Latest news with #Pioli
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pioli tells Fiorentina to get inspiration from Ronaldo and sends message to Allegri
New Fiorentina coach Stefano Pioli won't forget that Massimiliano Allegri omitted the Tuscans among the Champions League contenders and insists his players must get inspiration from Cristiano Ronaldo. Pioli has returned to the Stadio Franchi for his second stint as a coach and was unveiled at a press conference on Wednesday. Pioli explains why he returned to Fiorentina 'The experiences I've had so far have brought me to the highest point of my career,' Pioli said via TMW. 'I know there are many expectations here, but I already have a great feeling because I've found a lot of human depth in addition to one of the most beautiful training centres I've ever seen. I feel ready to do an outstanding job.' Pioli was the Fiorentina coach when Davide Astori tragically died in his sleep on March 4, 2018, aged 31, before an away Serie A match against Udinese. Fiorentina still remember their former captain before each home match by announcing their ex-No.13 in their starting XI. 'Obviously, he had a significant impact on my professional and personal life,' said Pioli. 'I still feel him, and that will never change. If we manage to take the same step forward as a team, we can even win the Scudetto.' Pioli had reached an agreement with Fiorentina at the beginning of June, but it took him over a month to terminate his contract with Al-Hilal, where he had coached Cristiano Ronaldo. 'I've always wanted to come back. One phone call was enough. It was a month of anxiety, but still very positive,' Pioli said. Pioli: coaching Cristiano Ronaldo 'an honour 'It was an honour to coach him [Cristiano Ronaldo]. He's much more than a champion,' he continued. 'You have no idea what lies behind his figure. I shared his management with him. He's an incredible professional, and he's obsessed with playing and scoring goals. He lives each day to be ready for the next game. That's the kind of determination we need to have.' Pioli will coach Moise Kean in the 2025-26 season. The Italian striker was the second-best Serie A goal scorer in 2024-25, and his €52m release clause expired yesterday, July 15, 2025. 'I've spoken with Moise during this period, but I don't know whether I had an impact on his decision to stay. He's very grateful to Florence. I've seen him calm and eager to work these days. He's a very strong player,' he said. Edin Dzeko has moved to the Franchi, while Albert Gudmundsson has made his loan move permanent. Can Fiorentina use all three of their stars simultaneously? 'We won't always be the same, but the idea is to get them playing all together,' Pioli replied. 'Much will depend on their ability to work together. I'll repeat it, the more quality players we have, the more chances we have to win. 'We should not focus on just one role or position. Gudmundsson a player with quality, great intelligence and desire to make an impact. He offers many solutions in attack, and I count on him. Fazzini has similar traits. What matters is having players with quality, pace and unpredictability. Unpredictability is the key to beating opponents.' Pioli confirmed that Luca Ranieri would be Fiorentina's captain next season and seemed confident that the Tuscans would compete for a spot in the top four next season. 'It won't be Pioli against Allegri or Conte. It will be Fiorentina against Napoli, Milan and others,' he said. 'We have fire inside. I could have stayed where I was and been one of the ten highest-paid coaches in the world. If Fiorentina wants to be top, we need to prove it. Allegri didn't put us among the Champions League contenders. I've already written that on the board.' Pioli has signed a long-term contract at the Stadio Franchi, which will run until June 2028.
