Milan seal automatic CL spot with 2-0 win in Florence

Milan clinched the third automatic Champions League place after comfortably winning 2-0 at fourth-placed Fiorentina on a day of goodbyes for Serie A yesterday.

Brazilians Kaka and Alexandre Pato netted in the second half in Paolo Maldini's last game before retirement and the final match in charge for Carlo Ancelotti.

Ancelotti has agreed to leave Milan but would not confirm yesterday that he will be taking over as Chelsea coach. Milan sporting director Leonardo will replace Ancelotti as coach at the San Siro, chief executive Adriano Galliani said.

Fiorentina could have snatched third spot with a handsome win, which would have put them level with Milan but with a better head-to-head record, but instead they will have to settle for the Champions League qualifiers next term.

The final day of the season was kinder to Juventus, who beat Lazio 2-0 thanks to Vincenzo Iaquinta's double and finished second thanks to their better record over Milan.

The victory boosts Ciro Ferrara's hopes of being given the coach's job full time following Claudio Ranieri's sacking last month.

Juve's Pavel Nedved, playing against his former side, received a standing ovation from the Turin crowd on his final game for the club.

The Czech winger, 36, will decide soon whether to retire or accept other offers in Italy or elsewhere.

The city's other club, Torino, had a dreadful day in contrast and were relegated after three seasons in the top flight. They lost 3-2 at Roma and will join already-relegated Reggina and Lecce in Serie B next term.

The sloppy defeat, typical of an inconsistent season, meant Bologna were safe irrespective of their 3-1 win over Catania.

Inter's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, still considering his future, ended up as Serie A's top scorer with 25 goals after netting twice as the champions won 4-3 at home to Atalanta.

Inter's retiring winger Luis Figo said goodbye to football with an emotional farewell at the San Siro.

He was substituted just before half-time to wild applause with coach Jose Mourinho, who otherwise let his minor coaching team sit on the bench instead of his usual staff, gave his Portuguese compatriot a huge embrace.

Meanwhile, Ancelotti's contract with Milan was due to run out in 2010.

"In agreement with the club, we have decided to bring forward the expiry of my contract. This beautiful adventure at Milan is over," Ancelotti told reporters.

"I can't say anything else official. I have not made any agreement with any other club."

However, when he was told "good luck" in English, he replied: "This I won't understand until I arrive."

Leonardo, a former Milan and Brazil player, has no managerial experience and the 39-year-old has not completed all his coaching badges.

"It will be Leonardo. Tomorrow (today) he will be presented at 12," Galliani told Rai television when asked about the new coach.

Ancelotti was Serie A's longest serving manager having been appointed in 2001 and led the Rossoneri to Champions League glory in 2003 and 2007.