Piero Ausilio has left Inter after 28 years at the club, bringing to an end one of the longest-serving directorial tenures in modern Italian football. The Nerazzurri confirmed the departure on Tuesday, September 2, 2026, announcing that Dario Baccin has been promoted to chief sports officer as his successor.
Ausilio, 58, had a contract running until June 2027, but the club and the director agreed to part ways by mutual consent. He had been with Inter since 1998, joining as a youth scouting coordinator before steadily rising through the ranks to become sporting director — a role he held for over a decade.
A Career Defined by Key Decisions
Ausilio's fingerprints are all over Inter's modern identity. His scouting network unearthed Lautaro Martínez from Racing Club in 2018, a move that would prove transformative. He later brokered the signings of Nicolò Barella from Cagliari and Alessandro Bastoni from Atalanta — both now considered pillars of the squad and the Italian national team.
Perhaps his most celebrated gambit was the triple free-agent haul of 2020–2021, when Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Marcus Thuram and Henrikh Mkhitaryan all arrived on expiring contracts. The Turkish midfielder in particular became a driving force in midfield, while Thuram's partnership with Lautaro up front delivered goals and silverware alike.
Under his watch, Inter won three Serie A titles — with Antonio Conte in 2021, Simone Inzaghi in 2024, and a third under a successor coach in 2026. He also oversaw three Coppa Italia triumphs and guided the club to two Champions League finals, the most recent in 2023.
The Club's Reaction
Inter released a formal statement thanking Ausilio for his "extraordinary contribution" and wishing him well. President Steven Zhang described him as "an integral part of the Inter family" whose work "will bear fruit for years to come."
Baccin, who has been part of Inter's scouting and recruitment department for several seasons, was announced as the new chief sports officer. The appointment signals continuity in philosophy, with the club expected to maintain its data-driven approach to recruitment.
What Comes Next for Inter
Ausilio's departure comes at a pivotal moment. Inter have reinforced with Curtis Jones from Liverpool and Djed Spence from Tottenham this summer, and the squad is being reshaped under a new tactical framework. The challenge for Baccin will be to sustain the competitive edge Ausilio built while navigating a market that has grown increasingly expensive.
For Ausilio himself, the question is whether another top club will lure him back. His reputation as one of Italy's shrewdest operators remains intact, and at 58 he still has years of football management ahead.
Whatever comes next, his 28-year chapter at Inter is closed — and it is a legacy that will be difficult to replicate.
Sources
- https://www.inter.it/en/news/piero-ausilio-message-of-thanks
- https://www.gazzetta.it/en/football/teams/inter/news/02-09-2026/ausilio-departs-inter-after-28-years-why-he-s-leaving-and-who-will-replace-him.shtml
- https://football-italia.net/official-ausilio-leaves-inter-after-28-years/
