Mihajlovic succeeds Ventura as Torino manager

Sinisa Mihajlovic made a swift return to coaching with his appointment as Torino manager Wednesday, which the club confirmed shortly after announcing coach Giampiero Ventura will leave the team.

(Courtesy: Torino)

Mihajlovic's hiring comes more than a month after AC Milan controversially decided to part ways with the Serbian gaffer as the team struggled to maintain a European qualification place, a feat the Rossoneri ultimately failed to sustain with its seventh-place finish in Serie A under new manager Cristian Brocchi.

Related - Mockery in Milan: Mihajlovic firing symptomatic of club's fall from grace

Mihajlovic will now roam the touchline at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino and look to improve on the team's 12th place finish over his two-year contract.

"I'd like to thank president Urbano Cairo, sporting director Gianni Petrachi and all of Torino for the faith shown in me," Mihajlovic told the team's website. "To be able to work at a club with such a glorious and prestigious history like Toro fills me with a huge amount of pride.

"This is a unique club. Granata fans are known up and down Italy for their passion, for their huge feeling of togetherness with the team and for that strong sense of belongingness to the shirt. These are important values and I see myself in them, and that is another reason why I cannot wait to get started."

Meanwhile, club president Urbano Cairo took the opportunity to express his gratitude towards Ventura and the five years he spent in charge.

"The great results obtained are rich in mutual satisfaction," he said. "It's been a constant rise, made decorated by unforgettable chapters in Torino's recent history such as finishing seventh in Serie A and playing in Europe again after 20 years, and including the first victory by an Italian club in Bilbao.

"These have been five beautiful years and from the president Cairo to the very youngest of our youth team, Torino FC wishes Giampiero Ventura the very best satisfaction and luck that he deserves in the continuation of his career."

Ventura's time in the unemployment market could be brief after reports suggest he's one of several candidates to succeed Antonio Conte as Italian national team manager at the conclusion of the European Championship.