AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli is set to leave the club a year before his contract was due to expire.
Pioli’s final match in charge will be Saturday’s Serie A fixture against Salernitana.
Pioli, who has been at the helm since 2019, guided Milan to their first Serie A title in 11 years in 2022.
Despite a disappointing fourth-place finish the following season, the Milan board retained faith in him after the team reached the Champions League semi-finals, where they were knocked out by local rivals Inter Milan.
This season, AC Milan are guaranteed to finish second in Serie A but enter the final round of games 19 points behind champions Inter. Pioli’s contract was originally set to expire in 2025, but both parties have mutually agreed to terminate the deal early.
AC Milan extended their “heartfelt thanks” to the 58-year-old, acknowledging his role in “re-establishing” the club as a European power. The club will now begin the search for a new manager to build on Pioli’s work.
Stefano Pioli is not the only player departing AC Milan as, striker Olivier Giroud will also be leaving AC Milan. The French international has played an instrumental role during Pioli’s tenure, contributing significantly to their Serie A title win and Champions League campaigns.
Giroud, who has been a key figure for Milan, is set to join Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC in the United States.
Giroud will play his final international tournament at Euro 2024 in Germany, representing France before embarking on his new adventure in MLS.
