Milan Futuro, the reserve team of Serie A club AC Milan, have appointed Sergio Navarro as their new manager, the club confirmed on Wednesday. The 46-year-old Spaniard arrives with a strong reputation for youth development, most notably stemming from his time at Athletic Bilbao. Navarro’s appointment follows the departure of previous manager Oddo and signals a renewed focus on nurturing young talent within the Milan system.
Navarro’s career has spanned multiple countries and roles, including spells in Russia, Ukraine, and Hungary with clubs such as Rubin Kazan, Debrecen, and Karpaty Lviv. However, his most significant role to date was as Academy Manager at Athletic Bilbao’s renowned Lezama academy, where he worked closely with brothers Nico and Iñaki Williams during their formative years. He also previously held a methodological leadership position at Villarreal, defining a unified playing identity across all youth teams.
According to Milan Futuro director Kirovski, Navarro’s profile was ideal for the project, representing a blend of professional experience and a dedicated focus on youth development within a top European context. The club has emphasized that results are secondary to the growth of players like Bartesaghi, Camarda, and Jimenez, aiming to build a pathway to the first team.
The appointment comes as Milan reaffirms its commitment to Milan Futuro, despite the team’s recent relegation to Serie D. Kirovski and Vergine, the head of Milan’s youth sector, are working to correct past mistakes and establish a clear direction for the project. The club is drawing inspiration from the reserve teams of Barcelona and Bayern Munich, which prioritize player development over immediate success, even while competing in lower divisions. The aim is for Milan Futuro to become a genuine bridge between youth football and the AC Milan first team, rather than simply a transitional step.
