AC Milan appoint Vincenzo Montella as new permanent manager after disastrous campaign
Troubled Rossoneri annouce seventh manager in three-and-a-half years as giants try to make return to Champions League
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AC Milan have appointed former Roma striker Vincenzo Montella as their new manager.
The Rossoneri announced the Italian had put pen-to-paper on a two-year deal which officially begins on July 1 on their official Twitter page.
President Silvio Berlusconi is close to finalising a sale for the club to wealthy Chinese investors as they look to once again compete with Europe’s top sides in the transfer market — and have already been linked with the likes of Romelu Lukaku.
Montella becomes the troubled Italian club’s eighth manager since the heady days of Carlo Ancelotti, who left in 2009.
Sinisa Mihajlovic was appointed to the San Siro hotset a year ago with the hope of returning the club to the Champions League for the first time since 2013.
However, the Serb was sacked in April and replaced by Cristian Brocchi who could only guide Milan to a seventh place finish.
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The Rossoneri were the regarded was one of the top clubs in Europe under Ancelotti as they reached at least the Champions League semi-final stage in four of the five seasons from 2003 to 2007.
However, Milan have only reached the quarter-finals on one occasion since then and have failed to even qualify for the last few years.
Montella — known as in Italy as ‘The Little Aeroplane’ for his distinctive celebration — is best remembered for his role in Roma’s title-winning 2000-01 season.
Alongside, Gabriel Batistuta and Francesco Totti, he formed a third of the stellar attack which brought the club only their third-ever Scudetto.
He was a fine goal scorer he once netted four a 5-1 victory over derby rivals, Lazio.
When his first-team opportunities became limited, he joined Premier League side on a six-month loan deal in 2007 — netting twice on his home debut.
He represented Italy on 20 occasions, netting two goals.
Montella retired from football two years later and immediately began coaching Roma’s Under-15 side.
In February 2011, he was appointed as interim boss following the resignation of Claudio Ranieri but was replaced at the end of the season after the club’s new American owners opted for Luis Enrique.
Montella then became Catania’s new owner and led them to a respectable 11th place finish in the 2011-12 season.
Fiorentina became the former Italian striker’s second permanent managerial role when he was appointed as boss in 2012.
He fared well in Tuscany, leading the club to three consecutive fourth-place finishes — narrowly missing out on Champions League football each time.
It was Europe’s elite competition La Viola craved and he was sacked in 2015.
Following Milan’s appointment of Mihahlovic, Montella was announced as manager of the Serb’s former club, Sampdoria.
Despite appearing to struggle as the club finished a lowly 15th, the Rossoneri saw enough to make him their new manager.