Arrigo Sacchi has once against heaped praise upon AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli, recalling how close he was to being dismissed by the club.
It is exactly three years to the day that Pioli was named the new head coach of Milan, as he took over from Marco Giampaolo on 10 October 2019. A whole 1096 days have passed since that day and it would be fair to describe the period as a revolution, with the ‘#PioliOut’ campaign upon his announcement now being replaced by the song ‘Pioli is on fire’.
It could have been a very different story though given that Milan were lining up Ralf Rangnick to take over from him ahead of the 2020-21 season, but a fantastic run of form post-lockdown made the leadership change their mind.
In his editorial for La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sacchi about of the excellent work that Pioli has done as demonstrated by the comfortable win against Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus on Saturday.
“When he arrived at Milan he seemed to me an interim coach. In 2020 it was known that the Rossoneri had chosen Rangnick, he never said a word out of place. He has never vented. He never attacked the club. Stefano is truly a gentleman,” he said (via SempreMilan.it).
“He was a ‘tactician’, now he’s a strategist. A great leap made thanks to his will and his humility. The Scudetto was a masterpiece, he won and kept the balance sheet in place. And he did it with little-known players, giving organisation to the whole group.”
Thank you pioli for making never want to skip any Milan game again thanks for your great work at my Milan. Isyaka Milan from Nigeria
It saddens me that Milan has never truly understood and explore the large fan base the Milan brand has here in Nigeria! As a Nigerian, I can say that apart from Chelsea, Arsenal and manutd, Barcelona, AC Milan is the most supported and widely known football club name associated with legend and winning values! If only their marketing strategies can expand to Nigeria with a population of over 200million people, I bet the future potential is non-quantifiable
True
May I ask why Milan is so popular in Nigeria?
I am Milan fan from China. Milan is super popular in China thanks to the Dutch Trio and Milan beautiful and dominant playing in 1990s and then Shevchenko and Kaka in 2000s.
Milan has more fans than Chelsea, Arsenal and on level with ManU. But the club never give a sh!t about marketing and brand development in China. Now it seems the club starts to do some catching-ups.
Same reason we are loved all over.
Success!
Most people who started watching European football, say late 80’s early 90’s were watching mostly Serie A or Bundesliga, when we were very successful with the Dutch trio.
Even with the rising popularity of the Premier League in the 90’s Serie A still held its own. It was only in the early 00’s you could see the Premiership was taking over, but even then Milan were head and shoulders above the rest in the Champions League in the mid 00’s. So even those who don’t support Milan always come away with a certain sense of respect for the club
I agree with you bro.Also a Nigerian
@Ahmadu me too ooo, now want to watch milan match by all means, @Adel, you just spoke my mind
Me too. I’m from Nigeria. I can’t skip Milan matches nowaddays.
@ Adeleye Moses Adeolu😁 you are my namesake! While @ Oyebamiji and Isyaka…we certainly have the Nigerian group keen on the Milan progress… Nice to see my brothers on this platform… Anyways I’m talking from Ajah, Lagos. What about you bro?
Am also a fellow diavoli from Nigeria onyekachi alimosho Lagos….we are winning tomorrow.
Been a diavoli since the days of sheva and rui costa
Same here Akwa Ibomite hailing from Port Harcourt.
Forza Milan, Forza Pioli.
Forza Nigerians! Forza rossoneri!
We rep
Nice to see you guys here, Forza Milan, Forza Nigeria, a big fa of Milan for the days of the Dutch trio…….
Nice to see you guys here, Forza Milan, Forza Nigeria, a big fan of Milan from the days of the Dutch trio…….
Sir, you be elder oh. Respect!
Waow! This is getting louder seeing Nigerian don’t carry last! We make our voices heard anywhere we go…. Been a Milan fan as far as I could remember! We ay back 2003 somewhere around iyana ipaja side Lagos…I just saw a defensive masterclasses from Maldini against Dortmund precisely that very late evening and since then Milan had been my first love… If Milan wants to know how much crazy Nigerian are about Milan they can come to Lagos to conduct a Milan festival and they will be surprised at the turnout of fans they will witness Nationwide… Forza milan… What makes Milan popular in Nigeria is that unique jersey synonymous with excellence and victory won with character!
Thanks to all Milan fans in Nigeria
God bless you
Forza Milan
Forza to the Nigerians 🇳🇬 !!
I’m from South Africa 🇿🇦
Lovely to see Rossonerri from all walks of life.
Forza Milan
Naija no dey carry last.
Forza Milan!
The partnership of Maldini-Nesta made me fell in love with Milan and been a fan since 2002🙌🙌…. Repping 🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬…
I hope and pray we are able to silent the blues tonight. My only fear is “Gabbia” cos of his poor pace 🤦🤦 and reading of games. Forza Milan 💪💪💪