Football Update: Former AC Milan coach Leonardo named as new Inter Milan Manager
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan the Italian, European and Club world champions have revealed the name of the new manager. Leonardo has been named as the replacement for the recently sacked Spaniard Rafael Benitez. Leonardo put pen to paper on an 18 month contract and would
take charge of the team after the winter break is over.
Even before Benitez got the axe there was wide speculation linking the former AC Milan boss to the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Job-c18684 at Inter. Benitez’ job was as good as over after his outburst at the club world championship, where he has said to the club president that ‘back me or
sack me’. He was finally set free on Friday and within almost 24 hours, the new man has been appointed.
The 41 year old manager was in charge of the bitter city rivals AC Milan for one season in 2009/10, and is being dubbed as the man who can turn the season around for Inter Milan. His first match in charge would be on Wednesday.
Inter Milan had been linked with Leonardo for a while and as soon as Benitez was shown the door, it was almost certain that the Brazilian would be named as the new boss. The announcement finally came VIA the club website.
The statement read: "Leonardo has a contract that will bind him to Inter until 30 June 2012.”
"For Leonardo, the most sincere and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Good-Luck-c39444, we believe that he has the class and experience of a champion and his mentality will get the team together to get results."
Earlier the club president Massimo Moratti had stated that they would not reveal the name of the new manager till after Christmas, but the club decided to eventually make the announcement beforehand.
Currently Inter Milan are on 7th place in the Serie-A and are 13 points adrift of League Leaders AC Milan. Leonardo has his work cut out; it was always going to be tough to manage Inter Milan once Jose Mourinho had taken them to such heights
last season, where they conquered all. The Portuguese guided them to Seria-A title, Coppa Italia and also to the UEFA Champions’ League. Benitez was always going to find it difficult and so it proved and now Leonardo has to pick it up midway with the team
in need of a major boost.
Dragging them back up the table would not be the only task on his list, as the club has made it clear that they have made the Champions’ League also a priority. So there may be no time to rest for the new boss. January may prove to be a busy time for him,
as he looks to strengthen his squad for the challenges that lay ahead.
Inter Milan will take on Bayern Munich in February over 2 legs in the final 16 of UEFA Champions’ League. Inter beat the German club in the final of the same competition in Madrid, but a lot has changed since then and Leonardo is well aware of that.
Leonardo said that he is very pleased to have taken the Job at Inter. He said that he understands that it would not be easy to live up to the expectations of the fans and the board. However, he added that the group of players at his disposal has immense
talent and if managed properly should be able to get back to where they belong. The Brazilian who did win a world cup with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Brazil-c2858 said that he is familiar with the style of Italian football and does have few plans up his sleeve. Leonardo requested the fans
to be patient and said that in due time he would be able to turn things around for the club.
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