Word on the street suggested former AC Milan star Clarence Seedorf is set to take over as the new manager of AC Milan.
The man himself has now confirmed it.
On Tuesday Seedorf said he will take over as the new coach at Milan, replacing Massimiliano Allegri who was fired the day before following yet another defeat for the struggling Serie A side.
Seedorf made the announcement at his current club Botafogo as the Dutchman calls an end to his illustrious playing career.
“The next step for me is as the coach of Milan,” Seedorf told reporters. “The decision was made during the day, but the evening was difficult. I told my daughters at dinner, and it was relaxed. There were no cons. There are no cons. There are only pros at this moment.”
The 37-year-old Dutchman won the Champions League twice with AC Milan, and also won Europe’s top club title with Ajax and Real Madrid. He is expected to arrive on Thursday in Italy to sign the contract, as Milan turn to one of its greats to dig them out of a deep hole.
Struggling would be an understatement for how AC have fared this season, with their latest defeat coming on Sunday after they squandered a two-goal lead against minnows Sassuolo to lose 4-3. The club is 11th in the standings and only six points clear of the relegation zone however they are still in the UEFA Champions League and face Atletico Madrid in the last 16.
Seedorf has never had an official coaching role and is likely to lean heavily on the support staff already at Milan to start with.
Speaking about the end to his playing days, Seedorf was sad but is looking forward to the many challenges ahead as a manager.
“Unfortunately, the life of a player is not forever,” Seedorf said. “The most difficult thing is always adjusting. Here and there, people and cultures are different; the cultures of the football, of the clubs.”