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AC Milan via their website have officially confirmed the extension of the contract for manager Stefano Pioli for two years until 2022. Pioli joined the club in October with the aim of completing the season and to help steady the ship after the terrible start under Marco Giampaolo at the beginning of the season. Pioli achieved great results since the resumption of football after the lockdown in Italy due to the coronavirus pandemic.
He has ensured Milan finish in one of the Europa League spots with three games to go, thus Milan will end the season either in 5th, 6th or 7th place. When he took over Milan were 13th in the table. Pioli was largely expected to be replaced by Ralf Rangnick but the club broke their agreement with the Red Bull Director over a disagreement in the scope of his role.
Pioli now has a huge burden on his back to justify being chosen of Rangnick and will be expected to deliver a top 4 finish in 2020/21. He is still unbeaten since the restart and faces Atalanta, Sampdoria and Cagliari to end the season.
Milan’s CEO Gazidis said: “I am delighted with this agreement. Stefano has shown he can deliver the vision of football we have for our club - exciting, progressive and passionate. This is not a decision based on recent victories, but one based on how Stefano has built team spirit and unity of purpose, the way he has improved the performances of the individual players and the collective team, the way he has embraced our vision and the way he has represented himself and the club’s values.”
Milan’s Technical Director Maldini said: “Stefano stepped up to become Head Coach at a very difficult time. We have always said it would take some time to see the results of his job and we have seen the evidence that quality and professionalism always pay off. Stefano is the right man to lead the team that we want: successful, young and hungry.”