Ferrari in the running for the AC Milan CEO role
The race to reshape AC Milan‘s leadership structure has a new contender. Massimo Ferrari, a former member of the club’s Board of Directors until 2022 and a self-declared Milanista, has formally put himself forward as a candidate for the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Rossoneri.
A figure with direct knowledge of the club’s internal dynamics and a clear vision of what Milan needs to return to the top, Ferrari has spoken publicly to outline his idea of the ideal profile for whoever will lead the club through its next chapter: “The CEO must be paid like everyone else, must act as a controller, know how to say no, smooth over conflicts, get everyone working and be the guardian of communications. They must govern a board with knowledge of finance, rules and football.”
Ferrari’s vision: a leader coach and a credible technical direction
In his analysis, Ferrari addresses multiple levels of the club’s structure. He goes beyond the CEO role alone, broadening his reasoning to the entire sporting chain of command: “You need a leader coach, a credible technical direction, and for that you need someone reliable.”
These words fit perfectly into the current debate, with Milan still searching for the right profile for both the dugout and the sporting management. RedBird ownership has been running a selection process through headhunters for weeks, but a final decision has yet to be announced. In this climate of uncertainty, Ferrari’s candidacy — backed by genuine institutional experience — represents a concrete and well-articulated proposal.
The bombshell: “Paolo Maldini must return to AC Milan”
But the most explosive part of his intervention is undoubtedly the proposal to bring Paolo Maldini back into the Rossoneri structure: “I’ll say it straight away — I believe Paolo Maldini must be part of AC Milan.”
The name Maldini immediately recalls the most recent era of the Rossoneri’s renaissance: between 2018 and 2022, as technical director and then sporting director, the eternal captain had played a decisive role in building the squad that would go on to win the 2021-22 Serie A title. His departure in the summer of 2022 — with his contract not renewed by the American ownership — had sparked strong reactions from the Milan world.
However, Ferrari’s proposal runs up against a well-known reality: Gerry Cardinale has never hidden a certain coolness towards Maldini, making the legend’s return a politically complex scenario to navigate. Yet the very fact that this proposal is back on the table is proof of how central Maldini’s figure remains in the hearts and minds of the fans.
A Milan that looks forward, rooted in its own identity
Beyond the candidacies and the controversy, what emerges from this debate is a collective desire to rediscover a Milan with a strong identity, with credible people at the helm and a long-term sporting project. Milan has the resources, the history and the pedigree to compete at the highest levels in Italy and Europe once again.
While the football world waits to find out who will be the next head coach and what the final management structure will look like, every voice that brings competence and Milanista passion to the table is a valuable contribution. The future of AC Milan is being built right now, with the right choices.
