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

    It must feel fantastic to cheat your way to a final win­ with a bent ref

    From virgilsonia, on Sun 31 May 6:13PM
  2. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Egzon shko qiju bashk me barcelonen
    a pe sheh qe krejt­ njerz pot shajn

    From shkumbinnuredini, on Sun 31 May 6:08PM

  3. HALLO !

    From erolflinn, on Sun 31 May 5:55PM

  4. Egzon B, go away. This is NOT a Barca article. (I am a­ Barca fan). I was annoyed at MU fan last year for going­ to random article and talk about their team. Please­ don't do it to Barca. Back to the topic, The fact­ is that they have already found a replacement for him­ means this decision was made a long time ago. I­ appreciate the fact that he kept quiet and finishes the­ season.

    From elson l, on Sun 31 May 5:49PM

  5. Leonardo is the coolest mofo ever!!! Very well spoken­ and one of the best midfielders of the 90's. I will­ be excited to see what he can do with Milan. He knows­ the team well, after all he played there several­ seasons and was assistant manager for a number of­ years.

    Nobody should bring up the Tab Ramos incident­ because:
    1. that's in the past, 15 years ago
    2. he­ has apologized
    3. Tab Ramos was about to tear­ Leonardo's shirt off the way he was hanging on to­ him, he had to expect something in return

    From jane, on Sun 31 May 5:36PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    He said he was going to stay in milan so therefore Jose­ must be going to get the sack

    From U R SOLES, on Sun 31 May 5:21PM

  7. Carlo join Man City!

    From edwardoldfield12345, on Sun 31 May 5:21PM

  8. We knew it

    From santos, on Sun 31 May 5:13PM

  9. ancelotti is for milan and milan is for ancelotti

    From BabyWoman915, on Sun 31 May 5:12PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    he must leave milan

    From tratjohn, on Sun 31 May 5:06PM

  11. HELLL NAHHHHHHHH!!!! Even Nastradamus would not know if­ this would've happened. LOL. BACK OFF the Bridge­ Ancelotti!

    From Charlie, on Sun 31 May 5:03PM

  12. good bye

    now i think milan is heading to a new era­ with a new coach who will be expectedly leonardo

    From Hamzeh O, on Sun 31 May 5:01PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    glory to barcelona:P

    From Egzon B, on Sun 31 May 5:01PM
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