Kolarov to become Inter assistant coach under Chivu – Football Italia

TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 09: Aleksandar Kolarov of FC Internazionale controls the ball during the Coppa Italia semi-final match between Juventus and FC Internazionale at Allianz Stadium on February 9, 2021 in Turin, Italy. Sporting stadiums around Italy remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Chris Ricco/Getty Images)

Aleksandar Kolarov is set to return to San Siro and become the new Inter assistant under recently-announced head coach Cristian Chivu, multiple outlets in Italy are reporting. 

Kolarov, who spent the final two years of his playing career with the Nerazzurri, will return to take up the assistant role under Chivu, who was appointed as the successor to Simone Inzaghi on an initial two-year contract on Monday. 

The former Lazio, Manchester City and Roma left-back took his sporting directorship qualifications at Coverciano in 2023, had a brief experience as sporting director of Pisa in 2024, before becoming the head coach of Serbia’s U21s later that year. 

This will be Kolarov’s first experience as part of a senior coaching set-up at club or international level. 

Why Inter changed head coaches 

Simone Inzaghi left his role as Inter head coach four years to the day after he was appointed, with the club confirming his decision to leave on June 3, just a few days on from the 5-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. 

The 49-year-old left the club after winning one Scudetto, two Coppa Italia titles and three in the Supercoppa Italiana. 

The 2024-25 season ended in disappointment, however, as Inter had been on course for a treble in April, only to go on and lose the Serie A title to Napoli by one point, as well as the Coppa Italia semi-final to Milan and the Champions League final to PSG. 

Meanwhile, it had been reported that Inzaghi had been offered a lucrative deal to take over as head coach of Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, an offer which he decided to accept almost immediately after the Champions League final. 

Inzaghi had one year remaining on his Nerazzurri contract at the time. 

He has since been replaced by former Nerazzurri defender Chivu, who returns to San Siro after helping Parma to Serie A safety in the second half of the 2024-25 season.