IT’S OFFICIAL: Marco Giampaolo has been named manager of Milan

Well, it’s finally official. Marco Giampaolo has been named as the manager of AC Milan, replacing Gennaro Gattuso. Giampaolo managed Sampdoria for the past three season, finishing comfortably mid-table on a much smaller budget than he will have at his disposal at Milan.

Per the club’s official website:

AC Milan announces the appointment of Marco Giampaolo as the new coach of the First Team with effect from July 1st 2019. The agreement runs until June 30th 2021 with an option to extend the contract to June 2022.

Marco Giampaolo, born in Bellinzona on August 2nd 1967, has managed 324 games across all competitions during his career of which 270 have been in Serie A.

Giampaolo began his career as assistant coach in Pescara in 2000 and earned his coaching license in July 2007. He has coached several Italian Clubs since then, including Cagliari, Siena, Catania, Cesena, Brescia and Empoli. Most recently, Giampaolo has been at the helm of UC Sampdoria. Marco Giampaolo will now coach AC Milan’s First Team on the first day of the new season’s training at Milanello on July 9th.

What do you think? Good hire? Bad hire? Did Milan go for a big enough name or settle for another “up and coming” type of manager rather than a proven winner?

Let us know in the comments.