AC Milan Women and Maurizio Ganz have, finally, parted ways. The 55-year-old coach had appeared untouchable in his position as Rossonere boss, but his consistently falling short of expectations has seen the club take action after Matchday 8 of the 2023/24 Serie A Femminile season.
Despite going ahead early at home to Sampdoria over the weekend, Milan let their lead slip and only managed to take a point from another game against a relegation-threatened side. That latest disappointment proved to be the final straw for Ganz‘s time at the club. Milan had also led early at home to Sassuolo on Matchday 7 but were immediately pegged back and fortunate to hold on for a point against the Emilians.
The Rossonere have just two wins to their name this season – those coming against bottom-placed and still-pointless Napoli Femminile on Matchday 2, in fortunate fashion, and against second-from-bottom Pomigliano on October 22.
AC Milan Women sack Maurizio Ganz
AC Milan confirmed that Maurizio Ganz had been removed from his position at the club on November 20, 2023.
“AC Milan announces that Maurizio Ganz has been relieved of his duties as coach of the women’s first team,” the club’s statement read.
“We would like to thank Maurizio for the work he has carried out in these near five seasons together, for his commitment, and his professionalism.
“The management of the team is now entrusted to Davide Corti, who leaves his position as coach of the women’s Primavera side, and to whom the club wishes the very best of luck in his new role.”
Maurizio Ganz at AC Milan Women: A complete disaster?
Maurizio Ganz had a very good playing career, even playing at both AC Milan and Inter before hanging up his boots in 2007. But his coaching career has left a lot to be desired.
His suitability for the role as coach of AC Milan Women boss was questionable upon his appointment in 2019, but the growth of women’s football in Europe and Italy left Ganz looking increasingly out of his depth as time passed.
The 2020/21 season was undeniably Ganz‘s best as AC Milan coach, securing runners-up finishes in both Serie A Femminile and the Coppa Italia Femminile. Juventus won the league that season, while AS Roma edged the Rossonere on penalties in the Coppa Italia final.
Since then, Ganz‘s tenure has been plagued by disappointment after disappointment, and high-profile cases of apparent fallings out with important first-team players, most notably Veronica Boquete and captain Valentina Giacinti. Both left the club.
Boquete is currently with Fiorentina, who beat Milan 1-0 on November 4, while Giacinti departed for Roma and played a huge role in the Giallorosse winning their first-ever Serie A Femminile title in 2022/23.
Giacinti and Boquete react to Ganz’s AC Milan sacking
Both Valentina Giacinti and Veronica Boquete appeared to react to the news of their former coach’s sacking by taking to social media.
Boquete posted a meme of a young child dancing along with the caption: “Praise Jesus, Hallelujah!”, while Giacinti posted a photo of herself celebrating a goal with Roma and captioned it “A jump of joy”.
