Inter Milan have confirmed the appointment of Leonardo as Rafael Benitez’s replacement giving the Brazilian a one-and-a-half-year contract as their new manager.
A statement on the Inter website read:
“Welcome to Leonardo. It will be the Brazilian coach to lead the team from December 29. Leonardo has a contract that will bind him to Inter until 30 June 2012. For Leonardo, the most sincere and good luck, we believe that he has the class and experience of a champion and his mentality will get the team together to get results.”
His first match as the Nerrazzuri coach will be when Inter play against second-place Napoli in the Serie A on January 6.
Leonardo becomes the fifth coach to make the move from AC Milan to Inter, following Giuseppe Bigogno, Giovanni Trapattoni, Ilario Castagner and Alberto Zaccheroni.