Gennaro Gattuso has stepped down as manager of AC Milan.
The 41-year-old spent less than two seasons at Rangers between 1997 and 1998, but was a hit with the Ibrox faithful nonetheless.
A passionate and tough tackling midfielder, he went on to win multiple Champions Leagues and Serie A titles with Milan, after leaving Glasgow.
He retired from the game in 2013 but immediately threw himself into coaching.
With his old side struggling to recapture former glories, he was appointed as manager of the Rossoneri in 2017.
After a strong start in the coveted role, he earned a contract extension until 2021 [Reuters]. However, as it turns out, he won’t even make it until 2020.
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“Deciding to leave Milan’s bench is not easy,” explained Gattuso, as quoted by the Daily Record. “But it’s a decision I had to make.”
“There was not a precise moment in which I made it, it was the sum of these 18 months as coach of a team that for me will never be like the others. Months that I lived with great passion, unforgettable months.
“Mine is a painful but thoughtful choice. Am I giving up a two-year contract? Yes, because my story with Milan can never be a question of money.
“During this time, I haven’t slept much and mentally, I’m in pieces. Because of my past, I feel great responsibility in coaching this club.”
Milan finished a whopping 22 points behind Serie A winners Juventus.
However, they still came agonisingly close to Champions League qualification, ending up just a point behind surprise package Atalanta and fiercest rivals Inter.
