Who is Cristian Chivu? Inter Milan's new manager

Inter Milan are set to officially appoint Cristian Chivu as their new manager, succeeding Simone Inzaghi at the helm of the Nerazzurri.

The club has firmly decided on Chivu as Inzaghi’s replacement. Initially, Inter had been keen on signing Cesc Fàbregas to strengthen their squad under the new leadership. However, Como president Mirwan Suwarson firmly rejected Inter’s advances, stating that the Lariani have no intention of releasing the Spanish midfielder.

Patrick Vieira, currently managing Genoa, was also reportedly on Inter’s shortlist. But as it became clear that a deal for Fàbregas was unlikely, the club swiftly shifted focus and decided to entrust Chivu with the coaching role.

Yesterday, Inter held a meeting with Chivu and his representatives to discuss the project’s details and finalize the 44-year-old’s contract — discussions that reportedly went very well.

Who Is Cristian Chivu, Inter Milan’s Exciting New Manager?

Cristian Eugen Chivu is a former professional footballer and current coach from Romania. In August 2019, he began pursuing his UEFA Pro Licence at Coverciano. By July 2021, Chivu was appointed head coach of Inter Milan Primavera, the club’s youth team.

On February 18, 2025, Chivu took on a new challenge as the head coach of Serie A side Parma, signing a contract that runs until June 2026. Although his experience as a senior team manager is relatively limited, with just thirteen senior games under his belt, he brings valuable insight from his years coaching Inter’s youth squads and his extensive playing career as a defender.

All of this unfolded at Parma. Fabio Pecchia was replaced by Chivu in February as the Emilians battled to avoid relegation. Despite the challenges, Chivu managed to keep them in Serie A.

Under Chivu’s leadership, Parma won only three of his thirteen games in charge. The Gialloblu narrowly secured their place in the top flight, but their form remained erratic throughout the campaign.

This inconsistency should be a cause for concern for Chivu, especially considering the expectations for steady performance week in and week out at Inter. Nevertheless, his previous tenure showed that Chivu was comfortable leading his team on big occasions, even with a limited squad.

It’s clear that the 44-year-old’s defensive discipline, focus, and tactical acumen—particularly his ability to execute strategies against stronger opponents—were crucial assets at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.

The Formation Chivu Uses and His Distinctive Style of Play

The Nerazzurri management probably picked Chivu for two good reasons. First, there’s a tactical side to it. When he was coaching Parma recently, he used a 3-5-2 formation that helped the team stay in Serie A. He got some great results with this setup, including wins against big teams like Juventus, Lazio, Napoli, and also the last matchday victory over Atalanta. Because of this, bringing him in could give the team tactical and technical consistency without needing to change the squad too much.

The second reason is Chivu’s strong connection to the Nerazzurri. He really loves the club’s colors and had already been involved with them before—he coached the Primavera team, which won the championship in 2021–2022, as well as other youth teams. So, he knows the club inside and out, which is especially important right now.

Cover Credits - Goal.com