The coaching seat: Milan’s most urgent decision
As the transfer market begins to take shape, AC Milan is working with increasing urgency to close the most important chapter of the summer: the appointment of a new head coach. According to the latest reports, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Massimo Calvelli and Gerry Cardinale are looking to accelerate and reach a definitive decision in the coming days. Two main options appear to be on the table — very different from one another in philosophy and structure.
The German-Austrian option: Rangnick with Glasner
The first scenario involves an organic project built around Ralf Rangnick, one of the most influential figures in modern European football, with Oliver Glasner as head coach. The model would be that of a complete package: Rangnick would bring his trusted men with him, potentially including a sporting director, a head of youth development and a full technical staff. An ambitious solution, with a long-term vision and a clear footballing identity — high pressing, intensity, and youth development.
Glasner, for his part, brings serious international pedigree: in 2022-23, he won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt, one of the most remarkable achievements in recent European football. A coach with a winning mentality and a recognisable style of play, he could be an excellent fit for the rossoneri squad.
As already reported, the Rangnick-Glasner tandem remains one of the most concrete options for Milan, with the club carefully weighing up the pros and cons of such a structured project.
The Arne Slot option: impressive CV, difficult last season
The second track leads to a surprising name: Arne Slot, former Liverpool manager, who is said to have been contacted directly by Ibrahimović. The Dutch coach has an impressive track record: he won a league title with Feyenoord — the club where he built his European reputation — and then replicated the feat in the Premier League with Liverpool, cementing his status as one of the brightest coaches of his generation.
However, his most recent season represented a significant step back. Slot was sacked by the Reds following a disappointing campaign: a fifth-place finish in the league, early elimination in Europe and — crucially — serious tensions within the dressing room, including friction with Mohamed Salah and other key figures. His management of the group raised questions about his ability to maintain cohesion in a high-pressure environment.
This does not erase the Dutch coach’s value, but it does prompt reflection: a manager who struggled to handle a complex dressing room like Liverpool’s — would he have the tools to do so during a transitional period at Milan? It is a legitimate question, though it must also be said that different environments can bring out different qualities, and Slot remains a name of genuine international standing.
The search is open — a decision is close
The picture is still fluid, but the direction is clear: Milan want to move fast. Every day without a head coach is a day lost in terms of pre-season preparation, transfer planning and staff building. The choice of the new manager will trigger a cascade of decisions — from the sporting director to the summer signings — that will define the face of the 2026-27 Milan.
The rossoneri faithful can look to this phase with the confidence that comes from an unrivalled history: Milan knows how to rise again. And when it does, it does so in the most spectacular way imaginable.