The Sun
12-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Stefano Pioli returns to Fiorentina after Al-Nassr stint
ITALIAN coach Stefano Pioli, who spent last season in charge of Saudi club Al-Nassr, is to return to Fiorentina, a club he previously coached and played for as a player, the Tuscan club announced on Saturday. The 59-year-old succeeds his compatriot Raffaele Palladino, who resigned to everyone's surprise in June, a few weeks after extending his contract until 2027. 'Fiorentina announces that its new coach for its first team is Stefano Pioli,' the club said in a statement. 'Pioli, who returns to Florence after wearing the purple jersey as a player between 1989 and 1995 and having coached the club from 2017 to 2019, has signed a contract binding him to Fiorentina until June 30, 2028.' Fiorentina finished sixth in Serie A last season which qualified them for the Conference League. Pioli left Al-Nassr, where Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo plays, at the beginning of the week after just one season in charge, having guided the club to third place in the Saudi League. His coaching career includes spells at Bologna, Inter Milan, Fiorentina and then five years at AC Milan with whom he won Serie A in 2021-22. - AFP
Al-Ahram Weekly
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Pioli returns to Fiorentina after one season at Al-Nassr - World
Italian coach Stefano Pioli, who spent last season in charge of Saudi club Al-Nassr, is to return to Fiorentina, a club he previously coached and played for as a player, the Tuscan club announced on Saturday. The 59-year-old succeeds his compatriot Raffaele Palladino, who resigned to everyone's surprise in June, a few weeks after extending his contract until 2027. "Fiorentina announces that its new coach for its first team is Stefano Pioli," the club said in a statement. "Pioli, who returns to Florence after wearing the purple jersey as a player between 1989 and 1995 and having coached the club from 2017 to 2019, has signed a contract binding him to Fiorentina until June 30, 2028." Fiorentina finished sixth in Serie A last season which qualified them for the Conference League. Pioli left Al-Nassr, where Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo plays, at the beginning of the week after just one season in charge, having guided the club to third place in the Saudi League. His coaching career includes spells at Bologna, Inter Milan, Fiorentina and then five years at AC Milan with whom he won Serie A in 2021-22. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
New Straits Times
12-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Pioli returns to Fiorentina after one season at Al-Nassr
ROME: Italian coach Stefano Pioli, who spent last season in charge of Saudi club Al-Nassr, is to return to Fiorentina, a club he previously coached and played for as a player, the Tuscan club announced today. The 59-year-old succeeds his compatriot Raffaele Palladino, who resigned to everyone's surprise in June, a few weeks after extending his contract until 2027. "Fiorentina announces that its new coach for its first team is Stefano Pioli," the club said in a statement. "Pioli, who returns to Florence after wearing the purple jersey as a player between 1989 and 1995 and having coached the club from 2017 to 2019, has signed a contract binding him to Fiorentina until June 30, 2028." Fiorentina finished sixth in Serie A last season which qualified them for the Conference League. Pioli left Al-Nassr, where Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo plays, at the beginning of the week after just one season in charge, having guided the club to third place in the Saudi League. His coaching career includes spells at Bologna, Inter Milan, Fiorentina and then five years at AC Milan with whom he won Serie A in 2021-22. - AFP
The Star
12-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Pioli returns to take charge of Fiorentina on three-year deal
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Nassr v Al Taawoun - Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - May 16, 2025 Al Nassr coach Stefano Pioli reacts REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo (Reuters) -Fiorentina announced Stefano Pioli as their new coach on a three-year deal on Saturday as the Italian, who left Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr last month, returns to the Serie A club for a second stint. Fiorentina had given former manager Raffaele Palladino a contract extension in May but he left the job just three weeks later, paving the way for Pioli to return after he parted ways with Al-Nassr. Pioli, who played at Fiorentina from 1989 to 1995, coached the team from 2017 to 2019. He then coached AC Milan, winning the Scudetto in the 2021-22 season, before his move to the Saudi Pro League. "I am very happy that Stefano Pioli is the new coach of Fiorentina's first team," club president Rocco Commisso said in a statement. "From the very first moment I spoke to him, I found a coach with great human values who is ready to do everything he can for this club and this city, which he knows very well and has a close bond with." Fiorentina finished sixth in Serie A last season to qualify for the Conference League, Europe's third-tier competition. Serie A has seen several clubs changing their managers prior to the 2025-26 season, including Inter Milan, AC Milan, AS Roma, Atalanta and Lazio. (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; editing by Clare Fallon)
