During tonight’s game against Paris Saint-Germain, Stefano Pioli will rack up 200 games as the head coach of AC Milan and he has Arrigo Sacchi in his sights.
La Gazzetta dello Sport writes how tonight’s milestone will cement Pioli among the ‘Magnificent 7 in the history of Milan. Only six head coaches have taken charge of more games than him in the club’s history, including the likes of Nereo Rocco, Carlo Ancelotti and Fabio Capello.
It was back in October 2019 that the coach’s arrival at Milanello was confirmed. He replaced Marco Giampaolo who had started the season disastrously, and he was welcomed with a #PioliOut campaign which soon became trending on social media.
At Milan, Pioli was supposed to be just an interim head coach with the plan to then pass the baton to Ralf Rangnick, the designated man for the revolution. The start was not the simplest: after some positive signs, a 5-0 defeat against Atalanta in December looked like being the end.
Milan were just seven points ahead of the relegation zone and 14 off the Champions League places, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Simon Kjaer arrived. Europa League football was secured, then qualification for the Champions League in 2020-21, the Scudetto in 2021-22 and semi-finals of the UCL last season.
At the top of the list of the most games as head coach is Nereo Rocco, who between the 1960s and 1970s took charge of 459 matches, winning the first two European Cups (1962-63 and 1968-69) and two Scudetti (1961-62 and 1967-68).
Behind him is Carlo Ancelotti, the architect of the last continental triumphs in 2003 and 2007, with 420 matches. Closing the podium was Giuseppe Viani, at 376.
Then Fabio Capello is in fourth at 300 (winner of the 1994 Champions League and four Scudetti with Milan), Nils Liedholm at 280 (technician in the 10th Scudetto season, 1978-79) and Arrigo Sacchi at 220 games, embellished by the European triumphs of 1989 and 1990 and the title in 1988.
Pioli could overtake Sacchi for benches in a few months (after the Champions League match in Paris he will be at 20 behind) and a quick calculation places the objective at the end of February, when Milan’s season will come into full swing.
To earn a place in the Champions League knockouts is the first objective though, and Pioli hopes to celebrate the milestone tonight with what would be arguably one of his biggest wins.
It wasn’t only the 5-0 Atalanta defeat but covid also struck around that time shutting down football and sport in general. And then they worked behind the scenes. They were able to gel and Pioli effectively got a period to relay his tactics to the players (kinda like a new coach changing things over a summer). That combo (and ofc Ibra and Simon) helped us to where we are now..I still always remember soon after that Juve game fondly and Sczeny words to Rebic lol 😂
Why are you supporting and protecting a divination of a failure… Am praying for Milan to lose 4 zero tomorrow.. Am tire of him and his beautiful wife Helen of Milan Krunic
What really matters is putting the ball in the back of the net, tonight…..
Forza Milan⚡⚡⚡
Why are you supporting and protecting a divination of a failure… Am praying for Milan to lose 4 zero tomorrow.. Am tire of him and his beautiful wife Helen of Milan Krunic
Do you stupid Krunic fans see.. why am praying that he need to be out of the season.. Milan need to sack stupid coach..