Milan coach Giampaolo set for the ax

AC Milan is set to sack coach Marco Giampaolo after a dreadful start to the season, according to multiple reports in Italy yesterday.

The former European giant is 13th in Serie A — three points above the relegation zone.

Giampaolo, 52, replaced Gennaro Gattuso during the summer, but the former Sampdoria boss has suffered four defeats in his first seven games, including a 0-2 loss to city rival Inter.

Milan went on to lose its next two matches against Torino and Fiorentina before last weekend’s 2-1 victory at Genoa.

Former Inter coach Luciano Spalletti is the 18-time Italian champion’s first choice to replace Giampaolo, according to Gazzetto Dello Sport and Sky Sport.

However, the 60-year-old has not been able to agree severance terms with Inter, which he guided back to the UEFA Champions League the past two seasons, and remains under contract until 2021, despite being replaced by Antonio Conte.

Former Inter and Fiorentina coach Stefano Pioli is now reported to be the favorite to take over the former seventime European champion, which won its last title in Serie A in 2011.

Pioli previously coached Inter during the 2016-17 campaign and has reportedly been in the running to take over at struggling Genoa.

Former AS Roma and Marseille manager Rudi Garcia has also been touted among the possible candidates.

Milan finished fifth last season but lost its Europa League berth after accepting a European ban for breaching financial fair play rules.

Giampaolo’s former club Sampdoria, meanwhile, has parted ways with Eusebio Di Francesco after losing six of its first seven Serie A matches of the season.

Sampdoria said on its website on Monday that the decision was made by mutual consent.

Sampdoria is in last place in Serie A with just three points. Club president Massimo Ferrero said after Saturday’s 0-2 loss at Hellas Verona that he would meet with Di Francesco on Sunday before making a decision on his future.

Sampdoria did not immediately announce a new coach, but Italian media reported that Giuseppe Iachini is the favorite to replace the ex-Roma boss.

(Agencies)