Ruben Amorim appointed AC Milan head coach after Allegri sacking

Former Manchester United and Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim has been appointed as the new head coach of AC Milan, replacing Massimiliano Allegri, who was dismissed after the club failed to qualify for the Champions League. Portuguese media reported on Monday that a deal had been reached between the 41-year-old and the Italian giants, with Amorim signing a two-year contract that includes an option for a third year. The contract is worth €3.5 million net per season plus bonuses tied to winning titles and Champions League qualification. Amorim is expected to arrive in Milan shortly to finalize the agreement in person.

Reports in Italy indicate that Amorim will forego the remaining year's pay he was still owed by Manchester United following his dismissal in January. The Portuguese coach's departure from United, along with his coaching staff, had been estimated to cost the club up to £15.9 million. It remains unclear whether United will outline the saving in their next set of financial results, due out in the autumn. Amorim was fired after a difficult 14 months at Old Trafford, where he had replaced Erik ten Hag in November 2024.

AC Milan praised Amorim for bringing a "modern dominant tactical approach" to the club. In a statement, Amorim said: "There are ambitions that stay with you throughout your career, and coaching AC Milan has always been one of mine. I know exactly what this club means: history, prestige and an extraordinary fanbase around the world. It is a challenge I embrace with pride and enthusiasm."

Before his stint at Manchester United, Amorim had established himself as one of Europe's most promising young managers at Sporting Lisbon, where he ended the club's 19-year wait for a league title in 2020-21 and won it again in 2023-24. His appointment at Milan comes about three weeks after Allegri's sacking, following a catastrophic run of form at the end of the season that saw the team miss out on Champions League qualification. Allegri has since taken over at Napoli, replacing Antonio Conte.

Amorim's first game in charge will be a pre-season match against Celtic on July 25. The club will conclude its pre-season campaign against Manchester United in Wroclaw on August 15.