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In Sportskeeda’s exclusive “Top 10 European Managers of the Season”, let’s take a look at the Number 7 on the list.
Read #8 in the Managers’ Series here (Stay tuned on www.Sportskeeda.com, Each day a new manager)
#7: Massimiliano Allegri
2010-11 will be remembered as a season of young managers. If it was Pep Guardiola with his Double in Spain, it was Andre Villas Boas with his Treble in Portugal.
In Italy, it was a certain 43-year old Massimiliano Allegri who stole all the headlines; and deservedly so too. After all, guiding the team to a Scudetto is a massive challenge, let alone in your first season as a manager at the club.
Allegri’s appointment as the man in charge of one of the biggest and most successful clubs in Europe was followed by a widespread dismay. Sure, Allegri had been winning the Serie A Manager of the Year for the past two years but it was with a comparatively “smaller” club Cagliari. Here, he had to deal with the huge expectations of extremely passionate fans. The challenges that lay ahead of Allegri were massive.
But Allegri isn’t a man to be scared of challenges. He is a fighter. In an extensive interview with La Gazzetta a few days after being announced as Milan manager, he admitted that he isn’t worried to take up the new challenge and added that many of his friends and colleagues would die for that job. He added that the club administration expects him to finish in the top four and to advance in the Champions League.
“I’m sure I’ll be fine. I love challenges.”
Allegri was officially appointed as the manager of AC Milan on June 25, 2010 and was given two big name players Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho as a welcome gift. The manager wholeheartedly thanked the Club President for this unexpected gesture.
“I didn’t expect a reinforcement like Robinho. He is a player of great caliber. We are talking about a wonderful present from Berlusconi, who I would like to thank again with all my heart. I am also very happy with Ibrahimovic’s arrival.”
Back to work, Milan had a tough preseason under Allegri, losing their first match under the new manager against Varese 2-0. They suffered back to back defeats against rivals Inter and Juventus (in penalty shootout) in the TIM trophy and Trofeo Luigi Berlusconi respectively. Milan concluded their preseason tour with a defeat at the hands of Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy.
The manager had a problem which many managers would love to have, a problem of having too many quality attackers at his disposal. Pato, Inzaghi, Borriello, Ronaldinho, Robinho, Ibrahimovic. The manager now had a tough task of zeroing in on a formation that would bring out the best from all the superstars.
To please the club president (who had spent lavishly on the attackers), Allegri decided to start with a 4-3-3 formation, a formation that would accommodate most of his attackers. Milan made an explosive start to their campaign and won the opening fixture 4-0. Borriello was, however, loaned out to AS Roma after the match against Lecce.
The next three matches, against Cesena(A), Catania(H) and Lazio(A), saw Milan getting just 2 points out of a possible 9. Allegri was quick to realize the defect in the 4-3-3, his attackers weren’t willing to come back and defend with equal prowess. Allegri shifted to a 4-3-1-2, a formation that Milan used to play with under Carlo Ancelotti, with Pirlo playing as the playmaker. However, this time Allegri decided to employ three defensive midfielders and the formation paid dividends for the Rossoneri and the manager continued using it for a majority of the remaining season.
The 4-3-1-2 meant Ronaldinho spending majority of his time on the bench, a move that earned Allegri a fair share of criticism from the fans. However, Milan legend Franco Baresi gave his nod of approval to the changes Massimiliano Allegri made to the side. “It’s certainly a different Milan from the one we are used to. It has more balance and solidity. The team works hard and gives less of a spectacle. But up front there are players who can resolve a game.”
Milan were finding it tough in the Champions League (1-1 vs. Ajax, 0-2 vs. Real Madrid (A), 2-2 vs. Real Madrid (H)) and many suggested that they should concentrate on winning the Scudetto. However, Allegri, an ambitious person, not short of confidence replied to his critics strongly.
“We want to win everything. We have no limits and we have the players and so we will not just limit ourselves to the league.”
By the end of the year, Milan were on the top of the Serie A table, a lead that they would maintain for the rest of the season.
#1: AC Milan
During the January transfer window, Flamengo came knocking with an offer for Ronaldinho and Allegri decided to let the player return to Brazil. Milan in turn signed striker Antonio Cassano from Sampdoria. Milan also signed Urby Emanuelson from Ajax and perhaps the most vital signing of the season, Mark van Bommel from Bayern Munich.
Van Bommel left his mark on the Milan side, playing his usual “dirty game”. The Dutchman made 15 appearances for Milan, earning 5 Yellow and 2 Red cards for himself. But the solidity he provided in front of the defenders was immense and made the opposition attackers toil hard to find a way through Milan defence. Van Bommel’s arrival helped Milan transform from a team that had conceded 18 goals in its first 21 league games to one that has given just five in its last 15.
Milan managed a stronghold on the top spot in the Serie A throughout the season. But for all the excellent performances in the Serie A, they weren’t able to perform in the Champions League and were shown the door by Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in the first knockout round. Gattuso decided to take out his frustration on everyone who came in front of him as ugly scenes erupted on the pitch. The midfielder got a 4 match ban for his antics.
