AC Milan's new boss could be Austrian Oliver Glasner. According to news confirmed by La Gazzetta dello Sport and Football Italia, the Rossoneri will sit at the table for a historic meeting with Glasner on Monday-Tuesday next week for the empty head coach position after Allegri. Following Andoni Iraola's preference for Crystal Palace for family reasons and Premier League comfort, rejecting Milan, the Austrian who has become San Siro's strongest candidate is a manager who just three days ago lifted the UEFA Conference League trophy with Crystal Palace and said farewell; at 51 years old, he is one of the rare profiles who has lifted three different European trophies at three different clubs.
Behind Milan's turn to Glasner are three fundamental and interconnected dynamics. First, the club closed the 2025-26 Serie A season without securing a Champions League ticket; this means such a failure for about the second time in 50 years. Allegri's passive and predictable understanding of the game, the incompatibility of Rafael Leao with Christian Pulisic, and the fiasco of Niclas Füllkrug brought from West Ham became the symbol of the season. Second, owner Gerry Cardinale and advisor position Zlatan Ibrahimovic carried out a major clearout as soon as the season ended, parting ways at once with four top-level names: Allegri (head coach), Igli Tare (sporting director), Geoffrey Moncada (technical director), and Giorgio Furlani (CEO). Third and perhaps most critical, Ralf Rangnick, targeted for the sporting directorship, wants to be decisive in the head coach preference if he accepts the Milan offer — and Glasner is one of the most capable "pupils" Rangnick worked with at RB Salzburg in 2012.
Glasner's career story fully meets the profile Milan is pinning hopes on. The 1974-born Austrian former player shone as captain for 12 seasons in his country with the SV Ried jersey during his playing years. He began coaching at SV Ried in 2015, then drew attention by gaining promotion and second place in the Austrian Bundesliga with LASK Linz. In 2019, he took over the management of VfL Wolfsburg in the German Bundesliga and carried the team to 4th place, pocketing a Champions League ticket. He made his real explosion at Eintracht Frankfurt: in three seasons between 2021-2024, he reached legendary manager status in Germany by winning the 2022 UEFA Europa League (defeating Rangers on penalties in the final). One year later, he also had the opportunity to lift the same cup in the UEFA Super Cup final against Real Madrid — he lost, but the cup's quality was indisputable.
The two-year adventure at Crystal Palace transformed Glasner into one of Europe's most sought-after managers. The Austrian, who came to the club in February 2024, carried the team from 11th place to top-half in his first season. The second season was legendary: he brought Crystal Palace its first-ever European trophy by winning the 2025 FA Cup against Manchester City, then lifting the 2025 Community Shield and the Conference League in May 2026 by beating Rayo Vallecano 1-0 (with Jean-Philippe Mateta's goal). Despite finishing 15th in the Premier League, he entered the rare ranks of managers who lifted three cups. Steve Parish described him as "the greatest manager in the club's history".
Tactically, Glasner is known for high-tempo pressing, vertical attacking transitions, and 3-4-3 / 3-4-2-1 formations — one of the most loyal representatives of the Rangnick school. This style contrasts with Allegri's more classical Italian style — meaning Milan are after a radical transformation. The Austrian's success in both organization and motivation is seen as a perfect match for re-energizing the San Siro stands.
Glasner's rivals are still at the table but the way is open. Matthias Jaissle (RB Salzburg) was on Milan's agenda but compensation costs are high; Xavi and Mauricio Pochettino names also came up but Rangnick's preference is Glasner. Additionally Bayer Leverkusen also made an offer to the Austrian, but Milan's size carries a different attraction. After the Monday-Tuesday meetings — particularly the meeting Cardinale-Ibrahimovic will hold with Rangnick is a precondition — official steps with Glasner could be taken.
La Gazzetta dello Sport
Tuna Başkan
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