Massimiliano Allegri has vowed to bring AC Milan back to its former heights as he begins his second spell in charge of the struggling Italian club.
Following a disastrous 2024–25 campaign that saw Milan finish eighth in Serie A—their worst league finish in a decade—and lose the Coppa Italia final to Bologna, the club parted ways with Sergio Conceição after just five months. In a move aimed at steadying the ship, Milan turned once again to Allegri, a proven winner with a strong track record at the club and with Juventus.
Speaking at a press conference in Singapore ahead of a pre-season friendly against Arsenal, the 57-year-old Italian outlined his top priority for the upcoming season.
“The goal for this season is to return to the Champions League. A club like AC Milan has to be in Europe,” Allegri stated. “We’re not going to look back, but we are looking forward to the future now.”
Allegri previously managed Milan from 2010 to 2014, leading the Rossoneri to their last Serie A title in 2011. He later enjoyed significant success with Juventus, where he won five consecutive league titles and solidified his reputation as one of Italy’s top tacticians.
Reflecting on his return, Allegri acknowledged the changed landscape of modern football but remained clear about his ambitions.
“It has been more than a decade since I first took charge of Milan. The situation is obviously different now, not just for Milan but for the whole of football,” he said. “But the overall goal remains the same—to get this club back to where it belongs, in the Champions League.”
Central to Allegri’s vision is Milan’s high-profile signing of Luka Modric from Real Madrid. At 39, the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner may be approaching the twilight of his career, but Allegri believes Modric still has plenty to contribute.
“Modric is a proven champion who does not need any introduction,” said Allegri. “He’s a role model—both in terms of discipline and technical ability. He will bring invaluable experience and leadership to our team.”
As Milan prepares for the new season, fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see if Allegri can once again guide the Rossoneri back to the top of Italian and European football.