Allegri urged his side to move on after the Champions League exit but the next 2 matches against Bari and Palermo gave Milan just 1 out of 6 possible points. However, all the gloominess in the air was removed when Milan defeated bitter rivals Inter 3-0 at home, thus completing a double over them (Milan had won the away tie 1-0).
One would expect a manager to jump with joy after completing a double over a rival team. But like a true champion, Allegri urged his team to keep their heads down until they reach their final destination, the Scudetto.
” We played good football and we continued to control the game after Chivu’s red card in the second half. But it is too early to talk of the championship.”
Next up was Fiorentina away. Milan won the match and inched closer than ever to the Scudetto. 9 out of 9 points in the next three fixtures against Sampdoria, Brescia and Bologna meant Milan needed just a draw against Roma to win the title, then and there itself. And that’s exactly what they did. A goalless match meant AC Milan clinched the title with two matches still to play. A man who watched the entire season unfold before him from the technical area with an emotionless face and hands in his pocket, Allegri rushed on to the field to celebrate with his players, who in turn drenched him in champagne before repeatedly throwing him up into the air.
Allegri: Above everyone else
Veteran midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, overwhelmed with emotions, credited the victory to Allegri. “They said we were dead, they said I was finished. Winning after seven years is a huge emotion. Allegri deserves a 10; he was the magician behind this success, he was able to keep the group together.”
A modest Allegri thanked his players and the backroom staff for the win. “I have to thank the lads, the president who gave me this chance and this squad with newcomers who behaved impeccably in the locker room. These men have won so many trophies, but they were professionals working for the group. This is why we won the Scudetto. To be honest, I still can’t believe it! I’m incredibly happy and lucky. I had a great squad at my disposal and there was always respect between players. The best moment was the derby, as that was the right time to break away from Inter. It’s just a shame we’re not in Milan right now.”
Three days later, Milan were to face Palermo in the Coppa Italia. Milan lost the tie and were ousted, thus ending the dream of a double.
The disappointment was however overshadowed when Milan were awarded the Scudetto after their final home match against Cagliari. The title was their first since 2004 and marked the end of Inter’s dominance in the Serie A. By winning the title in his first season with the Rossoneri Allegri joined a select group including Arrigo Sacchi, Fabio Capello and Alberto Zaccheroni.
Praises came flowing from everywhere. But the one which was the most special came from Carlo Ancelotti, the last manager to guide Milan to a Scudetto before Allegri. “Massimiliano had clear ideas, he made the most of [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic in the early part of the season and exploited the experience of senior players towards the end. His management was excellent. He made the most of [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic in the early part of the season and exploited the experience of senior players towards the end. His management was excellent.”
Not one to sit back and relax, Allegri has already begun plotting for the next season. The manager has already acquired the signature of stalwarts Seedrof, Ambrosini, Van Bommel and Nesta on the contract extension. The signings of Mexes, Taiwo and Stephan El Shaarawy have already been confirmed and it’s a well known fact that Milan are in the market for a playmaker/left midfielder to replace Pirlo, who left the club on a free transfer to join Juventus.
5 matches that defined AC Milan’s season:
1. Bari 2-3 Milan
Allegri decided to alter the traditional 4-3-3 and went with a 4-3-1-2. The starting line-up that day was: Abbiati; Abate, Nesta, Yepes (T.Silva was out injured), Zambrotta; Ambrosini, Gattuso, Flamini; Seedorf; Ibrahimovic, Robinho. Three pure defensive midfielders were used. Milan maintained this shape for the rest of the season with great success.
2. Milan 3-1 Palermo
It was in this match that Milan clinched the very important 3 points to go on top of the league table. Allegri knew the importance of that match, claiming in his pre-match conference that it was Milan’s most important match of the season, and so it proved to be. The only downside of that match was the injury of Inzaghi and the injury of Pato just before the derby.
3. Inter 0-1 Milan
A hard fought victory against the rivals, away from home. Milan took the lead in the 5th minute, with Ibrahimovic scoring from the spot. Despite Abate getting sent off on the hour mark, Milan defended their lead throughout the match and emerged victorious.
4. Milan 3 – 0 Napoli
Milan were facing one of their competitors for the title and knew that it was bound to be a tough match. Yet, despite the great team Mazzarri has made Napoli into, Milan’s Trio (Ibra, Boateng, Pato) proved to be too good for Napoli’s defense as they scored one each. This win gave Milan the confidence and the lead needed to eventually win the Scudetto.
5. Milan 3 – 0 Inter
Pre-match, no one thought that Milan would have it as easy as they did against their arch rivals. Everyone expected a very tough encounter (with the absence of Ibrahimovic), but a very very early Pato goal gave Milan the boost to maintain their lead, control the game, and eventually score two more to leave Inter happy they didn’t concede more.
Allegri’s Quote of the season:
“Every now and then he (Mourinho) is pathetic. He continuously repeats the same things and it becomes banal. I think he is very talented but his arrogance hides insecurity.”
The future of Milan is indeed bright under Allegri.
Also read #9 and #10 in the Sportskeeda Managers’ Series.
