Stefano Pioli will leave his post as AC Milan manager at the end of the season despite still having a year left on his deal.
The 58-year-old leaves the club after five years at the helm in which he guided them to the Serie A title in 2022.
Milan are guaranteed to finish second in Italy’s top-tier but are a massive 19 points behind their bitter rivals Inter Milan going into the final match of the season.
The Milan faithful will get to say their final farewell to Pioli when the 19-time Italian champions face Salernitana in their last game of the campaign on Saturday night.
The club said in a statement: ‘AC Milan extends heartfelt thanks to Stefano Pioli and his entire staff for leading the first team over the past five years.
Stefano Pioli will leave AC Milan after five years in charge when the Serie A season ends
Pioli, 58, guided Milan to their first Scudetto in 11 years when they triumphed in 2022
It continued: ‘Securing an unforgettable League title and re-establishing AC Milan’s consistent presence in the top European competition.
‘Stefano’s professionalism and human touch have significantly contributed to the growth of the squad, embodying the club’s core values from day one.’
Pioli arrived at the Rossoneri after spells as boss at Lazio, Fiorentina, and even their biggest enemies, Inter – for whom he managed between 2016 and 2017.
In his second season at the club, Pioli guided Milan back to the Champions League for the first time in seven seasons after a second-place finish in Serie A.
The next season they went a step further, winning the Scudetto with 86 points, their best points tally since 2006.
The following year, the club reached the Semi-finals of the Champions League, but they lost over two legs to rivals Inter, who went on to lose the final to Manchester City.
Despite the loss, and their poor fourth-placed finish in the league that season, the club stuck with Pioli.
However, their performances have left a lot to be desired this season, the fans, in particular, have voiced their discontent at the campaign.
Milan’s club Ultras confronted the players after they were knocked out of the Europa League by fellow Italian side Roma.
It is being reported that Roberto De Zerbi would be interested in taking the job at Milan
It has already been reported by Gazzetta that the Rossoneri are interested in bringing in Roberto De Zerbi after his decision to leave Brighton.
According to the Italian media outlet, the possibility of joining Milan ‘fascinates’ De Zerbi, and now that he has left the Seagulls it could pave the way for him to return to his home country.