AC Milan fired head coach Vincenzo Montella on Monday and announced that he would be replaced by former midfielder Gennaro Gattuso.

Montella was dismissed one day after a 0-0 home draw with Torino left big-spending Milan seventh in Serie A with 20 points from 14 games.

The Rossoneri issued a statement confirming the news: "AC Milan announce to have parted ways with Vincenzo Montella. Management of the first team is entrusted to Gennaro Gattuso, who leaves his position as Primavera coach and to whom we wish the best of luck."

Montella had been in charge since the start of last season when he led Milan, 18-times Italian champions, to sixth place in the standings.

But Milan have won just twice in their last nine league matches and Sunday's result was the fourth successive home league game without a goal.

Just six wins in Serie A have cost Montella his job as his impressive start to the campaign, winning 10 of the first 12 matches in all competitions, faded quickly.

Milan have already qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League with a match to spare but their dwindling domestic form has been a concern for some time.

Gattuso, 39, made more than 450 appearances for AC Milan between 1999 and 2012, winning a reputation as a combative defensive midfielder.

The 39-year-old, who made 73 appearances for Italy, won two Serie A titles and two Champions Leagues with AC Milan.

He spent a brief spell at Glasgow Rangers prior to that after being signed by Walter Smith as a 19-year-old in 1997.

Gattuso began coaching with Swiss club Sion in 2013 and had a short spell in charge of Serie B side Palermo.

After coaching OFI Crete, he returned to Italy to lead Pisa to promotion from the third tier in 2016. Gattuso was appointed Milan's youth team coach before this season.