In a period of total uncertainty and ceaseless tension, AC Milan’s training complex of Milanello has become something of a Gulag as the Rossoneri desperately seek stability and continuity in their play.
Having gone through their second training retreat of the season so far, Milan are enduring one of their worst periods in recent history. Sitting in 11th place in the Serie A table, the seven time Champions League winners have been plagued by constant injuries and woeful defensive displays.
As with any team that comes under such heavy criticism, the coach takes the bulk of the blame and in this case, the culprit is the man who brought them the Scudetto in 2011; Massimiliano Allegri.
Whether the 46 year-old is indeed the source of the team’s problems is up for debate, but as things are, there are rumours of possible replacements being lined up to replace him. Here we will discuss what they can bring to a team that is a shadow of its former self.
The first on the list of potential successors to Allegri is Filippo Inzaghi. Currently in charge of the club’s Primavera side, ‘Pippo‘ went straight into coaching after he retired last year. After a short stint in charge of the Allievi Nazionali, Inzaghi replaced Aldo Dolcetti as the Primavera boss and is now steering them through the group stage of the UEFA Youth League. It should be noted that Pippo is taking the exact same steps as Fabio Capello took to becoming a coach.
Should he join the first team staff, it would come as no great surprise if a few Primavera players were plucked by Inzaghi for the first team. He would be a cheap, intelligent option for a team looking to build on its core values and his legendary status at Milan only improves matters. The drawback with hiring Inzaghi for the job is he simply isn’t experienced enough and risks merely taking Allegri’s shoes on the touchline as the Milan nightmare continues.
The most heavily publicised name being reported is that of Clarence Seedorf, who Silvio Berlusconi is thought to want specifically for the job. The highly decorated servicemen is still playing football at the age of 37 with Brazilian side Botafogo. Even as a player, Seedorf has been described as a promising coach by the likes of Thiago Silva and Hernan Crespo and is certainly the kind of role model Milan will want to promote.
However he has zero experience as a coach and if anything Milan need somebody who can comfortably lead them out of this slump. The mere fact he is still under contract with Botafogo doesn’t appear to cross anybodies mind and it’s believed Seedorf doesn’t fully support the youth movement; to the extent he will seek to purchase older players.
Finally there is the former Italian Under-21 coach Devis Mangia, who is currently unemployed. If there is anyone Milan could want to steamroller their youth movement, it’s this man. A competent coach who had a brief stint at Palermo where he demonstrated his abilities to be a flexible tactician, but the eccentric ways of owner Maurizio Zamparini cut short his progression.
As head coach of the Under 21’s, he began to truly demonstrate his virtues as a coach. His time with the likes of Riccardo Saponara, Stephan El Shaarawy and Mattia De Sciglio will certainly be beneficial, but he may also look to bring in other youth graduates. As of current, the 39 year-old has distanced himself from the position at Milan and unlike the aforementioned Mangia is not a former Milan player.
He is not the owner’s ideal choice and may very well have internal disagreements just as Allegri has. For Mangia to take charge, he may very possibly need the personal freedom as coach that Berlusconi will simply not allow him. Cooperation with Silvio is vital for the relationship to continue at AC Milan.
Whether a coaching change is what il Diavolo need is unclear, but there are certainly options available. The expertise and youth management skills of Mangia may be the ideal choice, but it depends on whether the Rossoneri can move away from the autocratic governing of the club and, more importantly, have the faith in Mangia to take the club forward; just as they did with Allegri.
However it seems more likely that while the former Italian Prime Minister is in charge, a club legend will be selected to teach the divine doctrine of Milan teams of the past.
Follow Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156
