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’s only head coaching experience came last season when he led Milan, but the run ended abruptly when the Brazilian clashed with club owner and Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi. He becomes the fifth coach to make the move from AC Milan to Inter, following Giuseppe Bigogno, Giovanni Trapattoni, Ilario Castagner and Alberto Zaccheroni.