MILAN — AC Milan fired coach Massimiliano Allegri and CEO Giorgio Furlani on Monday after what it deemed “an unequivocal failure” of a season, but special adviser and club legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic remains in his job.
The team’s U.S. owner, RedBird, cleaned house a day after Milan missed out on a Champions League berth by one point after blowing a 1-0 lead and losing at home to also-ran Cagliari 2-1.
After the game, Allegri’s side was booed off the field by its own fans.
Milan spent much of Serie A in the top two positions and fighting for the title, but a run of only two wins in their last eight matches dropped them to fifth on Sunday, the last day of the season.
The fifth-place finish means Milan will compete in the Europa League next season.
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“The final stretch was completely inconsistent with the performance up to that point, with last night’s disappointing loss in the final game turning the season into an unequivocal failure,” RedBird said in a statement.
“It is now time for change and a comprehensive reorganization of football operations. Effective immediately, we are parting ways with CEO Giorgio Furlani, sporting director Igli Tare, head coach Massimiliano Allegri and technical director Geoffrey Moncada. We thank each one for their hard work and dedication to AC Milan during their respective tenures.”
RedBird kept only special adviser Ibrahimovic.
Allegri returned to Milan last year tasked with taking the Rossoneri back to the Champions League after the team finished eighth in Serie A the previous season. Allegri oversaw 42 matches resulting in 22 victories, 10 draws and 10 defeats.
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RedBird managing partner Gerry Cardinale is now expected to work closely with Ibrahimovic to restructure the club, including choosing a coach, CEO and sporting director.
“Further announcements regarding the next appointments will be made in due course — with the goal to be ready and well prepared for the next season,” the statement concluded.
Allegri’s counterpart at Napoli, Antonio Conte, also left his role as coach after the final game of the season on Sunday.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
