- Oliver Glasner linked with AC Milan after Crystal Palace exit
- Former Real Madrid manager also now in contention
- Serie A giants are doing due diligence
Doubts are growing over AC Milan appointing former Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner as their new manager. The Austrian seemed to be the Serie A giants’ top candidate last week.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Glasner remains in pole position to land the job, but Milan owner Gerry Cardinale is sounding out other options. That includes former Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa, who left the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season.
Arbeloa took charge of Madrid in January, replacing Xabi Alonso as caretaker manager. The Spaniard endured a topsy-turvy tenure, which led to him parting ways trophyless.
Glasner now rivalled by Arbeloa
Arbeloa is the latest name linked with the Milan vacancy and poses competition for Glasner. The Italians also have former Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim and Al-Ahli’s Matthias Jaissle on their radar.
Glasner therefore has three tacticians rivalling him for the San Siro hotseat. The Austrian is the frontrunner and it’s thought that he has a provisional two-year contract offer on the table.
Palace fans will likely be keen to see their most successful manager land such a high-profile role. But there is plenty of work to do after the Rossoneri finished fifth in Serie A, missing out on Champions League qualification.
A managerial race
Arbeloa’s brief spell at Madrid allowed him to coach one of Europe’s top clubs and, in the process, garner plenty of attention. The former Liverpool defender has admirers in Milan as well as in the Premier League.
The Athletic reports that Fulham have held talks with Arbeloa about succeeding Marco Silva. The Portuguese tactician has left Craven Cottage and replaced Jose Mourinho at Benfica.
Ironically, Mourinho has returned to Madrid to take the permanent managerial job that wasn’t offered to Arbeloa. A managerial merry-go-round has ensued, and it’s left Glasner still waiting to see if he’ll be installed by the Rossoneri.
