Louis van Gaal and Frank De Boer top list of candidates for potential new AC Milan managers
Former Manchester United boss linked with Rossoneri hotseat as Manuel Pellegrini is ruled out by prospective new owners
Louis van Gaal is the latest name being bandied about in the Italian media surrounding the AC Milan manager’s job.
Manuel Pellegrini was rumoured to be on the verge of the Rossoneri hotseat, but it appears the former Man City boss has failed to excite the club’s new prospective Chinese owners.
Highly-rated Sinisa Mihajlovic was hired in the summer of 2015 to restore the fallen giant to its former glory.
But a horrendous campaign saw the former Lazio and Inter player sacked as manager in April, and replaced by former star, Cristian Brocchi — but the Italian’s instalment brought about little improvement.
Seven-time European champions, Milan, finished last season in a lousy seventh place.
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And the prospective new Chinese owners are determined to bring in a big-name manager this summer.
report former Manchester United boss, Van Gaal, is one of the names on a list, headed fellow countryman, Frank de Boer.
Dutchman De Boer left his position as Ajax boss this summer after blowing the Eredivisie title to PSV Eindhoven on a dramatic final day in Holland.
The former Barcelona and Rangers star, however, had enjoyed a sensational tenure as manager.
De Boer won four league titles in a row with Ajax and is favourite for the San Siro job. Though, he appears to face stiff competition.
As well as van Gaal, former Chelsea and Tottenham manager, Andre Villas-Boas is also being considered.
Jose Mourinho’s former assistant coach left Zenit Saint Petersburg this summer after winning the Russian Cup.
Former Roma boss Rudi Garcia and under pressure Paris Saint-Germain manager, Laurent Blanc, were both initially considered by the incoming Chinese owners.
But appear to have been discarded, along with Pellegrini.
Not so long ago, Milan were Champions League heavyweights under Carlo Ancelotti — reaching the semi-final stage on four out of five occasions between 2003 and 2007.
But since the current Bayern Munich boss’ departure, they have suffered a huge fall from grace.
Milan have not qualified for the Champions League since 2013 — and even finished tenth in 2015.
A likely cash injection and possible big-name manager could see the Italian giants back on the right track.
Van Gaal was dismissed as Red Devils boss in the summer following an underwhelming two years in charge.
Despite bringing in the FA Cup — United's first major trophy since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013 — the Dutchman was shown the door after a disappointing fifth-place finish saw the Old Trafford club miss out on Champions League football for the second time in three seasons.
However, Van Gaal has an excellent track record, having managed the likes of Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and is likely to still be a big-name draw for Milan.