Staff Reporter.
Former Roma and Lille coach Paulo Fonseca is to return to Italy as the new boss of AC Milan, the Serie A runners-up announced on Thursday.
The 51-year-old Portuguese has signed a three-year deal until 2027.
He replaces Stefano Pioli, who left AC Milan by mutual consent after they finished fourth in Serie A.
Under Pioli, Milan ended a seven-year absence from the Champions League in 2021 and reached the semifinals last year, losing to Inter.
This past season, Pioli’s team failed to advance from a tough group that included Borussia Dortmund, which ended as runner-up, and Paris Saint-Germain. Milan then switched to the second-tier Europa League and was eliminated by Roma in the quarterfinals.
Fonseca left Lille by mutual consent after his side finished fourth in Ligue 1 and missed out on a direct Champions League spot.
Lille also lost to Aston Villa on penalties in the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League final.
Fonesca previously managed Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk and Porto.
He won the Portuguese Super Cup in 2013 with Porto and secured the Ukrainian league and cup double three times with Shakhtar.