Rangnick as Milan’s Sporting Director: Talks with Ibra Progress
AC Milan are moving on the executive front, and in recent hours a name has emerged that brings back significant — and controversial — memories from the club’s recent history: Ralf Rangnick. According to reports, a direct meeting took place between Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gerry Cardinale in an attempt to convince the German manager to take on the role of Head of Football at Milan.
This is a senior executive position — not a coaching role on the pitch — but rather a top-level directorial figure overseeing the entire football department, with responsibility for both sporting and technical matters. The dialogue is open, negotiations are ongoing, and the lead currently appears concrete and cannot be dismissed.
What Rangnick Would Demand from Milan
According to sources, Rangnick has set a clear condition: he wants full autonomy to choose both the head coach and the backroom staff he would bring to the Rossoneri. A demand that speaks to the comprehensive vision he has of his role — not merely a coordinator, but a figure with wide decision-making powers over the club’s entire technical structure.
There is, however, a significant logistical challenge: Rangnick is currently serving as Austria’s national team manager at the 2026 World Cup, with the group stage running until late June and a potential knockout run that could keep him busy until July. Given the urgency and complexity of Milan’s current situation, an immediate start would be anything but straightforward.
Historical Background: Boban, Maldini and the 2020 «Rangnick Affair»
The name Rangnick inevitably brings to mind the turbulent events of 2020–2021, when his candidacy for a top role at Milan triggered an internal clash that made headlines. Then-CEO Ivan Gazidis had initiated contact with Rangnick while bypassing both Paolo Maldini and Zvonimir Boban — the latter was subsequently dismissed after giving a public interview openly denouncing the situation. It was an episode that left a deep mark on the club and lives on in the memory of the fanbase.
Nearly five years on, Rangnick could return to Milan’s orbit in a very different context: no longer under the Elliott ownership, but with RedBird Capital and Gerry Cardinale at the helm, with Ibrahimovic acting as intermediary and key interlocutor. Football, as ever, is full of unexpected twists and second chapters.
Milan’s Rebuild: The Key Positions Still to Be Filled
The Rangnick story unfolds against a backdrop that demands swift answers. Milan currently find themselves without any of their top executive figures: there is no CEO, no sporting director, no technical director, and no head coach. Four fundamental roles that must be identified, appointed, and given the tools to work in sync — and quickly, with the summer transfer window on the horizon.
As previously reported, AC Milan’s hunt for a Sporting Director and CEO faces ongoing setbacks, with refusals and structural constraints already shaping the market. There is plenty of work ahead — but the direction is beginning to take shape. What matters now is that every decision is made with a long-term vision and with the goal of returning Milan to the heights where they belong.
