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AC Milan have dismissed head coach Massimiliano Allegri after a disappointing season that ended without qualification for the Champions League. Club leadership described the campaign as an "unequivocal failure" following a dramatic collapse in form during the final weeks of the season.
Milan entered the closing stages of the campaign in a strong position but saw their hopes of securing a place in Europe's top club competition disappear after a 2-1 defeat to Cagliari on the final day of the Serie A season. The result caused the team to drop from third to fifth place in the standings, marking a second consecutive year without Champions League football.
Italy's representatives in next season's competition will be Inter Milan, Napoli, Roma and Como, who secured qualification for the first time in the club's history. Milan and Juventus will instead compete in the Europa League.
In a statement, club owners RedBird Capital reflected on the disappointing finish to the campaign. The ownership group explained that Milan had spent much of the season among Serie A's top teams and had looked capable of mounting a serious challenge for the league title.
However, they stated that performances during the final stretch fell well below expectations and ultimately changed the perception of the entire season.
The statement also indicated that significant changes are now planned across the club's football operations.
Allegri, 58, had returned to Milan for a second spell in charge in May of last year, replacing Sergio Conceicao. His first period at the club lasted from 2010 to 2014 and included Serie A success during the 2010-11 season, followed by victory in the Italian Super Cup.
Milan struggled badly toward the end of the campaign, losing seven of their final 14 matches while city rivals Inter secured their second league title in three seasons.
The club has also confirmed the departures of chief executive Giorgio Furlani, sporting director Igli Tare and technical director Geoffrey Moncada as part of a broader restructuring effort.
