The management of Italy’s AC Milan have officially sacked Marco Giampaolo as coach. The club is reportedly expected to replace him with former Fiorentina and Inter Milan gaffer, Stefano Pioli.

After four defeats in the opening seven rounds of the 2019/2020 ltalian Serie A season and deeply unconvincing wins over Brescia, Hellas Verona and Genoa, the AC Milan management were not convinced enough to keep Giampaolo in the role.

“AC Milan announce that Marco Giampaolo has been removed from the post of first team Coach. The club wishes to thank Marco for the work done and wish him all the best in his professional career,” a statement on the club’s website read.

Giampaolo only replaced Gennaro Gattuso in the Rossoneri’s hotseat over the summer, having spent the past three seasons establishing Sampdoria as a formidable Serie A outfit.

However, four defeats in his first seven League games was exacerbated by poor performances and a lack of supporter confidence. Giampaolo also came under fire for scrapping his famed 4-3-1-2 formation after just one match.

The club hoped to bring in Luciano Spalletti as Giampaolo’s replacement but Inter Milan were unable to agree a severance package with the coach.

As a result, Milan have settled for Pioli, who is likely to put pen to paper on a one-year contract with the option of a second year.

Poli is widely considered as an underwhelming choice for the role, given that he failed with Inter and has not won any senior silverware in his 16 years as a coach.