The Rossoneri hands a two-year deal for the Italian manager after a series of good results.
Image source: acmilaninfo.com
AC Milan have extended the contract of current manager Stefano Pioli, confirmed by the club’s official website. Pioli has signed a two-year deal, which will expire in June 2022. Previously, AC Milan were highly speculated to appoint Ralf Rangnick as the head coach next season, with Pioli’s earlier deal ending this summer. Milan have now decided to stick with Pioli, citing the series of good results he has produced after the COVID break.
Regarding Pioli’s extension, Rossoneri’s CEO Ivan Gazidis said,
“I am delighted with this agreement.”
“Stefano has shown he can deliver the vision of football we have for our club – exciting, progressive and passionate. This is not a decision based on recent victories, but one based on how Stefano has built team spirit and unity of purpose, the way he has improved the performances of the individual players and the collective team, the way he has embraced our vision and the way he has represented himself and the club’s values.”
Pioli also reciprocated his gratitude for extending his stay at San Siro. The former Fiorentina manager said,
I am happy and proud of the trust I have received from AC Milan. I want to thank everyone, including our fans, who we are missing at the stadium, but are always close and supportive. As I have said many times, our future is today: we must be focused and determined, be united and play as one. We are at the beginning of an extraordinary path. If we keep working this way, we will grow and be more and more competitive”.
Pioli came in as the head coach for Rossoneri during October of the last year, overseeing the job previously held by Giampolo. Albeit, the 54-year-old was off to a sedate start to his life at San Siro – the point when Rangnick’s transfer links began – his results post the pandemic break have been quite impressive. Surprisingly, Milan haven’t lost a game since the return of Serie A – seven wins including the ones against Juventus and Lazio. With their latest win against Sassuolo, Rossoneri have now moved to 5th in the table, closing in on the Europa League qualification.
Under Pioli, the likes of Franck Kassie, Hakan Calhanoglu, Ante Rebic, newcomer Alexis Saelemakers, have been phenomenal of late.
