AC Milan terminates head coach’s contract after just six months, following disappointing performances and fan backlash.
AC Milan has terminated the contract of head coach Paulo Fonseca merely six months after his hiring, due to the team’s failure to present a viable challenge for the Serie A title.
The 51-year-old Portuguese manager announced his exit following a 1-1 draw against AS Roma, indicating he was informed of his dismissal as he departed the San Siro post-match.
Fonseca’s brief tenure was marked by inconsistency, with the draw representing the team’s sixth of the season.
Currently, Milan occupies the seventh position in the Serie A standings, trailing Lazio by eight points in the pursuit of a Champions League berth and falling 12 points behind city rivals Inter, who are in the title race.
Speculation points to Sergio Conceição, a well-regarded coach with a successful tenure at FC Porto, as the frontrunner to succeed Fonseca.
The club’s official statement confirmed Fonseca’s dismissal and expressed gratitude for his professionalism, wishing him success in future endeavors. Conceição, who has prior Serie A experience as a player, is available after concluding a seven-year stint at Porto in June.
Meanwhile, AC Milan, a seven-time European champion, continues to grapple with inconsistent performances and growing discontent among fans.
Fonseca’s relationship with senior players has been strained, leading to public criticism of their commitment, including notable conflicts with star winger Rafael Leao and the controversial decision to bench experienced full-back Theo Hernandez in a disappointing goalless draw against Genoa.
The club’s supporters have expressed their frustration, notably during a recent celebration of Milan’s 125th anniversary, where discontent with the ownership, US investment fund RedBird, was palpable, culminating in calls for the owners to divest.
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