AC Milan begins new era under Allegri

AC Milan is still searching for its identity after Carlo Ancelotti's departure to Chelsea, and club president Silvio Berlusconi believes he has found a solution in new manager Massimiliano Allegri.

''We got him because he's a maestro,'' said Berlusconi, who is also Italy's premier.

Allegri won Italy's coach of the year award the past two years with unfancied Serie A side Cagliari. At 42, this marks the first time he is coaching a major European club, seven years after beginning his career in Italy's fourth division.

That is a sharp contrast from Leonardo, the former Milan player who coached the club last season in his managerial debut - following Ancelotti's eight-year reign.

''Apart from some lucky people who start at the top, usually you have to work your way up from the bottom,'' Allegri said. ''I consider myself lucky because I started from C2. A lot of coaches don't get a chance like this.''

Leonardo left by mutual agreement after last season following a series of disagreements with Berlusconi. Slowed by numerous injuries, the Rossoneri finished third, 12 points behind city rival Inter Milan, which won its fifth consecutive title.

Still, third was good enough to qualify Milan directly into the Champions League group phase.

With players like Alexandre Pato, Ronaldinho and Marco Borriello, Milan's attack possesses plenty of potential. All three forwards were left off their country's World Cup squads and appear motivated as a result.

Milan did not lose any standout players in the current transfer window, and has acquired four who could each make contributions - goalkeeper Marco Amelia, defenders Mario Yepes and Sokratis Papastathopoulos, and midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng.

Boateng, who acquired a reputation as a rough player after his tackle on Michael Ballack ruled the Germany captain out of the World Cup, has created the most excitement. Milan acquired Boateng in a loan deal from Genoa, where he had just transferred from English second-tier club Portsmouth.

Milan is also hoping to see more of United States defender Oguchi Onyewu, who missed nearly all of last season after tearing his left patellar tendon.

Midfielder Andrea Pirlo missed most of Italy's short World Cup run with a left calf injury and is still regaining his form. Gennaro Gattuso contemplated leaving Milan during the offseason, but then decided to stay with Allegri, who he played with at Perugia way back in 1996-97.

While Allegri can look to that common bond with Gattuso, he will have to get accustomed to Berlusconi, who showed up at the opening of preseason training and reiterated his preference for two strikers at all times, saying that is what pleases the fans.

''I like Berlusconi because he's very direct,'' Allegri said. ''At Cagliari I played with two forwards, a playmaker and an offensive winger - sometimes two wingers. If the players are available, there are endless possibilities.''