Ancelotti leaves Milan

Coach terminates contract by mutual consent

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 1st June 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Ancelotti leaves Milan

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Chelsea target Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed his contract with AC Milan has been mutually terminated.

The 49-year-old has been in charge at Giuseppe Meazza since 2001 but has brought his time with the Rossoneri to a close.

His contract in Milan was set to run for another 12 months, but that agreement has been brought to a premature end.

Fears had been raised this season that he was unable to bring the best out of an underperforming squad, with his future having been called into question for much of the 2008/09 campaign.

Despite being one of Milan's most successful coaches of all-time, having led them to the 2004 Serie A title and two UEFA Champions League crowns, he has been deemed surplus to requirements.

"In agreement with the club we have decided to terminate the contract a year early," he told Sky Italia.

"My wonderful experience with this side ends today. I thank all the players, directors, fans and everyone involved.

"I think it ends in the right way and is probably the right choice for both of us. The respect and affection remains with all the people who over the years participated in this adventure."

The news of his departure is likely to heighten speculation regarding an imminent move to Chelsea, with the Blues searching for a replacement for the outgoing Guus Hiddink.

Ancelotti has refused to confirm that he will now be heading to Stamford Bridge, though, insisting he will be weighing up his options over the course of the next few days.

Agreement

"I can't say anything else official. I have not made any agreement with any other club."

Milan president Silvio Berlusconi had not always been the most supportive in recent times, but Ancelotti refused to criticise a man he still regards as a friend.

"I have great respect and love for president Berlusconi. We've had a few disagreements over the years, but this is the day to thank him for eight wonderful years of my career.

"He let me spend nearly a decade at the helm of a great club that was at the top of world football, so my gratitude goes beyond the odd phone call.

"The decisions were made at the end of this season. It was a complicated campaign and we left it two months ago with the agreement we'd make the decision after the final game. That's what we did.

"I hope you'll know what my future is soon. London is not necessarily the guaranteed next stop."

Meanwhile, Milan have named former terrace favourite Leonardo as their new manager.

The ex-Brazil international has no prior managerial experience and is yet to attain the coaching badges required to coach in the Italian top flight.

He is, however, set to attend a Uefa A course this summer.

World Cup-winner Leonardo has recently been working as Milan's technical director but will take over in the hot-seat next season.

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani confirmed Leonardo would succeed Ancelotti.

"Leonardo will be the new Milan coach. He will be officially presented tomorrow (Monday) at midday," Galliani told Rai.

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Comments (30)

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Stephen Jury (Chelsea fan) says...

I think personally he is not the right man for the job we do need a british manager, why not harry redknapp look at the difference he made to tottenham. ancelotti is a good manager but not one for chelsea especially as we need to start pushing the youth players through such as sinclair and mancienne and of course gael kakuta!!!!

Posted 07:27 1st June 2009

Tony Lodder (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Well done Chelsea on winning the Cup! Remember Scolari and what about our very own Ramos? All highly rated managers there downfall.. could not speak a word of English. We have had in the premiership a number of highly rated foreign coaches that have not been able to cut it here. Just because Ancelotti has been successful with AC does not mean he will be here.

Posted 06:51 1st June 2009

Azizul Ahmad shafawi (Manchester United fan) says...

I give Ancelotti 2 years if he is lucky. If he screws up, he won't last the new year. Italian style of play cannot cope with the speed and strength of EPL . Thank God Chelsea not choose Martin O'Neil . United will need him after SAF retires .

Posted 06:44 1st June 2009

Vashisth Balloo (Manchester United fan) says...

Abramovich wants beautiful, fluent attacking football at chelsea. So why Ancelotti. Each and every Italian coach are known for their defensive, boring and negative way of playing football. So, dear chelsea fans, seems like you really want ancelotti at stamford bridge next season. So, be prepared for BORING CHELSEA..

Posted 03:22 1st June 2009

R R (Liverpool fan) says...

