Gennaro Gattuso has announced that he is leaving his position as AC Milan head coach.

The 41-year-old is to leave his position at San Siro after Milan narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification this season.

Despite beating SPAL 3-2 on the final day of the season, Milan fell just a point short of a top-four spot.

Gattuso confirmed he is departing on good terms with Milan, despite the disappointing end to their season.

“My decision to leave AC Milan’s bench has not been easy, but I had to make it,” Gattuso told LA Repubblica.

“It’s been a hard choice but one I put thought into. I have given up two years left on my contract because my history with this club will never be about money.”

A two-time Serie A and Champions League winner with Milan as a player, Gattuso replaced Vincenzo Montella as coach in November 2017.

Gattuso oversaw a 10-match unbeaten streak in Serie A this season as Milan threatened to leapfrog rivals Inter into third position.

However, a derby defeat in March derailed Milan – who won just five of their remaining 11 games to finish fifth behind Inter and third-place Atalanta.