Lopetegui, Tedesco and Fonseca on Milan’s list – the pros and cons of each

AC Milan’s search for a new coach is not expected to end quickly with a whole host of names being linked with the not-yet vacant post held by Stefano Pioli. 

The expectation is that Pioli will be asked to step aside at the end of the season with Milan failing to win a trophy or launch a real challenge for the Serie A title.

For that reason, names are being linked with the job at an alarming rate and three of them are Julen Lopetegui, Domenico Tedesco and Paulo Fonseca. La Gazzetta dello Sport (as seen below) has assessed the three coaches for their pros and cons.

Julen Lopetegui

Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui views Milan as his priority, which counts for something given how many big clubs are seeking a new coach. The former Real Madrid and Wolves boss is being pursued by West Ham United, though.

A negative for Lopetegui is that the Milan fanbase does not seem very enthused by the idea of him replacing Pioli. He is not viewed as a long-term appointment who can take the team further than Pioli has.

Domenico Tedesco

Italian-German coach Domenico Tedesco is another very plausible option for Milan as it would be his most high-profile job, but he would not be able to start work as Milan coach until July because he is the Belgium coach and Euro 2024 needs to take place first.

He has coached Schalke, Spartak Moscow and RB Leipzig in the past, winning the DFB Pokal with Leipzig in the 2021/22 season. He is seen as lower down the list compared to Lopetegui and Fonseca.

Paulo Fonseca

Finally, Portuguese coach Paulo Fonseca is doing a great job at Lille and is playing an attractive brand of football with many young players in the side. That makes him an ideological fit for Milan in the modern day.

He has worked in Serie A before with AS Roma and was commended for handling of off-pitch issues. He favours the 4-2-3-1 formation that Milan currently use, but his sides are known for conceding a lot of goals. He finished a Serie A season with Roma having conceded 58 goals; only Cagliari, Frosinone, Sassuolo and Salernitana have conceded more than that this season with five games to play.