I agree with Frank. Ancelotti has a wealth of experience and is the best coach for Chelsea, a team of high earners. You need a successful coach to manage this kind of players. I am a Liverpool fan, and you can see where Benitez has changed Liverpool. We used to have too many soft managers (Evans, Houiller, etc) and none of them could stand up to the players. They were even tagged the Spice Boys!! But Benitez brought discipline and no more off-the-field issues anymore, albeit some. I think Ancelotti will do the same with Chelsea.

Posted 01:27 1st June 2009

Rupert Lincoln (Norwich City fan) says...

It seems to be popular opinion that this guy will not last the season out because of Chelsea's trigger happy owner. I seem to remember it being reported Ancelloti was the owners first choice BEFORE the special one. If thats the case, I expect the owners cheque book will be open n every chance many new names will be brought to the club, helping "his" man prove the special one wasnt the only reason Chelsea won the league.

Posted 01:21 1st June 2009

Andrew Shaw (Hartlepool United fan) says...

Ancelotti would not have a clue about the english game the same as Scolari didn't. Hiddink is the exception because he is well traveled and has managed in all corners of the globe. If he is in charge of Chelsea next season expect a 3rd or 4th place finish.

Posted 22:34 31st May 2009

Bilali Salia (Chelsea fan) says...

Ancelotti can do better only if he learns from scolaris mistakes but he should get a striker who can handle ball to patner with drogba upfront.He should forget of adebayor because his style of play will not help chelsea.i think drogba can do better and only need to be talk to.Chelsea need strikers like Devid villa,Arguerro caliber and not adebayor.

Posted 22:33 31st May 2009

Frank Zvonar (Chelsea fan) says...

For all you doubters...tell me this... did Scolari manage AC Milan for 8 years with huge success and respect from players? NO. Ancelotti is the Italian Hiddink. There can be no doubt over this. Italian football is turbulent. Emotional. And complex, technically on and off field. 8 seasons equates to an eternity in that environment. Frank Lampard and John Terry may have questioned the 'strength' of Scolari, Grant and who knows, maybe even Mourinho. Who could blame them? I'm an Aussie but I recall Mourinho wearing his Portuguese scarf whilst receiving his FA Cup medal (before throwing that medal into the crowd). How disrespectful, on a number of fronts. Grant had the personality of a 99 year old breathing through apparatus akin to boiling vegetables and Scolari, despite his charisma, just did not make sense and had no top flight club management experience outside of some clubs down in South Amercia. Now we FINALLY get a manager with some clout, pull and wisdom and we have doubters. This is only due to the legacy of our revolving door policy at the Bridge yet this is all about to change. Ancelotti will get immunity over player revolt, from the top down. Abromovich knows as a shrude businessman that this appointment by him alone will be what makes or breaks the empire he so wants to build. Those players that do not motivate themselves to perform will know where the door is. As for player changes...we need the likes of Robben... so I pray for this new Russian (Yuri Zirkov) to solve it. Franck Riberry for me will be highly influenced by Michael Ballack who has extended his contract another 12 months (being another Bayern great) and the likes of Anelka and Makelele who would still have some punch in France I'm sure. I don't want a Kaka. I want a fit again Joe Cole. I want Aston Villa's Young. I want BRITISH players to be the heart. There's no secret behind SAF and his successes at Old Trafford. Go Blues.

Posted 21:58 31st May 2009

Alan Howard (Swindon Town fan) says...

I think it's a high possibilty that he will manage Chelsea, but, i think there will be a great pressure and expectation after Hiddink. Chesea will need stability before the next campaign but will Ancelotti be able to provide that if that is where he decides to go.

Posted 21:48 31st May 2009

Shaun Levitt (Leeds United fan) says...

Its ridiculous to think a guy who can't even speak the language can come in and have a good effect on the team. He needs time which chelsea will not give him. It will all end in tears and players such as lampard and terry with their popularity at the club will fall out with the man just like terry did with mourinho, who is maybe the best manager around.

Posted 21:21 31st May 2009

Nick Maidment (Manchester United fan) says...

He's had 8 good years at Milan but Chelsea's quick fix programme would likely mean 8mths at Stamford Bridge if he's lucky. Chelsea are fast running out of worthy managers on the world stage....it's coming to a point that they might realise that Mourinho and Grant weren't actually that bad after all.

