AC Milan have appointed Sergio Navarro Barquero as head coach of Milan Futuro, the club’s reserve team, ahead of the 2026-27 season. The 26-year-old Spaniard becomes the third person to hold the position since the side’s creation in 2024.
A Turbulent Start for Milan’s Reserve Side
Milan Futuro were established at the start of the 2024-25 campaign to bridge the gap between the academy and senior squad, competing in Serie C, the third tier of Italian football. The project has experienced significant managerial instability in its brief history, with Navarro following two predecessors in just two seasons. Daniele Bonera initially took charge but was dismissed in February 2025 as the team faced relegation from Serie C during their inaugural season. Massimo Oddo replaced him immediately and remained for the 2025-26 season, departing on 30 June.
Navarro’s Rapid Rise
Despite his youth, Navarro brings varied experience from several European clubs. The former left-back, who played in Spain’s lower divisions after coming through Villarreal’s youth system, has coached Castellón’s youth sides and worked as an assistant at Rubin Kazan and Athletic Bilbao. He has also held senior positions at Karpaty Lviv in Ukraine, Levante and, most recently, Debrecen in the Hungarian top flight.
Club Vision
Milan’s sport development director Jovan Kirovski said the appointment brings “the ideal blend of qualities.” He added that Navarro “understands the demands of professional football and focuses on developing young talent.” The club believes these attributes make him suitable to lead a project whose primary objective is to develop and maximise talent for the senior squad.
Milan Futuro serve as a crucial pathway for young players transitioning to Serie A football. Navarro’s primary task will be to stabilise the team following a turbulent first season that ended in relegation, while continuing to develop academy prospects. The appointment signals Milan’s commitment to investing in young coaching talent as they look to establish their reserve team as a competitive force in Italian football’s third tier.