Let me begin by saying this feels as bad as or worse than if
someone I loved died. Mainly because my hopes for Milan and for finally
rebuilding after almost four years have literally died. But not just selfishly,
because I am also mourning the fact that Mihajlović did not get the chance to finish
what he started. And that the team, who have made so much progress this season,
have lost a mentor and father figure. But my emotions are not only sorrow
and anger. I also have a deep sense of gratitude to a man who turned
rivals into friends and skeptics into believers in less than ten months. Grazie, Miha.
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| Ciao, Mister. Thanks for everything. |
There is something
about Mihajlović that tugged at my heart strings right away. And no, it
wasn’t just because he kicked Mexes in the behind after he scored that insane
goal in the friendly last summer. Although that was all kinds of awesome. Mihajlović
has a personality that is larger than life, but also a heart of gold. And a
great sense of humor. He is the perfect mix of drill sergeant, man, and father-type
that makes it obvious why our team grew so much mentally this season. In
essence, he was the perfect coach for Milan at the perfect time… for everyone
but Mr. Orange Faced Politician Man.
This coaching change marks the fifth coach in just over two
years at Milan, which says more about Mr. Bad Dye Job Helicopter Man than Mihajlović.
To look at the results alone, it might seem that Mihajlović didn’t do much
better than his predecessors. But if you watched the games, you’ll know he
actually did. Of all of the recent coaches who claimed we would play attacking
football, Mihajlović actually got the team to play attacking football. He
improved so many things, actually. We have scored the most corners of
anyone in Serie A this year because he specifically worked on that. Discipline
is clearly better, and he’s truly united the team.
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| He knew just what Mexes needed most, right from the beginning |
But something he did that I don’t think anyone else would
have the balls to do was to start a 16 year-old keeper called Donnarumma in
goal ahead of two much more experienced keepers. And look what he discovered.
No matter what, Gigio will always remember the coach who put him in with the
men. And he gave all of us the wonder that is the Boy Wonder™. His faith in
Romagnoli has also been a gift that has kept on giving. And while fans always
want to see more youth, Mihajlović was very fair and tried to keep balance on
the team. He’s always said that the best players at each position will start,
and for the most part I think that has been true.
His ‘bad boy’ ways have matured a bit, instead of kicking
opponents, he now kicks water bottles. And now, instead of cursing out the ref
to be sent off, he waits until he is being sent off to unleash the tongue. But
he’s also a softie, having taken the entire team and coaching staff out to nice
dinners not once, not twice, but three different times during his tenure at
Milan. Each time to say thank you for a job well done. I have to say that
knowing what I knew about him a year ago, I never would have guessed he would
have done that. Yet now, I look at him totally differently, and it makes
perfect sense. He has more Milan class than those clowns running this circus,
and he never even played for the club. The biggest irony was that it was his
brilliance that shielded us from the douchebaggery of Mr. Megolomaniac Bunga
Bunga Man, but no one could shield him from that axe.
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| The family man sacked while on vacation with his family... really Mr. "I'm Busy Updating My Dog's Website?" |
The saddest thing for me is that Mr. “I Was the Prime
Minister Listen to Me” called him while he was on vacation in Rome with his
family. That’s right, he’s a devout family man, with a wife and five children.
I hope the water bottles at their hotel are okay. And now he has an extended
vacation, a paid vacation at that. But I’m going to guess that he will not be
happy sitting around the house doing chores. If there’s one thing I learned
about Mihajlović this year, it’s that he puts his whole heart into everything,
and it’s going to be hard to watch some completely inexperienced ‘yes man’
trying to do his job. I think it will probably also be very emotional for him
watching our players play and not being there to give them a giant hug or a
kick in the behind, whatever they need at that moment. I know that’s going to
be emotional for me.
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| He even got everyone to pay attention... well except for Mexes and Niang, but almost everyone |
All of these things make me so very sad. And angry. And sad
again. I am in mourning for Milan’s loss of a great leader and a great man, at
the same time knowing that we will likely see that man on the winning side of
an opposition team next season. I can tell you now that it will be very
emotional, at least for a while. Mihajlović has been more than a coach for me,
he has restored my belief in football and in coaches. But he has also been an
exemplary role model for my own kids and kids everywhere. He is a tremendous
human being, and leaves a tremendous, gaping hole in my heart. Not to mention that
we all know Milan are going to suck really hard without him. But for the
lessons in football and in life, I am forever indebted to him for this magical
year with Siniša Mihajlović. Grazie, Miha.
This post inspired by the tears of a
thousand unicorns mixed with the belief of every fairy on earth
Our next Year Zero match is
Sampdoria vs. Milan
Sunday, April 17 • 20:45 (2:45pm EDT)