What next for fallen giants AC Milan after axing of Sinisa Mihajlovic?

Mihajlovic makes it six sacked

Mihajlovic, who turned out for rivals Inter Milan but never the Rossoneri as a player, was undoubtedly drafted in to achieve a top three Serie A finish, but Milan are set for a third successive season out of the Champions League places, as they toil 15 points behind Roma.

Surely the fact that other coaches before Mihajlovic have failed to return the Lombardy outfit to Europe’s most celebrated club cup competition should be enough for a stay of execution at the San Siro, with another chance to refresh the underwhelming ranks in summer? Apparently not. It is always cheaper to replace a coach than half a squad. And Italian pride is at stake here.

Little silverware has been adorning the hallowed halls of the San Siro of late, on either side of the blue and red divide, while the proud Rossoneri have been forced to watch on as northern Italian rivals Juventus storm ahead to Scudetto success yet again.

It is perhaps this that saw Mihajlovic ousted without a full term to prove himself, as the Old Lady overcame Milan to prove his final conqueror. Of course, cushioned on the Juve bench is a boss Berlusconi has already deemed unworthy, in Massimiliano Allegri.

Bested by his former employee yet again, and one who won him the Scudetto to boot, and it is not difficult to imagine that Berlusconi and the AC hierarchy opted to reshuffle their pack now ahead of another meeting, but this time with a trophy up for grabs, at the end of the season.

Though, is green around the gills Brocchi the best option to throw in at the deep end? The former Milan, Inter and Lazio midfield shield becomes the seventh coach to be appointed since the end of Carlo Ancelotti’s golden era in 2009, with Mihajlovic the sixth to be sacked in seven seasons.

Brocchi stop-gap solution

So, what of Brocchi? It appears unlikely, even potential Coppa glory aside, that the Italian will hang onto this position past summer.

Though, the 40-year-old’s agent, Davide Lippi, seemed to have other ideas, stating: “I’m very happy for Cristian, who was given this important opportunity. After several years with the youth squad, I think he’s ready for the next step.

“When President Berlusconi calls you to coach Milan, you can do nothing but accept enthusiastically, the way that Brocchi did.

“He is a great professional, he is ready, and he is an indefatigable worker. He is just the way he was as a player. I’m sure he’ll be able to work as a coach for many years.”

Milan have shown little sentimentality when showing fellow former players, ones held in high esteem such as Clarence Seedorf and Filippo Inzaghi the managerial door with much haste.

Brocci was part of the gang that won it all for the Rossoneri, and should garner some respect for the crowns – Serie A, Champions League x2, Coppa Italia, FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup – he collected in his time of the red and black side of Milan in his two stints.

The Milan-born manager also inherits a promising brood of youngsters, some likely even schooled by himself on their route to the senior team, that were then blooded by Mihajlovic.

These talents include Milan Primavera prodigal teenage post protector Gianluigi Donnarumma, full back Davide Calabria and centre half Alessio Romagnoli, the latter purchased from Roma in summer. While, fellow fledglings Jose Mauri, M’Baye Niang and Mattia De Sciglio could also be beneficiaries of Brocci’s experience with youth, as there is little for the sixth placed team left to play for.

In the frame

Mooted to take the San Siro throne should Brocchi flounder in these final weeks, are World Cup winner Marcello Lippi, current Fiorentina coaching incumbent Paulo Sousa and impressive Sassuolo tactician Eusebio Di Francesco.

Though, despite the football royalty the Rossoneri could lure, it is tough to see any being successful while the squad remains unbalanced and underperforming. Unless there is wiser investment in the playing roster, it will just be a case of rinse and repeat, with Berlusconi back here again a year later, hiring another of his lauded legends.

Is Brocchi’s appointment an unwise call back to a prestigious past, or a hopeful look to the future with promising talents onboard? Only time will tell, but the latest Rossoneri coaching hope should keep looking over his shoulder.

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