Gennaro Gattuso, AC Milan Agree on Contract Through 2021

AC Milan manager Gennaro Gattuso has agreed to a contract extension at the San Siro until 2021.

News that the 40-year-old had signed fresh terms came courtesy of Milan's official website on Thursday:

The club's former midfielder took over the team midway through the season after Vincenzo Montella was sacked, initially on a deal up until the end of the 2017-18 campaign.

While Gattuso was initially expected to be a quick fix for Milan, the form of the team since his arrival in the position has evidently convinced the club's hierarchy to hand him a longer deal. They are currently sixth in the Italian top flight.

Milan may have only taken a point from their last two Serie A matches against Juventus and Inter Milan, but the fact they are in a position to challenge for a UEFA Europa League spot and potentially even a Champions League place is testament to Gattuso's work.

As noted by Anthony Lopopolo of The Score, since arriving in Milan, the coach has slowly made his imprint on this team:

After a summer of lavish spending, the Rossoneri struggled for cohesion and to forge an identity early in the campaign. When Montella left, they required a galvanising presence.

That's exactly what Gattuso has been. Suddenly the players in the squad are working for one another, the shape of the team is better and Milan have become a much more difficult side to get the better of.

Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images

In total, Milan have won nine of 16 Serie A matches Gattuso has taken charge of so far. The manager will also have a shot at silverware in his first season, as Milan are poised to meet Juve in the Coppa Italia final.

As relayed by The Sportsman, in addition to his astute work as a coach, Gattuso has entertained in plenty of his media appearances:

"

藍 Never change, Gennaro...

Journalist: "Had it not been for poor refereeing in London & Çalhanoglu hitting the bar, would Milan's season be different?"

Gattuso: "If my grandfather had three balls he would be a pinball machine."#ACMilan pic.twitter.com/rTBjNM4XEl

— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) April 4, 2018"

Milan have had a distinct lack of stability in recent seasons in terms of managers and players, with the turnover of personnel frequent as the club seek to reestablish themselves back at the summit of Italian football.

Having shown faith in Gattuso, it's imperative that trust remains in the summer and into the next campaign. You sense he'll get that backing given what the Italian accomplished on the pitch for the San Siro side; he won the UEFA Champions League twice and Serie A twice in the famous red and black.

Although there were eyebrows raised upon Gattuso's appointment as coach, up to now he's showcased enough to suggest he could be as big a hit for Milan on the sideline as he was on the field.