AC Milan Sack Massimiliano Allegri In Sweeping Overhaul After “Unequivocal Failure”

AC Milan fired coach Massimiliano Allegri and CEO Giorgio Furlani on Monday after what it deemed "an unequivocal failure" of a season, but special adviser and club legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic…

May 26, 2026
7 min read

AC Milan fired coach Massimiliano Allegri and CEO Giorgio Furlani on Monday after what it deemed “an unequivocal failure” of a season, but special adviser and club legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic remains in his job. The team’s U.S. owner, RedBird, cleaned house a day after Milan missed out on a Champions League berth by one point after blowing a 1-0 lead and losing at home to also-ran Cagliari 2-1.

After the game, Allegri’s side was booed off the field by its own fans. Allegri’s second stint at San Siro was intended to restore the club to its former glory, recalling his success during his first reign between 2010 and 2014 when he secured the Scudetto. However, the 58-year-old native of Livorno was unable to replicate that magic, lasting just one season in his return to the Milan dugout.

Key Details At A Glance

CategoryDetail
Primary TopicAC Milan
Secondary TopicMassimiliano Allegri
Announcement DateMonday, May 25, 2026
Final MatchAC Milan 1-2 Cagliari (May 24, 2026)
Final Serie A Position5th (70 points)
Champions League Qualified?No — missed out by one point
Others SackedCEO Giorgio Furlani, SD Igli Tare, TD Geoffrey Moncada
Ibrahimovic StatusRetained as special adviser
Allegri’s Record22 wins, 10 draws, 10 defeats in 42 matches

RedBird’s Damning Statement

The statement read: “After the disappointment of last year, the mandate ownership set for the club was to return to the Champions League and to establish a foundation for winning consistently at the top of Serie A. For the majority of this season, we were in the top two positions in Serie A, with a credible shot at competing for the Scudetto. The final stretch was completely inconsistent with the performance up to that point, with last night’s disappointing loss in the final game turning the season into an unequivocal failure.” 

AC Milan
MILAN, ITALY – MAY 24: Massimiliano Allegri of Milan coduring the Serie A match between AC Milan and Cagliari Calcio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 24, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)

Effective immediately, we are parting ways with CEO Giorgio Furlani, sporting director Igli Tare, head coach Massimiliano Allegri and technical director Geoffrey Moncada. We thank each one for their hard work and dedication to AC Milan during their respective tenures. Further announcements regarding the next appointments will be made in due course – with the goal to be ready and well-prepared for the next season.”

The Catastrophic Final-Day Collapse

Milan finished fifth in Serie A after losing 2-1 at home to Cagliari in their final game of the campaign on Sunday. They entered matchday 38 in third place and would have returned to Europe’s top table with a victory, but instead, Roma and Como both leapfrogged them into the top four. The final blow came as Milan were pipped to the top four by Como, whose 4-1 thrashing of Cremonese allowed them to leapfrog the Rossoneri. And, with Juventus finishing sixth, next season will be the first edition of the Champions League since its 1992-93 rebrand without both the Rossoneri and the Bianconeri.

A Season Of Two Halves

Sunday’s loss capped a remarkable late-season collapse from Milan, who lost their opening match of the Serie A campaign but then did not taste defeat again until matchday 26, going down 1-0 to Parma on February 22. From that game onwards, they only won five of their final 13 matches, losing seven (D1), while they were already out of the Coppa Italia before Christmas. Milan spent much of Serie A in the top two positions and fighting for the title, but a run of only two wins in their last eight matches dropped them to fifth on Sunday, the last day of the season.

Milan’s Season Trajectory

PhaseMatchesFormLeague Position
Matchday 1Opening lossDefeatMid-table
Matchday 2-2524 matches unbeatenIn top two for majority1st-2nd
Matchday 26-38Final 13 matches5 wins, 1 draw, 7 defeatsDropped to 5th

Allegri’s Record In Numbers

Allegri oversaw 42 matches resulting in 22 victories, 10 draws and 10 defeats. Milan’s 70 points were the most they have ever earned in a Serie A season while finishing outside the top four (accounting for three points for a win all-time), but that was not enough to save Allegri.

Allegri’s 2025-26 AC Milan Record

CompetitionPlayedWonDrawnLost
Serie A3820108
Coppa Italia2101
Other2101
Total42221010

Not Just Allegri: A Complete Institutional Reset

In a ruthless move that has sent shockwaves through Italian football, AC Milan owners RedBird Capital have initiated a wholesale clear-out of the club’s leadership. Alongside the dismissal of Allegri, the club confirmed that chief executive officer Giorgio Furlani, sporting director Igli Tare, and technical director Geoffrey Moncada have all been relieved of their duties.

CAIRATE, ITALY – MAY 07: Massimiliano Allegri Head coach of AC Milan looks on during an AC Milan Training Session at Milanello on May 07, 2026 in Cairate, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/AC Milan via Getty Images)

Who Has Been Sacked

NameRoleStatus
Massimiliano AllegriHead CoachSacked
Giorgio FurlaniChief Executive OfficerSacked
Igli TareSporting DirectorSacked
Geoffrey MoncadaTechnical DirectorSacked
Zlatan IbrahimovicSpecial AdviserRetained

RedBird managing partner Gerry Cardinale is now expected to work closely with Ibrahimovic to restructure the club, including choosing a coach, CEO and sporting director.

What Next For Allegri And AC Milan?

Only Inter, Roma and Napoli registered a greater overperformance throughout the division. It remains to be seen who will replace Allegri at San Siro, but he has been tipped as a contender for the Italy job, with ex-Napoli boss Antonio Conte also reportedly in the frame. It has already been reported that he is set to replace Antonio Conte as Napoli coach. The fifth-place finish means Milan will compete in the Europa League next season.

What Happens Now

AreaExpected Development
Next Milan CoachTo be announced; complete reset underway
Allegri’s Next RoleLinked with Napoli job and Italy national team
Milan’s European PathEuropa League 2026-27
Restructuring LeadGerry Cardinale with Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Allegri’s Managerial Career: A Decorated But Turbulent CV

For a manager who boasts five Scudetti and five Coppa Italia titles from his legendary time at Juventus, this represents a rare and humbling stain on a highly decorated managerial CV.

Allegri’s Full Managerial Timeline

YearsClubKey Achievement
2008-2010CagliariEstablished in Serie A
2010-2014AC Milan (1st spell)Scudetto 2010-11
2014-2019Juventus (1st spell)5 Scudetti, 2 UCL finals
2021-2024Juventus (2nd spell)Coppa Italia 2024; sacked
2025-2026AC Milan (2nd spell)Sacked; missed Champions League
MILAN, ITALY – 2026/04/26: Massimiliano Allegri Head Coach of AC Milan looks on during Serie A 2025/26 football match between AC Milan and Juventus FC at San Siro Stadium. Final score; Milan 0:0 Juventus. (Photo by Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Read More: Tactical Analysis: How Unai Emery Led Aston Villa to Europa League Glory

FAQs

Why was Allegri sacked?

The 19-time Serie A winners lost 2-1 at home to Cagliari on Sunday in the final game of the league season, missing Champions League qualification by one point.

Who else was sacked alongside Allegri?

CEO Giorgio Furlani, sporting director Igli Tare, and technical director Geoffrey Moncada have all been relieved of their duties.

Is Zlatan Ibrahimovic still at the club?

Yes. RedBird kept only special adviser Ibrahimovic.

Where did Milan finish in Serie A?

Milan finished fifth in Serie A with 70 points, one behind fourth-placed Como.

Where could Allegri go next?

It has already been reported that he is set to replace Antonio Conte as Napoli coach.

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