Romanian Christian Chivu crowned Serie A champion with Inter for the fourth time in his career, but the first as a manager
The Romanian Christian Chivu was crowned Serie A champion with Inter Milan for the fourth time in his career, but the first as a manager, after Inter “Nerazzurri” secured the title with a 2–0 win over Parma on Sunday in the 35th matchday, confirming his competence in his first full season in charge of any senior team.
Appointment shrouded in doubt
Appointing the 45‑year‑old Chivu, who had just turned 45, as Inter’s head coach last summer raised many questions about his experience. At the time, his only top‑flight exposure was a brief spell in charge of Parma, where the former Romanian defender managed to keep the club in the top division after being promoted internally in February 2025.cairo24+1
Despite his huge popularity as a former club legend, Chivu’s managerial experience before that was limited to the youth set‑up at Inter, a role he left months before taking over the first team. Therefore, it was not surprising that the name of Cesc Fàbregas, manager of Como, emerged as the leading candidate to replace Simone Inzaghi after the Italian coach left for the Saudi league.
However, Como’s refusal to let Fàbregas go opened the door for Chivu’s appointment, and he has delivered a season performance that has exceeded all expectations in Serie A, both tactically and in terms of team morale.almashhad+1
Overcoming post‑Champions League trauma
When Chivu took over, Inter were still reeling from the shock of a 5–0 defeat to Paris Saint‑Germain in the UEFA Champions League final the previous season, a loss that followed rumours about Inzaghi’s impending move to the Saudi Pro League.
While both Napoli and Milan strengthened their squads over the summer, Inter essentially retained the same core squad as the previous season, which makes Chivu’s title a remarkable achievement given those constraints.wikipedia+1
A legend returns as champion again
Chivu played 168 matches for Inter over six seasons and was a key part of the club’s legendary treble in 2010 — winning the Serie A, Champions League and Coppa Italia under José Mourinho.aawsat+1
He also lifted the FIFA Club World Cup in 2010 and added three consecutive league titles to his name as a player, cementing his legacy as one of Inter’s greatest defensive figures.wikipedia+1
Chivu’s professional career was largely Italian: he joined Inter in 2007 from AS Roma, where he won the Coppa Italia in his final season with a vibrant attacking side led by Francesco Totti and coached by Luciano Spalletti.
His arrival at Roma four years earlier had been overseen by the legendary Fabio Capello, who later spoke fondly of Chivu when he praised the young defender’s role in reviving a team that had seemed to have lost its fire.
In October the previous year, Chivu reflected on Capello’s influence, saying:
“All I hope is to have half the career you’ve had, because I’d like to be a winner like you were.”
He added:
“You were the one who trusted me, accepted me and gave me the chance to play at the highest level.”
Inter’s trust and Chivu’s future
Inter now appear to trust Chivu in return. The club is expected to extend his contract this summer, with the groundwork for a full squad rebuild already underway, as the squad has seen little change since the Inzaghi era.cairo24+1
Inzaghi had restored Inter to the top of European football, reaching the Champions League final twice and delivering some of the most memorable moments in the club’s modern history.albayan+1
Chivu’s next step is to prove he can consistently win big matches against top rivals, both domestically and in Europe — an area where his side has struggled this season.
UEFA Champions League failure and future challenges
This season’s limitations in the Champions League cost Inter a direct passage to the Round of 16, and they were dumped out of the play‑off round by Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt, a humiliating result for a club of Inter’s stature.albayan+1
Chivu will be judged on how he handles the Champions League and the biggest domestic fixtures moving forward, especially against the newly resurgent Juventus, who look like a serious contender for the title next season and could form the backbone of the next great title race in Serie A.
In short, Chivu’s achievement is twofold: he has returned to Inter as a champion first as a player, now as a coach, and he has proven he can lead the Nerazzurri into the post‑Inzaghi era with poise, experience, and the same winning spirit that defined his playing days.
