Paulo Fonseca recently left Lille and has now been appointed as the new manager of AC Milan. The 51-year-old coach signed a three-year contract with the Serie A runners-up, replacing Stefano Pioli who was let go at the end of the 2023-24 season after five years in charge.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, representing the owner of AC Milan, announced Fonseca’s appointment during a press conference. Ibrahimovic praised Fonseca’s coaching style and his ability to prepare matches effectively. The former Milan forward emphasized the desire for Fonseca to bring his offensive approach and unique identity to the team.
Fonseca was born in Nampula, Mozambique and has had coaching stints at various clubs including Porto, Braga, and Roma. He most recently managed Lille, guiding the French club to fifth and fourth place finishes in Ligue 1 during his tenure. Prior to that, Fonseca spent three successful years at Shakhtar Donetsk, winning seven trophies and enjoying a strong win record.
AC Milan is looking to bounce back from a trophy-less season where they finished as Serie A runners-up. They were also eliminated from both the Champions League and the Europa League in disappointing fashion. Fonseca’s arrival brings a fresh perspective to the team and high expectations for the upcoming seasons.
Fonseca’s appointment comes amidst another major managerial change in Italy, with Juventus naming Thiago Motta as their new coach following the sacking of Massimiliano Allegri. The Serie A landscape is set for exciting changes as top clubs look to strengthen their squads and tactics for the next season.