With Capello's reputation seemingly ruined, he was sacked at the end of the season, with Milan finishing a mere 10th in the league. In fact, Milan ended up last in the group, and did not even qualify for the remainder of the UEFA Cup. They failed to defend the Serie A title, finishing in 3rd place behind champions Lazio and runners-up Juventus, and crashed out of the Champions League following a lackluster performance in the First Group Phase. Associazione Calcio Milan did not manage to repeat their successful previous season (1998–99). Fabio Capello returned as coach, following the dismal second half of the 1996–97 league campaign, but failed to turn the corner, and Milan was a shadow of the team he had left the year before. A.C. Milan had a second consecutive disastrous season. In the 1998–99 season, Associazione Calcio Milan returned to their previous winning ways under the guidance of new manager Alberto Zaccheroni.Hired from Udinese, Zaccheroni brought striker Oliver Bierhoff and right-wingback Thomas Helveg with him from his former club.