Cristian Chivu has written his name into Serie A history after guiding Inter Milan to the 2025-26 Scudetto, becoming the first foreign manager since Jose Mourinho in 2010 to win the Italian top-flight title.
Cristian Chivu has carved out a remarkable piece of Serie A history after becoming the first foreign coach in 16 years to win the Scudetto, leading Inter Milan to the 2025-26 league crown with Sunday’s decisive 2-0 victory over Parma at San Siro.
Three-time Serie A champion as a player and now his first as manager.
Inter legend Cristian Chivu did it in his first year in charge of the club 🫶 pic.twitter.com/j37fKNH2QV
— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 3, 2026
Inter’s title-clinching win sealed their 21st Serie A title and confirmed a stunning debut full season in charge for the Romanian tactician, who only took over at the beginning of the campaign amid significant pressure following last season’s disappointments.
For Chivu, the achievement carries extra emotional weight. The 45-year-old is no stranger to Inter’s winning culture, having spent seven years at the club as a player and famously starring in Jose Mourinho’s legendary treble-winning side during the 2009-10 season.
That Mourinho-led campaign had also marked the last time a non-Italian coach lifted the Serie A title. Since then, the Scudetto had been dominated exclusively by homegrown managers, with Massimiliano Allegri winning six, Antonio Conte five, while Maurizio Sarri, Stefano Pioli, Luciano Spalletti and Simone Inzaghi all added one each.
Chivu has now broken that long-standing trend in emphatic fashion. Despite entering the season with questions over his limited top-level managerial experience, having only coached Parma for 13 matches in Serie A last term, he quickly transformed Inter into the most consistent and dynamic side in the division.
🏆 OFFICIAL: Inter are Serie A 2025/26 champions ⚫️🔵
What a moment for Christian Chivu 👏
First non-Italian coach to win the league since Mourinho in 2010 🇷🇴
He was doubted at first with just 13 Serie A games + youth team experience…
But he adapted, motivated, and lifted… pic.twitter.com/9h2AvLvF4V
— Italian Football TV (@IFTVofficial) May 3, 2026
His success also creates a poetic full-circle moment. Fifteen years after learning under Mourinho as one of Inter’s defensive leaders, Chivu has now stepped out of the shadow of his former mentor and delivered a title that places him in the same elite historical conversation.
List of Serie A title-winning coaches since Mourinho
2010-11 Allegri (Milan)
2011-12 Conte (Juventus)
2012-13 Conte (Juventus)
2013-14 Conte (Juventus)
2014-15 Allegri (Juventus)
2015-16 Allegri (Juventus)
2016-17 Allegri (Juventus)
2017-18 Allegri (Juventus)
2018-19 Allegri (Juventus)
2019-20 Sarri (Juventus)
2020-21 Conte (Inter)
2021-22 Pioli (Milan)
2022-23 Spalletti (Napoli)
2023-24 Inzaghi (Inter)
2024-25 Conte (Napoli)
