AC Milan concluded the 2024-25 season with immense disappointment, having failed to secure qualification for any European competition for the upcoming season. Their inability to finish in the top six of Serie A, following a 3-1 defeat to AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, meant they missed out on spots in UEFA tournaments via the league standings. Adding to their woes, the Rossoneri were also defeated 1-0 by Bologna in the Coppa Italia final on May 14, denying them a route into the 2025-26 UEFA Europa League.
This season proved particularly challenging for the club, owned by the RedBird group led by American businessman Gerry Cardinale. Questions arose regarding decisions made in the summer of 2024, notably the appointment of former Lille coach Paulo Fonseca by CEO Giorgio Furlani and advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic, especially when contrasting it with Antonio Conte`s successful move towards potentially leading Napoli to a Serie A title. After a weak start to the campaign, Milan opted to sack Fonseca on December 29, bringing in former FC Porto manager Sergio Conceicao as his replacement. Although Conceicao`s tenure saw the team secure the Supercoppa Italiana after a thrilling comeback against Inter, this proved to be the solitary high point.
Beyond their league struggles, AC Milan also faced an early exit from European competition, being knocked out by Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League playoffs before the main knockout rounds. While Conceicao`s side did enjoy a brief period of success by winning the Coppa Italia semifinal second leg 3-0 against city rivals Inter, their subsequent loss to Bologna in the final in Rome sealed their fate regarding Europa League qualification.
With the club still in the process of identifying a sporting director set to take charge from the summer of 2025, Sergio Conceicao is widely expected to depart in the coming days. His anticipated exit underscores the turbulent nature of the 2024-25 season, during which AC Milan changed managers twice within a period of less than eleven months, a clear indicator of the deep-seated disappointment experienced by the club.
