Zvone Boban was sacked by AC Milan at the beginning of March 2020 after criticising the ownership in an interview. A legal battle has been ongoing ever since and during a recent interview, the former player reflected on the whole ordeal.
It was in February 2020 that Boban decided to take matters into his own hands as he, Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara were unable to get in touch with the ownership. Instead, through the CEO Ivan Gazidis, Elliott Management had started talks with Ralf Rangnick.
The interview was published in Gazzetta dello Sport, with Boban labelling the ownership ‘disrespectful’ and ‘inelegant’. He was fired shortly thereafter for just cause and there has been a legal battle ever since.
Speaking live on Radio Deejay (via MilanNews), Boban reflected on the whole ordeal and made it clear that he thinks he did the right thing. It’s not hard to agree with him as it has since been confirmed that Elliott did indeed conduct talks with Rangnick, even if Stefano Pioli remained in the end.
Why did you get fired?
“For an interview that I found to be indisputable. After a few months, we found ourselves with neither support nor trust. They wanted to bring in Rangnick as the new manager, they had started talks. We were unable to get a clarification.
“At that moment, we had made a correction on the mercato and had also changed the manager [from Giampaolo to Pioli], we had the courage to admit the mistakes that we made in good faith. After the January market, with the arrival of important players like Kjaer, Saelemaekers and Ibrahimovic as well as the sale of Suso and Piatek, we were unable to clarify our position.
“So I had to do it publicly because the owners had already started contacts with Rangnick for the following season. I gave an interview to Gazzetta dello Sport which I think was very correct and they fired me for just cause. We are still in court, I’m sorry but that’s life.”
How is your relationship with Paolo Maldini?
“It’s excellent. Paolo and I are friends, I believe and hope that we will be for life. I have no problems with anyone: I love, support and watch Milan with great interest. I’ve heard many comments, but I am the way I am, I say what I think.”
A grudge against Milan?
“But what does Milan have to do with it? Milan has nothing to do with the ownership. If you support Milan, you love Milan, you just love it.”
He wasn’t wrong. Unfortunately true shooters like Boban are a more and more rare breed not just in football but in life/world.
He doesn’t care if he’s popular or not. He just wants to get the job done. And that’s anti murican nowadays. Perception first, effect doesn’t matter
“Milan has nothing to do with the ownership. If you support Milan, you love Milan, you just love it.”
Today is forbidden to support Milan. You have to hate and root against Milan because rooting for Milan means you are supporting Milan ownership. That’s the state of some of the Milan fan base. They hide when Milan wins but come out of the woodwork when Milan losses a point or a game.
The clarification Boban was looking was in front of his nose. They were looking to bring in Ragnick as a MANAGER, not just as a coach, because those 6 months that Boban was there were one of the worst in Milan history.
“Gazidis informed Maldini that Ralf Rangnick is set to arrive at Milan as coach, technical director, responsible for the medical sector and more. Maldini’s contract runs until 2022 and has been offered the possibility to become a club ambassador.” (Di Marzio)
Milan had a CEO in Gazidis, who was Boban’s boss. Elliott didn’t know anything about football since they inherited the club because someone defaulted on his payments. Why would a bank/fund talk to Boban when they have hired a person to run the club and deal with Boban on daily basis?
You were bad at your job and they looked to replace you. No one owes you any clarification. The only thing they owe you is the salary in your contract they agreed to pay you when they hired you. No different than you firing Giampaolo, who also like you is complaining that he wasn’t given enough time and found himself with no support and trust just after 2 months as a Milan coach. They also had the courage to admit the mistake of hiring you too, that’s why they were talking to someone else to replace you.
“They hide when Milan wins but come out of the woodwork when Milan losses a point or a game.” 👏 And in some cases actively hope we lose… Some people get so wrapped up in hating RedBird they forget they’re supposed to be supporting the club and what actually happens on the pitch.
Imagine a manager of any company that does not get enough clarity on what the executive board is doing and thinks is a good idea to talk about it in public with an interview to an important newspaper. How can you not get fired for that?
Zvone speaks true always. He’s competent, has class, vision. I hope someday he will return
The guy who bought Caldara, undoubtedly the worst transfer in Milan’s history in terms of minutes per dollars. Just saying
Do you forget Taribo WEST!!!
A grudge against Milan?
“But what does Milan have to do with it? Milan has nothing to do with the ownership. If you support Milan, you love Milan, you just love it.”
This is what the Redbird Lovers never understand – LOVE for the CLUB doesn’t mean you need to have love for ownership as Boban rightfully said. It’s is correct to question and criticize ownership if they fail to uphold our history.
So many blind sheep on this chat