‘Allegri, Sarri, De Zerbi, Tuchel’ – Di Marzio gives background on Milan’s coach pursuit

By Oliver Fisher -

Gianluca Di Marzio has given some back story on AC Milan’s pursuit of a new head coach during the summer and the eventual decision to land on Paulo Fonseca.

It was announced before the final game of the 2023-24 season that Stefano Pioli would be leaving his position as manager after almost five years in charge, and the search to find his successor then began with numerous candidates linked.

Julen Lopetegui seemed very close to arriving but the fan reaction was that strong that the management seemed to perform a U-turn and he ended up at West Ham. Then, Paulo Fonseca became the main candidate and he eventually arrived having left Lille after two years.

Di Marzio spoke to Sky and he offered some of the background on how Giorgio Furlani, Geoffrey Moncada, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gerry Cardinale settled on Fonseca, a name that certainly didn’t unite the fans in terms of being a statement of ambition.

“Many names have been mentioned, even though, in the internal process, the names were Lopetegui and Fonseca,” he said.

“The first was Lopetegui, then for a whole series of reasons, including the negative reaction of the fans on social media, even if I can say that it was for this reason that Milan said no to Lopetegui…”

The journalist said: “I’ll interrupt you: Allegri, Sarri, De Zerbi, Tuchel were available…”

Di Marzio added: “They were evaluated, but never contacted. None of them ever spoke to Milan or Milan presented them with the project.”

Tags AC Milan Maurizio Sarri Max Allegri Roberto De Zerbi Thomas Tuchel

37 Comments

  1. I relevant now. Conceição was the man for a while. Management panic after the election and got impatient although he was interested in the project himself. I loved the idea of Conceição, his team is discipline and proved himself. Hopefully he’ll be available, Tuchel would be problematic, De Zerbi needs time Allegri lost his MOJO.

    1. I’d like De Zerbi to be manager, but the greater cancer at Milan is Moncada, Zlatan, Furlani.
      These disasterious trio have destroyed any chance of catching Inter this season.
      Fonseca hiring was hilarious, the striker issue was unbelievable and the defence well say no more yet non of the trio have been quizzed for their errors?
      This huge club, and Rosso Neri huge fan base need more clarity and respect.
      The microscope is now on one man…… CARDINALE!
      This will define the man?

  2. Am I to read this as meaning that it’s okay that management deliberately didn’t try to sign one of the best available coaches?

    Is it supposed to be okay that we signed Fonseca because we were only ever looking at him and a guy the Curva didn’t think was good enough?

    1. Yeah De Zerbi is one of the best available coaches thats why Barca Bayern Chelsea Man Utd all ignored him and he had to settle for freaking Marseille where he goes and drops all his morals and defends his r*pist players

  3. To make it short and no more talkings. Milan problem is not technical. But it’s shortage of aggressive on coaching level and type of players we have. Milan problem need aggressive coach who shout and yell on his players and reff on the side line. I wouldn’t say conte who is raw aggressive but one like inzahgi mix of aggressive and technical. Also players. Remember when we had kessie at the middle of the park we feel safe. Despite he is one player but he was the real leader and example for players on the pitch to sacrifice and give more. It’s clear we have a lack of aggression. Next signatures should be aggressive coach and players

  4. There are no doubt, management and milan owner is wise. They chose fonseca wisely. Fonseca can be a scapegoat.

    Milan management and owner always fired someone every year.
    2022/2023 maldini and masara cut.
    2023/2024 pioli out.
    2024/2025 probably fonseca as scapegoat for failing.

    1. This is great marketing strategy. Always make milan famous every years. Every years there is always sensation, like artist. Make sensation often, the you will be famous.

    2. If you can not famous by trophy, you can always famous by others sensational event. Very wise strategy by milan management and owner.

      1. We need coaches of experience in going to finals and taking trophies 🏆. Tuchel or Klopp should be the next target.

  5. Sarri, De Zerbi and Tuchel are way better names than Fonseca.
    Two of them know Serie A well. Tuchel and Sarri know CL.

    And we chose Fonseca.

  6. Many names have been mentioned, even though, in the internal process, the names were Lopetegui and Fonseca,” he said.

    This should tell you all you need to know about the management, mediocre, if these were the two top names being considered internally.
    So names like Conceição and Motta were only fan fantasies

  7. Fans were agains Fonseca,menagement was for him,fans were against emerson ,menagement was for him, for now its 2-0 for fans who showed they are more professional than this menagement

  8. The sad part is, Milan would be lucky to get Allegri back to straighten the ship. LOL!!!

    Sarri would have been an interesting option. Teuchel, maybe. DeZerbi would have been more lateral, just Italian version of Fonseca.

    Where’s Jurgen when you need him? sigh…

    1. Do you remember when Kepa refused to leave the pitch ,Sari couldnt sub him because he refused to leave 😂it was scandal,sari was furious ,here with our “stars” he would get even less respect

  9. Our coach should have been De Zerbi. I have all the respect for Ibrahimovic but the choice of the coach was the poorest choice they ever made.

  10. well in my opinior milan need a classic coach since d days of shar.cape.and asolot.milan hard never mak such peop again if rebird as a great projec 4 milan then bring a world class coach lik guardiola,or klop.these guys ve coach big names far far better than current milan babies.

  11. Milan management should have selected the local barber as a manager/coach. He will learn and experiment as he goes on the job like Fonseca is doing.

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