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. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    baheramir... the greatest club in England is still­ after all Man Utd...
    the most historical side is the­ title that's associated with Liverpool if you must­ associate titles with them (something not often­ done).

    I just state the facts kid... Gerrard dived to­ win a penalty to take it to extra time... whether you­ find Liverpool great or not, diving comes under­ cheating... so my statement was completely valid.
    I­ think you're the one who needs to stop being a baby­ when someone states Liverpool are a jammy cheating­ team, and Gerrard is a hypocritical diver. Both are­ facts. I'm sure you whine when Man Utd get­ decisions their way so fk off.

    From i am a teacup, on Sun 31 May 8:46PM

  2. Frank Rykaard is the best man to take over...

    From theonebehindthewheel, on Sun 31 May 8:43PM

  3. Chelsea should go for Frank Rykaard instead of Carlo­ Aceloti for communications reason and for quality­ reasons as well as Rykaard has done so well with­ Bacelona.

    From Livingstone
    Manchester

    From chubbyhills, on Sun 31 May 8:40PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    FREE WURDS-NAXT CHALSEY MONADGAR.

    From Donney, on Sun 31 May 8:26PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Cup of Tea ..."milan were cheated out of 05"­ For heavens sake they were playin the greatest side in­ england stop being such babies when it comes to­ liverpoool. DOnt even try it will never walk alone!

    From Amir B, on Sun 31 May 8:13PM

  6. tommy_cockles2, you obviously know very little of­ football!The european powers change every few years,­ Italy dominated in the early to mid 90's,Spain­ infrequently in the last 10-15 years and England is­ dominating now because of the money that is in the­ Premiership!

    From MichealS, on Sun 31 May 7:54PM

  7. I WANT TO USE THIS MEDIUM TO APPEAL TO THE LIKES OF­ PETER KEYON, TO PLEASE LEARN SOME LESSONS FROM MISTAKE­ OF SCOLARI. NO MATTER GOOD A COACH, IF SUCH COACH­ CANNOT COMMUNICATES IT WILL NOT PRODUCE RESULT. SO,­ ANCELLOTI NEED TO TRY HIS LUCK ELSEWHERE.

    From olabisi, on Sun 31 May 7:50PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    In fact... since the turn of the millenium...

    00-01­ Bayern Munich; 01-02 Real Madrid; 02-03 Milan; 03-04­ Porto; 04-05 Liverpool; 05-06 Barcelona; 06-07 Milan;­ 07-08 Man Utd; 08-09 Barcelona.

    ... Milan are the only­ team to have won it twice, along with Barcelona this­ year. Italian teams are just as "dominant" as­ English teams since you like to put it that way... Not­ to mention Milan were cheated out of the final in 05...­

    If you don't even know you're own facts,­ keep it shut.

    From i am a teacup, on Sun 31 May 7:50PM

  9. tommy when was the last time your country lifted the­ world cup? if italy is no longer a force in european­ football that means your country will never dream of­ winning the world cup till another century to come.­ italy has won it 4 times and are ready to win more

    From Thompson, on Sun 31 May 7:40PM

  10. tommy_cockles you dimwitted turd, Milan won the CL in­ 2007... how is 2 seasons ago not recent????

    From i am a teacup, on Sun 31 May 7:25PM

  11. Ancelotti please dont leave milan wont be same without­ you!

    From Josh, on Sun 31 May 7:24PM

  12. @arnoldlayne. Are you simple? Did the Chelsea vs Barca­ game look like the ref was in Chelsea's­ pocket?

    Bless these 'care in the community­ schemes' that allow people like you access to the­ internet. Moron.

    From monty23, on Sun 31 May 7:21PM

  13. looks like i got you...

    From tommy, on Sun 31 May 7:20PM

  14. 'favour' is the correct english spelling you­ plum.I don't see any italian sides cracking the­ champions league recently.do you?

    From tommy, on Sun 31 May 7:12PM

  15. Ancelotti is a big name who just like Scolari is going­ to fail!!! Ancelotti doesn't speak a word of­ English?? How can he coach if he can't communicate,­ you would of thought Kenyon would have learnt but this­ appointment i think has come straight from the­ top!!

    Zola would have been perfect, a lost opportunity­ that Chelski should have taken!!

    From paulsheridan, on Sun 31 May 7:09PM

  16. Since when have Milan been a boring side under­ Ancelotti? Milan are a passing team and get the ball­ down and play... stop stereotyping

    From mudassir.iqbal, on Sun 31 May 7:05PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    who gives a f#'k? boring drivel of seria a,italy no­ longer a force in european football, couldnt care less­ who will be in charge of their bunch of grandads.

    From tommy, on Sun 31 May 6:53PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    such a sad state of affairs with the cheating blues­ winning. this will only get worse. they have refs in­ their pocket. could be the end of english football. i­ can only see doom ahead. the fa will never do anything­ about drogba, lampard, terry, etc. too much money at­ stake. chelsea should be sent to play in the scots­ league and we get one of their top sides like Hamilton­ or Dundee.

    From arnoldlayne, on Sun 31 May 6:51PM

  19. just want the best for chelsea. and if its with­ ancelloti........ then wish him the best on the hot­ seat

    From EkhatorE, on Sun 31 May 6:16PM

  20. Grazie Carlo for 8 magnificent years tho time has taken­ it's toll and Leonardo is a welcome replacement who­ could revitalise us with youth, after all he found­ Kaka, Pato and Thiago Silva

    Forza Milan Maldini+Carlo

    From Ryan, on Sun 31 May 6:16PM
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