Spanish coach top candidate to replace Pioli next season
Former Valencia coach Marcelino Garcia Toral will succeed Stefano Pioli at AC Milan, a report from Spain claims.
Despite the obvious improvement over Giampaolo, Stefano Pioli has been unable to deliver at AC Milan. The Rossoneri are currently 10 points behind the fourth-placed Atalanta and Champions League qualification is just a mirage.
Pioli has a contract until 2021 but the parties are sure to part ways at the end of the season. According to Mundo Deportivo, Marcelino Garcia Toral will be the new coach of AC Milan. The 54-year-old Spanish coach, without a team since his departure from from Valencia earlier this season, will become Stefano Pioli’s successor at the Rossoneri.
The Spanish newspaper reports that about a month and a half ago, the legendary former Milan captain and current technical director of AC Milan, Paolo Maldini, contacted Marcelino to present his project and obtained the commitment of the former Valencia to become the new coach of Milan once this season ends. The decision to bet on Marcellino is shared with Zvonimir Boban, chief football officer of the Rossoneri.
If rumors were to be confirmed, it would be the first coaching experience of Marcelino outside Spain where he has led clubs like Valencia, Villarreal, Sevilla, Racing, Zaragoza, Recreativo and Sporting. Last season Marcelino guided Valencia to Copa del Rey glory after defeating FC Barcelona 2–1 in the final. He left Valencia at the beginning of the season after continuous disagreements with owner Peter Lim.
Contacted by the Italian media, Marcelino’s agent, Botas declared: “Marcelino has not met Paolo Maldini and has not received, to date, any offer from Milan for the next season. It is clear that Marcelino wants to coach a top European team next season and Milan is one of the most important clubs in history“. Despite the denial of his agent La Repubblica adds that the Spanish coach is the number one candidate for the Rossoneri’s bench.
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