AC Milan has officially parted ways with head coach Paulo Fonseca following a disappointing 1-1 draw against AS Roma at the San Siro on Sunday. Appointed in June, Fonseca’s tenure lasted just six months as the club struggled to meet expectations in both Serie A and the Champions League.
Currently sitting eighth in the Serie A standings, Milan has managed only two wins in their last seven league games. With 17 matches played, the Rossoneri have secured just seven victories, leaving them eight points adrift of the top four and 14 points behind league leaders Atalanta. The team’s Champions League campaign has also been lackluster, where they sit 12th in the 36-team standings.
In a statement released on Monday, AC Milan confirmed the decision:
“AC Milan announces that Paulo Fonseca has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the men’s first team.”
The decision comes after the club had high hopes for Fonseca, who replaced Stefano Pioli in June. Pioli had guided Milan to a league title during his five-year spell, although the team finished second, 19 points behind Inter, in his final season.
Despite his previous success at Roma and Lille, Fonseca was unable to replicate those results with the Rossoneri. Speaking after Sunday’s draw, the Portuguese coach remained defiant, stating he was “not afraid of anything” amidst growing rumors of his dismissal.
Reports suggest former Porto boss Sergio Conceição is the frontrunner to take over the reins. The new manager will have little time to settle in, with Milan set to compete in the Supercoppa Italiana later this week.