Vincenzo Montella has been sacked by AC Milan following their poor start to the season.
Milan swiftly moved to replace Montella as head coach, promoting club legend Gennaro Gattuso from the youth set-up to take charge of the first team.
The San Siro club are a disappointing seventh in the Serie A table - a whopping 18 points behind leaders Napoli - despite their new Chinese owners spending big in the summer, notably on Leonardo Bonucci and Andre Silva.
Montella's last game in charge was a toothless draw at home against Torino.
A club statement released on Twitter account read: '#ACMilan announce to have parted ways with @VMontella. Management of the first team is entrusted to Gennaro Gattuso, who leaves his position as Primavera coach and to whom we wish the best of luck.'
Gattuso was a key part of one of Milan's greatest ever teams, providing the muscle in midfield alongside the more gifted Clarence Seedorf and Andrea Pirlo as they won the Champions League in 2003 and 2007, as well as losing the final to Liverpool in 2005.
'The Pitbull' played for Milan between 1999 and 2013, also winning two Serie A titles.
He will need to pick up a Milan side that have won just twice in their last nine league matches - Sunday's result was the fourth successive home league game without a goal, a dreadful return on the £160million spent on 10 new players in the summer.
ust six wins in Serie A have cost Montella his job as his impressive start to the campaign, winning 10 of the first 12 matches in all competitions, faded quickly.
Milan have already qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League with a match to spare but their dwindling domestic form has been a concern for some time.
Gattuso's coaching career has made a promising start - he has guided the club's Primavera side to third in their table, just two behind leaders Atalanta and behind city rivals Inter on goal difference only, having won six of their last eight matches.
Montella released a statement on social media, admitting he had 'obviously failed' in his 17 months at the club.
'I tried and tried to give myself to this company but I accept the decision taken,' he said. 'I want to thank the players and the fans for the wonderful moments we have spent together hoping that Milan will rise up. I obviously failed but I will continue to support these colors.#Thanks #ForzaMilan'
Daily Mail
