions Leagues and two Scudetto’s.
