Serie A's AC Milan announced on Wednesday that Marco Giampaolo, the former manager of Sampdoria, was appointed as the new boss of the Rossoneri and will start to lead the club starting July 1.
"Marco Giampaolo will now coach AC Milan's First Team on the first day of the new season's training at Milanello on July 9," said Milan in a statement.
The 51-year-old signed a two-year agreement with AC Milan fir two million euros (about 2.3 million U.S. dollars) per year. Giampaolo's contract also includes an option of a third year.
Marco Giampaolo (L) talks to a Sampdoria player during a game. /VCG Photo
The appointment has raised some eyebrows. Giampaolo's coaching career began in 2000 and he’s worked with the following clubs: Cagliari, Siena, Catania, Cesena, Brescia, Empoli and of course, Sampdoria – none of them qualify as a strong team. Besides, he had had five contracts that were terminated in advance; and that says something about his coaching ability.
Second, Giampaolo is already AC Milan's fifth new manager in eight years. The Rossoneri, which have won 18 Serie A titles in their history, are losing patience with their managers and that's a very bad sign considering that the club has been struggling to shake off the sluggishness resulting from constant wrong decisions.
Milan ranked only No.5 in the 2018-19 Serie A season, missing next season's UEFA Champions League, and the tens of millions of euros in bonus money. Meanwhile, this will further hurt the club's spending ability to introduce quality players and their attraction to big names on the market since no star player wants to miss the Champions League.