Stefano Pioli ended his tenure as Milan head coach with a 3-3 draw against Salernitana, marking the end of an era at the club. Following the final whistle, Pioli was honored at San Siro, alongside Olivier Giroud and Simon Kjaer, in a heartfelt farewell that included chants, teary eyes, and fond memories of winning the Scudetto.
Speaking after the match, Pioli saluted the crowd and thanked them for their support over the years:
“I believe tonight is a night for gratitude,” Pioli began his speech at midfield, addressing the Milan faithful. “I want to start by thanking the people who brought me here and supported me, giving me the opportunity to coach such a fantastic club. I thank the ownership, the employees at Casa Milan and Milanello, my staff who did an incredible job, and the players—you are special. Finally, I thank all you fans. There have been so many of you, giving us energy that we tried to reflect on the field.”
As Pioli spoke, the crowd at the curva sud erupted into chants of “Pioli is on fire,” prompting the players to rush to midfield and embrace their coach. “We have lost and suffered together. We have won and rejoiced together. The emotions we have experienced will stay with us forever. You have ignited a fire in my heart, and it will always burn. I will never forget you. Thank you.”
Later, speaking to Dazn, Pioli reflected on the journey and his future:
“A normal group in a difficult situation would have turned their backs on the coach, but my guys are special. I can only be proud to have been part of this journey and to have made history with such a prestigious club. I demand a lot from myself and know what to expect from a club and the players. I want to try to do something special again, to find the people I found here. I feel ambitious enough to say that I want to try to do something special like I did with Milan.”
Regarding his future, Pioli added, “I need to find something that will stimulate me. In the next ten days, I will know more. I don’t feel tired; in fact, I’m even studying English.”
