Serie A - Leonardo in, Ancelotti out at Milan

Eurosport - Mon, 01 Jun 10:16:00 2009

Brazilian Leonardo will be Milan's coach following Carlo Ancelotti's departure, chief executive Adriano Galliani has said.

FOOTBALL 2008-09 Serie A Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti and technical director Leonardo - 0

"It will be Leonardo. Tomorrow he will be presented at 12," he told Rai television.

The former Milan player has been working as sporting director at the club.

Ancelotti has said he would leave the club by mutual agreement but he did not say he was going to join Chelsea.

His contract was due to run out in 2010 but speculation has been rife for weeks that he is heading to the Premier League club.

"In agreement with the club, we have decided to bring forward the expiry of my contract," he told Sky.

"This beautiful adventure at Milan is over. I can't say anything else official. I have not made any agreement with any other club."

"I have agreed to leave Milan. The decision was by mutual consent. But a move to London is not certain yet."

However when he was told "good luck" in English, he replied: "This I won't understand until I arrive."

Ancelotti was Serie A's longest serving manager having been appointed in 2001.

He decided to leave the club after his side booked their place in the Champions League group stages and gave Paolo Maldini a winning send-off as they beat Fiorentina 2-0.

But while Maldini was afforded a great reception from both sets of fans in Florence to celebrate his 24 years as a Milan player, Ancelotti made a more discreet departure.

The Italian has been widely tipped to join Chelsea next season, despite Milan's fans chanting for him to stay throughout the game.

AFP / Reuters

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  1. looks like hiddink

    From Ademola, on Mon 1 Jun 10:19PM

  2. everyone deserves a chance, good luck Carlo.

    From JOANNE, on Mon 1 Jun 3:32PM

  3. Dudes doubt this guy has any experience as a coach hope­ Milan don't relegate next year as they suck in­ general last few seasons :)

    From First L, on Mon 1 Jun 11:00AM

  4. Dave - i agree with you on Zola, he'll definitely­ be Chelsea manager one day but not sure about in 2 yrs­ time...prob abit longer than that before he becomes­ chelsea manager....i think Mourinho will be back for a­ second stint before Zola takes over.

    From Gizmo1, on Mon 1 Jun 10:54AM

  5. elrosso - u forgot about Man City, what about them?­ @#$%.

    From Gizmo1, on Mon 1 Jun 10:52AM

  6. devillish_red09 - not sure what you mean by comparing­ Ancelotti to Guardiola....ones a rookie but with­ seemingly incredible talent for management, who's­ not managed before Barca, while the other has managed­ Reggiana, Parma, Juventus and Milan....so can't see­ the comparisons nyself...Ancelotti has won the European­ twice as opposed to once in Guardiola's case. It­ would be better to compare Guardiola with someone like­ Zola. Guardiola no doubting his talent is also helped­ more by the fact he's surrounded by much better­ platers than Zola has.

    From Gizmo1, on Mon 1 Jun 10:51AM

  7. Well how long has he been at Milan if he can suvive­ there Chelsea should give him the chance to survive­ there too!!!!!!

    From keith j, on Mon 1 Jun 10:40AM

  8. I don't see Ancelotti surviving at Chelsea for­ long. The way he lost certain matches in the season,­ especially against Weder Bremen, makes me wonder if he­ has what it takes to survive in England where a match­ is not over untill the last whistle of stoppage time.­ Unless, he was no longer hungry in Milan and was just­ 'bearing' it till the end of the season?

    From Kaybee, on Mon 1 Jun 10:10AM

  9. rafas @#$%

    From jon g, on Mon 1 Jun 9:38AM

  10. rafa benitez is the best!!!

    From nawshine, on Mon 1 Jun 9:23AM

  11. I think Ancelloti knows the verdict for failing to­ perform at Chelsea.

    From chimwemwejella, on Mon 1 Jun 9:20AM

  12. So long Carletto, thank you for what you have given us!

    From Karl, on Mon 1 Jun 8:50AM

  13. Paul t, you don't really believe what club tell­ you. Come on.

    From Keith, on Mon 1 Jun 8:46AM

  14. With all their money Chelsea can only attract second­ rate managers who are well past their sell-by date. I­ hope you get Ancelotti cos that will make life easier­ for Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal. probably Aston­ Villa or Everton will be able to @#$% fourth spot now.

    From elrosso, on Mon 1 Jun 8:45AM

  15. sorry but what makes you so sure youve got him because­ last time i heard that chelsea and its owner hasnt­ spoken to him in 12 months ??

    From Paul T, on Mon 1 Jun 8:23AM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I hope I can be a well-educated man's someone­ special. I have long legs, blond hairs and blue eyes.­ Im kind, well-educated, humurous and cute. Reach me out­ @ _________________ K is s Mi ll ionaire S C om­ ______________ I will reply to all mails.­ Handle------Lovelybutterfly999--------

    From , on Mon 1 Jun 8:18AM

  17. I think it will be "Welcome to Stamford­ Bridge" for Signor Ancelloti, long before the week­ is out. A little early for Franco Zola. Cast your minds­ back to 'The Prodigal Son's' (Graham­ Souness) return to Anfield as manager some years ago.­ Anti-climax would be a fair summing up on that one.­ Frank 'R' would have edged it for me for at­ least a couple of seasons at The Bridge. Still, no mugs­ here, none of them (including the team), and I'm­ sure we all wish the new man well at Chelsea.

    Have a­ good week everybody.

    From Rob, on Mon 1 Jun 6:34AM

  18. zola will be chelsea manager in two years mark my words

    From dave, on Mon 1 Jun 6:08AM

  19. well,give him a chance to prove his ability like pep­ guardiola.

    From Wan Mohd, on Mon 1 Jun 4:55AM

  20. What is the argument here? I can't find my ground.­
    The season is over, Milan manager quits and you guys­ are on about....what?
    I'm going to sh*g the­ misses...
    ...together with her friend.
    Get a life.

    From i_cottrell, on Mon 1 Jun 4:48AM
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