Vincenzo Montella has begun work as coach of AC Milan, admitting the club's history is a source of motivation as he looks to emulate some of their greatest coaches.
Montella steps into the shoes of some of Italian football's most renowned coaches, with expectations high that he can be the man to bring success back to the Rossoneri following three disappointing seasons.
His first day at the office "started at 6.30 a.m.", as the former Catania, Roma, Fiorentina and Sampdoria coach explained, and finished with a visit to the club's Milanello training facilities, where the magnitude of his new role ultimately hit the 42-year-old.
"It brought back memories," he told Sportitalia. "Like the memory of [Marco] Van Basten [former Milan player] -- the photo of his shirt moved me."
Montella also saw the club's coaching hall of fame and expressed his admiration for some of the names he will be looking to emulate in the coming years.
"Of all the old Rossoneri coaches, I would have to say [Arrigo] Sacchi is the one I look up to the most," Montella said. "For what he did in a historic moment [as the last manager to win the Champion's League in two successive seasons] and for the innovation he brought.
"I also admired and still do admire a lot [Carlo] Ancelotti. He is a complete coach. And then there is Capello, who I also admire a lot. I look up to everybody while at the same time nobody -- that's because I think a coach should be himself and learn from his own experiences.
"I became a coach because of the curiosity I had in the job, and then the passion took a hold. Each day, that passion increases."
Montella has signed a two-year contract with Milan, who have failed to qualify for Europe in each of the past three seasons, with Clarence Seedorf, Filippo Inzaghi, Sinisa Mihajlovic and Cristian Brocchi all trying and failing since Maximilian Allegri last guided the club to success with the Scudetto in 2011.