DUTCH veteran Clarence Seedorf confirmed on Tuesday he is taking over as coach
of AC Milan, replacing Massimiliano Allegri.
The seven-times European champions sacked Allegri after a
shock weekend loss to Sassuolo and have turned to Seedorf, who won a host of
honours in Milan
as a player.
Seedorf, 37 and the first man to win the Champions League
with three different clubs after stellar spells with Ajax,
Real Madrid and Milan,
has spent the past 18 months with Rio-based Botafogo.
But he said now was the time to take up a new challenge -
and hang up his boots.
"I am going to stop playing after 22 years. It was a
difficult night - but I am satisfied with what I have achieved in my
career," said Seedorf, who will return to Italy on a two-and-a-half year
deal.
"This experience of a year and a half (with Botafogo) helped
me grow and will help me in the next stage of my life - as coach of Milan," Seedorf told reporters in Rio.
"When the chairman asked me, I couldn't say no,"
said Seedorf, who said he made up his mind Monday but pondered overnight the
wrench of retiring from playing - a sensation which brought a
"flashback" of his career. Seedorf said now was not the time to talk
about how he would instruct Milan
to play but did reject any idea he would find the transition from pitch to
dugout difficult.
"Being in charge of former teammates won't cause a
problem - on the contrary, I know them," he said.
"I am very happy to have this dream chance to go
back," he added. As a player for the Rossoneri at the San Siro, Seedorf
was a figurehead, making more than 400 appearances and winning the Serie A
title twice as well as a pair of Champions League crowns.
The Surinam-born star had his first taste of European glory
with Ajax in 1995, a second success with Real
Madrid three years later and he then won club football's top prize with Milan in 2003 and 2007.
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