Posted 19:41 31st May 2009

Jason Young (Newcastle United fan) says...

It's a shame to see Carlos leave AC, however i think it is what the team needed. they were short on motivation and didn't seem to have the desire they once had. I can't see him doing very well in English football, the style of football he likes to play will not suit many teams in the Premiership, especially Chelsea. If Chelsea is where he ends up, i doubt he will be there for any longer than 2 seasons. However if he does become Chelsea manager we may get to see Kaka grace the Premiership with his skills after all!

Posted 19:28 31st May 2009

Wayne Looker (Chelsea fan) says...

I am a Chelsea fan, and was really happy about the FA Cup win. Now that for me has put a dampener on things. I dont think he is the right man for Chelsea, he couldnt do anything with the current squad at Milan, what will he do at Chelsea. NOTHING! Why do big clubs always have to look over seas for a manager, what about O'Neil at Villa, Moyes at Everton, they have done wonders at their respective clubs and are British. Why dont we get someone like that, this is why the England squad under-perform our english leagues are filled with foregin players, lets do it a different way, bring in more quality english players and bring them on, and lets give english managers a chance at big clubs too.

Posted 19:24 31st May 2009

Dennis Baffour (Barcelona fan) says...

My advice to coach Ancelotti is he is a great coach and has achieved so much, Chelsea is not the right place for him, with the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard and others no manager will survive. Four previous managers never survived because they never gave them to bring the team together, they will finally threat you like a trash, So please try to find a better team. Thanx

Posted 19:20 31st May 2009

Matt Motola (Chelsea fan) says...

This is fantastic for chelsea football club. They need a middle aged man to come to the helm and there is no better manager than Carlo. With recent speculation linking Beckham with Chelsea, maybe this annoucement will cause even more talk. Also, with Shevchenko an actual chelsea player and abramovic such a big fan, maybe we could see Sheva given a second shot in the best league in the world, the premiership. For the sake of Chelsea and the Premier league, I hope Ancelotti signs for the blues.

Posted 19:18 31st May 2009

Dan F (Chelsea fan) says...

As a Chelsea fan im not sure, I dont know if Ancelotti is the right man. Sure he is experienced, but hes got a big expectation to live up to after Hiddink. All I can do his keep my fingers crossed he does a good job, and that the players work hard for him.

Posted 18:55 31st May 2009

Deq Farah (Chelsea fan) says...

Both AC Milan and the Ancelotti needed the changes, he is a great coach and what he did for AC Milan as a coach can not be compared any other past coaches of AC. Now I think he is heading to Chelsea, what a coach!!! Chelsea should allow him to bring players of his choice, i think he do not need many changes he should just add a new great left winger who can drible and can pass one or two, good striker who can score more than 30 in a season, one young midfielder and right back cover for Ashley Cole. He should sell Deco, Carvalho, Farreira, Drogba, Balleti.

Posted 18:50 31st May 2009

David Platt (Chelsea fan) says...

Well said Raphael...he is not suited to the English game either and this will only end in the same tears that sent Scolari packing. However, if there is less pressure put on him to win in his first season (fat chance) and he spends wisely (which looks unlikely) then this could be a good, long term arrangement. What I don't understand is why we can't get someone like Rijkaard in and have Guus return as director of football or something after the world cup? Let Grant have another crack :)

Posted 18:45 31st May 2009

Jack Cooper (Chelsea fan) says...

I think he will be missed by Milan and should now head for Stamford Bridge. He fits all the required fields to be a success but i think he will need time and Roman Abramovic shouldnt expect him to bring the Champions League to Chelsea in a season, he needs to give the new man time. I think he will want to bring new faces into the squad this summer if he decides to manage Chelsea, preferably some younger players though because they already have the experience but they need more of a mix. I also think he will want to let some players go, he may turn to some of his previous players and try to bring them in to strengthen the squad. I hope he goes to Chelsea as a fan and i hope he can bring the likes of Kaka (for a reasonable price!) and possibly Frank Ribery and even Carlos Tevez

Posted 18:38 31st May 2009
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