Paulo Fonseca is the new coach of Milan. On the occasion of the Media briefing organized in Milanello, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has announced the arrival of the former Roma and Lille coach on the bench of the Rossoneri club. The Portuguese signed the contract that will bind him to the Rossoneri in recent days, after having announced his decision to leave Lille after two seasons, with a fifth place in the first season and the direct qualification for the Champions League in the one that has just ended. .
THE ANNOUNCEMENT – During the meeting at Milanello, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Operating Partner and Senior Advisor of Red Bird and AC Milan’s Senior Management, communicated the decision to entrust the bench to Paulo Fonseca: “The new Milan coach will be Paulo Fonseca. We have studied well through the criteria, what we are looking for and what we want. We chose him to bring his identity to the players we have. We want a dominant and attacking game. After 5 years we wanted something new. We studied how he coaches, how he plays, how to prepare for matches. We want to bring something new to San Siro. He is the right man, we are very confident”.
THE PRESS RELEASE – “AC Milan announces that it has entrusted the technical management of the men’s First Team to Paulo Fonseca. Born in Nampula (Mozambique) on 5 March 1973, Paulo Fonseca began his career as a coach in 2005, starting from the youth team of Estrela Amadora and then continuing , among professionals, in the Portuguese minor leagues. In 2012 he made his debut in the top league with Paços de Ferreira, a club with which he reached the Champions League play-offs. In 2013 he moved to Porto, with whom he managed to win the Portuguese Super Cup, his first trophy as a coach. After a spell at Braga, with which he won the Portuguese Cup, he coached Shakhtar Donetsk for three seasons, with which he won seven trophies and collected 103 victories in 139 matches debut in the Italian championship with AS Roma, a team with which he reached the semi-final of the Europa League in 2021. Coach of LOSC Lille since the summer of 2022, Fonseca ends his adventure in France after two seasons in which he contributed to bringing the club to as many European qualifiers. The Portuguese coach now joins Milan on a three-year contract. The Club extends a warm welcome to Paulo and his collaborators.”
FONSECA’S FIRST WORDS – “I am proud to be the new manager of Milan and I will work to honor this Club and its great history. Together we want to excel and write a new chapter of success that we hope to celebrate with our extraordinary fans. Forza Milan!”.
THE CHOICE – Paulo Fonseca was the first alternative to Julen Lopetegui to take over Stefano Pioli’s legacy. In his latest adventure at Lille, the Portuguese coach showed offensive football characterized by young people, as well as a profile similar to that of the Parma player in terms of communication and dressing room management.
THE CARREER – For Paulo Fonseca it is a return to Italy. The Portuguese coach has already coached in Serie A Rome from 2019 to 2021, achieved a fifth place, a seventh place and a Europa League semi-final, lost against Manchester United. Veteran from two years to Lille, France, Fonseca also coached Shakhtar Donetsk, Braga, Pacos Ferreira and Porto in his career.
THE CONTRACT – Paulo Fonseca he signed a three-year contractbinding himself to Milan until 30 June 2027. The Portuguese coach ghe will earn 3 million euros plus bonuses per season.
