Calcio Amore

A guide to the Serie A coaches for the 2025-26 season

by
Scott Balaam
16 July 2025

X/@BTLvid

Over the summer there have been a lot of changes on the Serie A benches with 12 out of 20 teams having changed their head coach for the 2025-26 season.

Rather surprisingly this isn’t even a record for Serie A! Back in 2011, only seven coaches were still in control for the new term compared to this coming campaign season’’’s eight!

In Italian football, coaches are known as ‘Mister’ due to the historical influence of British coaches, particularly William Garbutt, who was a key figure in the early development of Italian football.

The term ‘Mister’ is an Italianised version of the English term “Mr.”, and it became the respectful way to address the coach, reflecting the initial role of British coaches who introduced the sport to Italy.

And, the term is still used today with the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic who still refers to Carlo Ancelotti as ‘Mister’ despite only playing for him for one season back in the 2012-13 season.

The Misters who will are still in charge from last season are:

Vincenzo Italiano – Bologna
Cesc Fabregas – Como
Patrick Vieira – Genoa
Paolo Zanetti – Hellas Verona
Igor Tudor – Juve
Antonio Conte – Napoli
Fabio Grosso – Sassuolo
Kosta Runjaic – Udinese

Scudetto winners Napoli were undecided whether to stick with Conte but they have.

Juventus are understood to have been interested in finding a new coach but they have decided to keep Tudor.

Fabregas was wanted by Champions League finalists Inter, but he has chosen to stay with Como – receiving a new contract and an excellent transfer budget.

Massimiliano Allegri, Stefano Pioli, Maurizio Sarri and Eusebio Di Francesco are all returning to their respective clubs for a second spell.

Here’s a detailed look at the Serie A head coaches for the 2025–26 season, along with their career highlights and achievements.

AC Milan – Massimiliano Allegri

Appointed: 1 July 2025 (returned after a previous tenure from 2014 to 2019)
Career Achievements:
- 5× Serie A titles, including domestic doubles in 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018 (first in Europe to do so)
- 4× Coppa Italia winner
- 4× Panchina d’Oro (Golden Bench) & several Coach of the Year awards

Juventus – Igor Tudor

Retained on contract until 2027
Background & Achievements:
- Former Croatian international defender
- Known for a defensive approach; led Juventus to finish in a Champions League position in Serie A after taking over after Thiago Motta in March.

Inter Milan – Cristian Chivu

Appointed: 9 June 2025, replacing Simone Inzaghi
Career:
- Former Inter player under Mourinho
- As manager: Kept Parma in Serie A after taking over in February before taking charge at Inter

AS Roma – Gian Piero Gasperini

Appointed: 1 July 2025, after nine successful seasons with Atalanta
Highlights:
- Europa League champion with Atalanta (2024)
- 5× UEFA Champions League qualifications
- Known for dynamic, high-scoring teams

Fiorentina – Stefano Pioli

Appointed: 12 July 2025, returning to the club
Achievements:
- Won Serie A 2021–22 with AC Milan
- Serie A Coach of the Season, multiple Coach of the Month awards

Napoli – Antonio Conte

Retained for 2025–26
Career Accolades:
- As manager: 3× consecutive Serie A titles with Juventus (2012–2014); Scudetto triumph with Napoli in 2022–23
- As player: 5× Serie A titles, Champions League with Juventus

Atalanta – Ivan Juric

Appointed: 1 July 2025, replacing Gasperini
Profile:
- Previously managed Genoa, Roma and Torino – he spent a brief and disappointing spell with Southampton
- Noted for intense pressing-style teams.

Lazio – Maurizio Sarri

Appointed: 1 July 2025 (returning for his second spell)
Key Achievements:
- Coached Napoli to attractive football and led Juventus to their last title in 2020. He also won the Europa League with Chelsea in 2019.
- Spells at Chelsea, Juventus, and Napoli known for tactical setups

Bologna – Vincenzo Italiano

Retained after signing a new contract until 2027
Highlights:
- Won the Coppa Italia 2025, ending a 51-year trophy drought which earned qualification to Europa League
- Serie A Coach of the Month (March 2025)

Como – Cesc Fabregas

Retained following an excellent first season in Serie A
Background & Achievements:
- Former Spain international; first-team coach at Como after managing Vitesse youth
- Guided Como to a 10th-place finish, earned Coach of the Month in April

Lecce – Eusebio Di Francesco

Appointed: 1 July 2025
Career:
- Led Roma to Champions League semi-finals in 2018
- Coached Sassuolo, Cagliari, and had previous experience with Lecce

Parma – Carlos Cuesta (youngest coach in top‑five leagues)

Appointed: 1 July 2025; aged 29
Profile:
- Former assistant under Arteta at Arsenal, youth coach at Atlético and Juventus
- Only coach under 30 in Serie A since 1939

Pisa – Alberto Gilardino

Appointed: 1 July 2025
Career:
- Legendary forward who won World Cup 2006 and multiple Serie A titles
- Early managerial roles at youth levels and lower-league clubs

Torino – Marco Baroni

Appointed: 1 July 2025; moved from Lazio to Torino
Experience:
- Coached Lecce, Hellas Verona and Lazio; known for a pragmatic approach

Cagliari – Fabio Pisacane

Appointed: 1 July 2025
Profile:
- Former defender known for leadership
- Transitioned into coaching at lower levels before stepping into Serie A

Cremonese – Davide Nicola

Appointed: 2 July 2025
Notable:
- Known for steering teams to safety – Salernitana (2022), Empoli (2024) and Cagliari (2025)
- Frequently chosen as a manager to maintain top-flight status

Genoa – Patrick Vieira

Appointed: 20 November 2024, replacing Alberto Gilardino
Coaching Career Highlights:
- Began in Manchester City U23 (2013–15), then managed New York City FC (2016–18), Nice (won Ligue 1 Manager of the Year shortlist), Crystal Palace (led them to FA Cup semi-final in 2022), and Strasbourg.
- At Genoa: turned around the season, keeping them up and climbing to mid-table—finishing 13th. Contract extended through 2027.
Playing Achievements:
- 3× Premier League titles, 4× FA Cups with Arsenal; multiple Serie A titles with Milan/Inter; 1998 World Cup & Euro 2000 winner with France.

Hellas Verona – Paolo Zanetti

Appointed: 13 June 2024
Coaching Career Highlights:
- Began at Südtirol (Serie C); led Ascoli in Serie B.
- With Venezia: secured promotion to Serie A in 2021 via playoff, then sacked April 2022.
- Empoli (2022–23): achieved a respectable mid-table finish before dismissal in September 2023.
Style & Profile: Known for pragmatic, calculated play, adept at navigating promotions and stabilizations.

Udinese – Kostah Runjaic

Appointed 14 June 2024 on a two-year contract.
Introduced a possession-oriented, high-intensity style with formations like 3–4–2–1.
Emphasized squad unity and progressive tactics, drawing comparisons to the club’s legend Francesco Guidolin.

Sassuolo – Fabio Grosso

Appointed: Appointed after Sassuolo’s relegation to Serie B.
2024–25: led Sassuolo back to Serie A, securing promotion with five rounds remaining, finishing with 75 points and equaling a long-standing goals record in the division.

Contract auto-renewed until June 2027, signaling strong club faith.