Massimiliano Allegri's failure at AC Milan sums up Italian 'reheated soup' warning

[p]The phrase is widely used in Italian football to describe a club bringing back ‌a former coach in the hope of reviving former glories, and in Allegri's case, lightning struck twice.[/p][p]Allegri was sacked by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter/Iw7eKK25/"]‌Milan[/a] on Monday after one season in charge having failed to achieve Champions League ‌qualification, a far cry from his debut campaign at the club when he delivered the Serie A title ‌in 2011.[/p][p]The 58-year-old's patient, conservative style of play has long divided opinion, but fans ‌rarely complain when their side are winning trophies.[/p][p]When [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/juventus/C06aJvIB/"]Juventus[/a] hired Allegri in 2014 to replace [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/conte-antonio/23vSAc12/"]Antonio Conte[/a], who resigned after winning three consecutive league titles, his arrival sparked protests from the fans.[/p][p]Allegri had little trouble winning them over ‌though with five Serie A titles in five seasons, along ⁠with four Coppa Italia wins, but the failure ‌to secure the Champions League trophy despite reaching two finals, saw them part ways.[/p][p]After Allegri spent two ​years away from management, Juve came knocking again, but his only success in three seasons came in the Coppa Italia, which ironically led to his dismissal.[/p][p]Allegri was sent ​off during the Cup final against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atalanta/8C9JjMXu/"]Atalanta[/a], launching his tie in the air and opening his shirt halfway before storming down the tunnel.[/p][p]After the game, he clashed with match officials, Juventus ⁠staff and a newspaper director, and, after ​his sacking, Allegri took another year out.[/p][h2]Allegri's Milan encore falls flat[/h2][p]Allegri went back to Milan in May last year and for quite a while it appeared as if his return could spark a revival.[/p][p]They last won the Scudetto in 2022 and were then taken over by RedBird Capital Partners, ‌but the new owners have had little success.[/p][p]Their only trophy was last season's Italian Super Cup, not enough to save Sergio Conceicao's job as Milan finished eighth in the league and out of Europe.[/p][p]That was seen as a major advantage for Allegri, with no European football to contend with, and Milan quickly emerged as serious title challengers.[/p][p]After an inauspicious start, a 2-1 home loss to promoted [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cremonese/KUzfp5N3/"]Cremonese[/a], Allegri's side went on an unbeaten run of 24 league games, keeping pace in a tight battle at the top, until Inter Milan took charge.[/p][p]Milan's first defeat since the opening day came in February, but was soon followed by a derby win over Inter. ‌Then came Milan's late-season collapse, winning just three of their final 10 games and losing six.[/p][image alt="AC Milan missed out on top four" id="75c2c4ee-766a-45a0-894e-04c8b8c05bfb" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="a138d32a-0d4e-4252-bfa3-dd3c0505105a" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]They ​did, however, still have Champions League football within their grasp going into the last ‌day of the season.[/p][p]Instead, Allegri's campaign ended as it began, a 2-1 home defeat, this time by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cagliari/SCGVmKHb/"]Cagliari[/a], except there was no room for recovery.[/p][p]Former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bournemouth/OtpNdwrc/"]Bournemouth[/a] manager Andoni Iraola is the early favourite to replace Allegri, and the Spaniard's high-intensity football would be a welcome respite for Milan fans.[/p][p]Allegri's brand of football, playing mainly to avoid defeat rather than ⁠to win, can only survive when success ⁠follows.[/p][p]According to media reports, his next job ‌could take him to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/napoli/69Dxbc61/"]Napoli[/a], with Conte having left, or Italy's national team.[/p]