Massimiliano Allegri has pledged to restore AC Milan’s former glory as he begins a second stint in charge of the struggling Serie A side.
The 57-year-old Italian tactician was unveiled on Monday as the new head coach, replacing Sergio Conceicao, who was dismissed after a poor run of results. Milan finished a disappointing eighth in the 2024–25 season — their worst league campaign in a decade — and failed to clinch silverware after losing the Coppa Italia final to Bologna.
Speaking in Singapore ahead of a pre-season clash against Arsenal, Allegri underlined his top priority: “The goal for this season is to return to the Champions League as a club like AC Milan has to play in Europe. These are the games the team lives for. We’re not going to look back, but we are looking forward to the future now.”
Allegri, who previously managed Milan from 2010 to 2014, led the club to their last Serie A title in 2011 before enjoying a trophy-laden spell with Juventus. He acknowledged that much has changed since his first tenure, but his ambition remains the same.
“It has been more than a decade since I first took charge of Milan. The situation is obviously different now… but the overall goal remains the same — to get this club back to where it belongs, and that is the Champions League,” he said.
One of Allegri’s key assets for the new campaign is Luka Modric, recently signed from Real Madrid. Despite being 39, the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner is expected to bring much-needed leadership and experience to the Rossoneri midfield.
“Modric is a proven champion who does not need any introduction. He is a role model not only from the discipline but technical perspective,” Allegri added.
