Cristian Chivu made history in his first season as Inter coach, winning both the Italian Serie A and the Coppa Italia—the domestic double—less than 12 months after his official appointment at the club.
The Nerazzurri secured their 21st Serie A title last week, then completed the double with a 2-0 victory over Lazio in the Coppa Italia final.
Historic Achievement
Chivu became only the third coach in Inter's history to achieve the domestic double, following Roberto Mancini in 2006 and José Mourinho in 2010—ironically, the same year Chivu was a key defender when Inter won the Champions League.
Only Juventus have matched this feat more times, last accomplishing it in 2018 under Massimiliano Allegri.
New Contract on the Horizon
The two parties will sit down in the coming days to plan for the 2026-27 season and negotiate a new deal. The current contract runs until summer 2027, but both sides are expected to agree on an extension through at least 2028, along with a salary increase.
This would be the perfect reward for a sensational season, though there is little time to rest—winning again is always harder than winning for the first time.
Turnaround at San Siro
When Chivu arrived in Milan, it was a turbulent moment for the club. After losing their chances to win a trophy in the 2024-25 season and suffering a 5-0 defeat against PSG in the Champions League final at Munich's Allianz Arena, the task ahead seemed daunting.
Chivu restored the team's positive mentality and led them to remarkable success. Inter president Giuseppe Marotta showed courage in appointing a manager who may not have initially inspired the fans, but ultimately proved to be the right man in the right place at the right time.