Ruben Amorim is officially in the building. The new AC Milan head coach arrived at the club’s Milanello training complex on Tuesday afternoon and immediately stepped in front of the cameras alongside owner Gerry Cardinale. The two posed for photos outside the entrance, a clear signal that the Portuguese coach has the full backing of ownership as he starts this new chapter.
Amorim was hired in mid-June on an initial two-year deal, replacing Massimiliano Allegri after the club cleaned house. Allegri, sporting director Igli Tare, technical director Geoffrey Moncada and CEO Giorgio Furlani were all shown the door the day after the 2025-26 season ended. That was a pretty dramatic purge for a club that still finished in the top four, but Milan’s ownership wanted a reset.
Amorim flew into Italy on Monday and sounded genuinely excited about the challenge ahead. In an interview after landing, he said, “I’m really very happy to be here, it’s an honor to be Milan’s coach. It’s a big challenge. After the last one I’d promised myself to choose a smaller challenge, but I’m here and it’s even bigger.” He laughed a little saying that. “I’m really proud to be here, I just want to work with my players and my staff, and I’m truly happy to be here. In Milan to win? Of course. If you want to be Milan’s coach, you have to play for that.”
That last job he mentioned? That was Manchester United. Amorim left Old Trafford after two up-and-down seasons, and while his stock took a hit in England, Italian clubs never stopped watching. Milan moved fast once they decided to shake up the front office, and landing a coach with Premier League and Champions League experience is a decent get for a team trying to rebuild its identity.
Tuesday was mostly about getting settled. Amorim toured the facilities, met staff and presumably started thinking about what his first training session looks like. Preseason starts in a couple weeks, and the roster still has some question marks. Milan has been linked with a handful of midfielders and a center back, but nothing official yet. The club has not confirmed any specific transfer targets, but the rumor mill is churning.
The photo op with Cardinale matters more than it might seem. At Milan, the relationship between the coach and ownership has been rocky for a while. Allegri never quite clicked with the front office, and the disconnect showed on the pitch. Seeing Amorim and Cardinale smiling together, arms around each other, is the kind of visual that calms fans down. At least for now.
Amorim’s first real test comes in August when Serie A kicks off. Until then, it’s all about building trust, learning names and figuring out which players fit his system. The Portuguese coach likes a high-press, flexible 3-4-3 setup, but he’s shown he can adapt. Milan’s squad is built more for a back four at the moment, so expect some tactical tinkering over the next few weeks.
Leave a Comment