Paulo Fonseca has been confirmed as AC Milan’s new head coach on a three-year contract.
The 51-year-old replaces Stefano Pioli, who stepped down at the end of 2023-24 campaign after five seasons in charge.
Fonseca has spent the past two seasons as manager of French club Lille — whom he guided to a fourth-placed finish in Ligue 1 this season, ensuring the club will be in the Champions League qualification stage for the 2024-25 campaign.
The Portuguese — who has been replaced at Lille by Bruno Genesio — coached Roma between 2019 and 2021, leading them to the semi-final stage of the Europa League in his second campaign.
Fonseca was previously head coach of Shakhtar Donetsk, whom he led to the Ukrainian Premier League and Cup double in each of his three seasons in charge.
Pioli, who has spent over two decades in management, led Milan to the Serie A title in the 2021-22 season having been appointed as the Rossoneri’s head coach in 2019.
The 58-year-old also guided Milan to the semi-final of the Champions League in 2022-23, overseeing knockout victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Napoli before losing 3-0 on aggregate to city rivals Inter at the semi-final stage.
Milan finished this season in second place in Serie A and exited the Europa League at the quarter-final stage against Roma.
(Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
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