Managerial changes persist in Serie A as Pisa and Lecce announce fresh coaches
Hey there! Let's dive into the tumultuous world of Serie A manager changes as the 2022-2023 season gears up, shall we?
The Serie A managerial carousel keeps spinning, with as many as 12 of the league's teams set to welcome new coaches next season. The latest appointments? Lecce's Lega Serie A survival specialist Eusebio Di Francesco and Pisa's Alberto Gilardino, the former Italy and AC Milan forward.
Lecce, a team that narrowly evaded relegation last season, has given Di Francesco a one-year contract, with an extension on the table if the club survives another season in the top flight. With a track record of successive relegations with Venezia and Frosinone, Di Francesco will try his luck at a redemption tour in Serie A.
Gilardino, Pisa's new man, is no stranger to Gilardino as the duo once wore the blue of Italy and AC Milan. The move comes after Filippo Inzaghi, Gilardino's former teammate, resigned following Pisa's promotion. Descendants of the Inzaghi family, it seems, don't stick around: Simone Inzaghi, Filippo's younger brother, also left his post, causing a ripple effect that resulted in Inter Milan appointing Cristian Chivu as Inzaghi's replacement.
Inter's decision led to the departure of Carlos Cuesta, Chivu's predecessor at Parma, who now takes over as Parma's new manager. Cuesta, a 29-year-old Spaniard with five years of service under Arteta at Arsenal, is embarking on his first managerial role.
Champions Napoli, surprisingly, decided to stick with Antonio Conte, but many of their expected challengers next season, like Inter, have new captains at the helm. For example, Milan parted ways with Sergio Conceicao, causing a financial headache as he was owed compensation for unfair dismissal, prompting their return to Max Allegri, the man who led Milan to the league title in 2011.
Maurizio Sarri, another manager with a second chance, returns to Lazio after leaving the club last year. He replaces Marco Baroni who is now at Torino. Atalanta, after nine seasons under Gian Piero Gasperini, turn to Ivan Juric as their new manager, despite his turbulent past with Southampton and AS Roma.
The 2022-2023 Serie A landscape was marked by the absence of Luciano Spalletti, who led Italy to their titles as Napoli's coach before leaving after the campaign. Spalletti, it turns out, was only resting before embarking on a new adventure. Now in charge at Roma, the 63-year-old takes the reins from his longtime rival Claudio Ranieri, who appears to have finally hung up his coaching boots for good.
Ranieri's departure opened up an opportunity for Gennaro Gattuso to step in as Italy's new head coach. Meanwhile, Stefano Pioli, another contender for the role, seems set to take one of the two vacant spots left in Serie A, with Fiorentina offering him a contract extension.
Stay tuned for more managerial changes as the 2023-2024 Serie A season approaches, folks! The carousel never stops spinning.
In light of the upcoming 2022-2023 Serie A season, football fanatics should pay close attention to European leagues, as Lecce, a Serie A team, has brought in Eusebio Di Francesco as their new manager, seeking redemption after previous relegations with Venezia and Frosinone. Furthermore, Alberto Gilardino, former Italy and AC Milan forward, now coaches Pisa, replacing Filippo Inzaghi who resigned after their promotion.
