AC Milan sack Allegri after Champions League miss for second year
Synopsis
AC Milan's season ended in humiliation — a final-day defeat to Cagliari sent them from third to fifth in Serie A, missing the Champions League for a second straight year. Owner RedBird Capital Partners responded with a sweeping clear-out: Allegri, the CEO, the sporting director, and the technical director are all gone. This is not a managerial tweak — it is a full reset.
Key Takeaways
AC Milan have sacked head coach Massimiliano Allegri after missing the Champions League for a second successive season.
A 2-1 defeat to Cagliari Calcio on the final day dropped Milan from third to fifth in Serie A .
RedBird Capital Partners labelled the season an 'unequivocal failure' and called for a 'total overhaul.' CEO Giorgio Furlani , Sporting Director Igli Tare , and Technical Director Geoffrey Moncada also departed alongside Allegri.
Milan's 7 defeats in their final 14 matches derailed a campaign in which they had spent most of the season in the top two.
Italy's Champions League spots went to Inter Milan , SSC Napoli , AS Roma , and Como 1907 .
AC Milan have dismissed head coach Massimiliano Allegri following the club's failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for a second consecutive season, with owners RedBird Capital Partners describing the campaign as an 'unequivocal failure.' The sacking marks a dramatic end to what had been billed as a revival under one of Italian football's most decorated managers.
How the Season Unravelled
Milan's European aspirations collapsed in the final stages of the Serie A season, culminating in a 2-1 defeat to Cagliari Calcio in their last league fixture. The loss saw the Rossoneri slip from third to fifth in the standings, consigning them to the UEFA Europa League alongside Juventus FC. Inter Milan, SSC Napoli, AS Roma, and debutants Como 1907 will represent Italy in the Champions League instead.
The collapse was particularly stark given Milan had spent the vast majority of the campaign inside the top two and harboured genuine title ambitions. Seven defeats in their final 14 league matches undid months of progress, as neighbours Inter Milan claimed their second successive Scudetto.
What RedBird Capital Partners Said
In an official statement, RedBird Capital Partners did not spare words. 'We've been at the top two of the league table for the vast majority of the season with legitimate hopes for winning the Scudetto,' the statement read. 'Our inconsistent finish has completely undone the performance so far and this disastrous result in the last match has turned this into an unequivocal failure. It is now time for a total overhaul and a change of management within the football side of the operations.'
A Sweeping Exodus at the Club
Allegri's departure is part of a broader leadership clear-out at San Siro. CEO Giorgio Furlani, Sporting Director Igli Tare, and Technical Director Geoffrey Moncada have all left the club alongside the coach. The scale of the exits signals that RedBird is pursuing a fundamental restructuring of Milan's football operations rather than a simple managerial change.
Allegri's Second Stint and His Milan Legacy
The 58-year-old had returned to the club as a replacement for Sergio Conceicao. His first tenure at Milan, spanning 2010 to 2014, was considerably more successful — he guided the club to the Serie A title in the 2010-11 season and lifted the Italian Super Cup in 2011. His second chapter, however, failed to recapture that form and ends without a trophy or Champions League football.
What Comes Next for Milan
With a sweeping overhaul now underway, Milan face the immediate challenge of identifying a new head coach and rebuilding their technical staff ahead of the next season. The club's return to the Champions League — a commercial and competitive necessity given their global stature — will be the primary benchmark for whoever takes charge. How quickly RedBird moves in the transfer market will signal the seriousness of their rebuild ambitions.
Point of View
And the final-day collapse against Cagliari exposed how fragile the squad's mentality had become. The simultaneous departure of the CEO, sporting director, and technical director suggests the dysfunction ran far deeper than the dugout. RedBird now faces a credibility test: a genuine rebuild requires not just new faces but a coherent footballing identity, something Milan have conspicuously lacked since their 2022 Scudetto triumph. Without Champions League revenue, that rebuild will be harder and more expensive than the ownership may be publicly acknowledging.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Massimiliano Allegri sacked by AC Milan?
Allegri was sacked after AC Milan failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for a second consecutive season, finishing fifth in Serie A following a 2-1 defeat to Cagliari Calcio on the final day. Owners RedBird Capital Partners described the campaign as an 'unequivocal failure' and announced a total overhaul of football operations.
Who else left AC Milan alongside Allegri?
CEO Giorgio Furlani, Sporting Director Igli Tare, and Technical Director Geoffrey Moncada all departed the club at the same time as Allegri, signalling a sweeping leadership restructure ordered by RedBird Capital Partners.
Which clubs qualified for the Champions League from Serie A instead of Milan?
Inter Milan, SSC Napoli, AS Roma, and debutants Como 1907 secured Italy's Champions League berths. AC Milan and Juventus FC were relegated to the UEFA Europa League.
What was Allegri's record during his first stint at AC Milan?
During his initial tenure from 2010 to 2014, Allegri led Milan to the Serie A title in the 2010-11 season and won the Italian Super Cup in 2011. His second stint ended without silverware or Champions League qualification.
What happens next for AC Milan?
Milan must now appoint a new head coach and rebuild their technical staff ahead of the next season. Returning to the Champions League will be the primary objective, though the absence of European football's top-tier revenue complicates the club's transfer market ambitions.
