Clarence Seedorf Named AC Milan Head Coach After Retiring As Player

MILAN — Clarence Seedorf signed a 2 1/2-year contract with AC Milan on Thursday and immediately went to the practice facility to meet the players.

Seedorf landed in Milan on Wednesday to replace Massimiliano Allegri, who was fired following a 4-3 loss at newly promoted Sassuolo on Sunday.

Seedorf was contracted to June 30, 2016, Milan said in a statement.

At the practice facility, the first player to greet him was former teammate Daniele Bonera.

The 37-year-old Seedorf spent 10 years as a player with Milan, helping the team win a number of trophies, including two UEFA Champions League titles and two Serie A (Italy’s first division) titles.

“You can’t say I’ve returned, because I never left,” Seedorf said. “It’s very important for me to see all this enthusiasm. We have a lot to do to take Milan back to the top.

“At the moment there’s a lot of emotion and a sense of duty. I have to give 100 percent to rebuild and give enthusiasm to the squad. We can try to do important things for the fans. I left Milan in May 2012 at the end of a cycle. My job is to open another one.”

Seedorf also won the Champions League with Ajax and Real Madrid.

Not only does Seedorf become the first Dutch coach in Serie A, but he is also only the third black coach after Jarbas Faustinho, who was in charge of Napoli in 1994, and Fabio Liverani, who managed Genoa for seven games this season.

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