Bonucci hails Milan coach Allegri: ‘A master, a phenomenon’ | OneFootball

Leonardo Bonucci has paid a glowing tribute to AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri, describing his former Juventus manager as the greatest he has ever worked under.

Speaking in an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, via MilanNews, the retired Italy international, who had a brief and largely difficult spell at Milan earlier in his career, was asked to reflect on the coaches who shaped him.

His words on Allegri were unequivocal.

“In terms of intuition, Allegri was the greatest coach I ever had,” Bonucci said.

ITALY – FEBRUARY 18: Massimiliano Allegri looks on prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Como 1907 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 18, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“Sometimes he made decisions that seemed absurd, but they produced results. Being a coach allows you to see the full picture, as a player and as a human being. In that sense, Max is a master, a phenomenon. He never speaks negatively. Complaints? Never. He knows how to put players in the best possible conditions.”

Not just Milan coach Allegri, Bonucci has kind words for Gattuso

The retired defender also reflected warmly on another figure with strong Milan connections, Gennaro Gattuso, who coached Bonucci during his time at San Siro.

The defender recalled a period of difficulty and credited the former midfielder’s straightforward approach with helping him rediscover his best form.

“When I had the fortune of being coached by him at Milan, we were coming through a difficult period,” Bonucci said of Gattuso.

ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Italy, looks on prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“He told me: ‘Leo, when you’re going through a tough time, you have to keep things simple.’ And so that’s what we did, a 4-3-3, nothing complicated. He gave confidence to all of us.”

Both Allegri and Gattuso remain prominent figures in the Milan conversation, making Bonucci’s reflections particularly timely.