Leonardo has signed a two-year contract and he will trigger a new era at AC Milan. After the goodbye of Carlo Ancelotti, Milan has decided to follow the model Barcelona-Guardiola and entrusted the leadership of the team to Leonardo the former 1994 FIFA World Cup Champion with Brazil. He joined AC Milan as player in 1997 and now the Brazilian has been offered the main manager job after going through a training period as a manager the same manner it happened to a previous holder of the post- the actual England manager Fabio Capello. Leonardo - as Capello - has also worked as a media pundit, notably with the BBC Sport team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Coaching Team
Leonardo will be assisted by former! Italy international and AC Milan full back Mauro Tassotti. 'My coaching idea is to speed up the play of the team and for that I will set up an athletic training routine to improve speed and control of the ball whilst keeping possession' said Leonardo at his press conference today. He added' The full coaching structure will be based on - beside Tassotti -other two vice-assistants - probably Castellazzi e Maldera - for the tactical analysis whilst Fiori will remain the goalkeepers coach.
'No Berlusconi's Butler'
AC Milan CEO Sig Adriano Galliani said ''With Leonardo, Milan wants to go back the successful route taken with Fabio Capello''. 'Leo as Fabio was a great player and a great leader however the media scepticism that welcomes now Leonardo is infinitely lower than what was for Capello, who was welcomed by some as 'The Berlusconi's Butler' - continued Galliani. ''When Fabio was appointed the critics were ferocious but with him we won! four Scudetti in five years and we disputed three consecutive! Champio ns League finals''. ''This club had made little or no mistakes when down to appointing the coaching stuff or still less than other clubs and all decisions we made' - he notes - 'are fully agreed and in this case the choice of Leonardo was down to the President Berlusconi and the Chief Executive Officer'' Galliani reaffirmed.
Shocked
On Carlo Ancelotti - now coach of Chelsea - Galliani said "With Carlo we had wonderful years: 5 international trophies are extraordinary and then three Italian trophies." It was a beautiful relationship with Carlo first as a player and then eight years as a coach, a fantastic one and one of the many wonderful stories of this club. "Seeing him now with the Chelsea kit I cannot believe it. Since yesterday I am under shock" he admitted. But the 'Rossoneri' CEO ensured it was always aware of Ancelotti decision. "I knew that Carlo had a pre-contract with the Chelsea - he says- subject to the termination of the co! ntract with AC Milan that expires next year''. "Carlo has never asked any extension nor a retouch of the emoluments, he was available to the let it expire or to resolve the contract in advance". ''With him - concludes Galliani - there still is a wonderful relationship that continues as we keep in touch''.
Coaching Team
Leonardo will be assisted by former! Italy international and AC Milan full back Mauro Tassotti. 'My coaching idea is to speed up the play of the team and for that I will set up an athletic training routine to improve speed and control of the ball whilst keeping possession' said Leonardo at his press conference today. He added' The full coaching structure will be based on - beside Tassotti -other two vice-assistants - probably Castellazzi e Maldera - for the tactical analysis whilst Fiori will remain the goalkeepers coach.
'No Berlusconi's Butler'
AC Milan CEO Sig Adriano Galliani said ''With Leonardo, Milan wants to go back the successful route taken with Fabio Capello''. 'Leo as Fabio was a great player and a great leader however the media scepticism that welcomes now Leonardo is infinitely lower than what was for Capello, who was welcomed by some as 'The Berlusconi's Butler' - continued Galliani. ''When Fabio was appointed the critics were ferocious but with him we won! four Scudetti in five years and we disputed three consecutive! Champio ns League finals''. ''This club had made little or no mistakes when down to appointing the coaching stuff or still less than other clubs and all decisions we made' - he notes - 'are fully agreed and in this case the choice of Leonardo was down to the President Berlusconi and the Chief Executive Officer'' Galliani reaffirmed.
Shocked
On Carlo Ancelotti - now coach of Chelsea - Galliani said "With Carlo we had wonderful years: 5 international trophies are extraordinary and then three Italian trophies." It was a beautiful relationship with Carlo first as a player and then eight years as a coach, a fantastic one and one of the many wonderful stories of this club. "Seeing him now with the Chelsea kit I cannot believe it. Since yesterday I am under shock" he admitted. But the 'Rossoneri' CEO ensured it was always aware of Ancelotti decision. "I knew that Carlo had a pre-contract with the Chelsea - he says- subject to the termination of the co! ntract with AC Milan that expires next year''. "Carlo has never asked any extension nor a retouch of the emoluments, he was available to the let it expire or to resolve the contract in advance". ''With him - concludes Galliani - there still is a wonderful relationship that continues as we keep in touch''.
