Fiorentina have confirmed the dismissal of Stefano Pioli as head coach following a disastrous run of results that has left the club bottom of Serie A. The decision comes after a 10-game winless streak, with four draws and six defeats leaving the Viola in crisis despite encouraging performances in Europe.
Pioli, who previously guided AC Milan to the Scudetto and enjoyed a short but successful stint with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, returned to Italy with hopes of reviving Fiorentina’s domestic fortunes.
Club confirms change and interim appointment
In an official statement, Fiorentina said:
“ACF Fiorentina can confirm that Stefano Pioli has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the first team.”
The club also announced that Daniele Galloppa will step in as interim manager until a permanent successor is appointed. Training under Galloppa began immediately on Monday afternoon.
Pioli’s exit comes alongside the dismissal of sporting director Daniel Pradè, as the club seeks to reset its sporting structure after a disastrous start to the campaign.
The 58-year-old reportedly clashed with some senior players and appeared indecisive with his formations — switching between 3-5-2, 3-4-2-1 and 4-4-2 systems in quick succession.
Fiorentina’s attacking play, once Pioli’s hallmark, became disjointed and predictable. While substitutions frequently disrupted rather than enhanced performances, his attempt to repurpose Fagioli as a deep-lying playmaker was unsuccessful.
The club’s summer recruitment also proved costly. Pioli and Pradè invested heavily in Roberto Piccoli to spearhead a three-man attack alongside Moise Kean and Albert Gudmundsson, but the plan was quickly abandoned. Piccoli was soon dropped to the bench, leaving the team short of cohesion and goals.
Pioli’s previous success
Pioli’s sacking marks a sharp contrast to his earlier success. He turned a struggling team into Serie A champions in 2022, their first league title in more than ten years, during his four years at AC Milan. Before departing the team in 2024, he also led the Rossoneri to the 2023 Champions League semifinals.
Stefano Pioli joined Al-Nassr after Milan, where he managed players like Sadio Mané and Cristiano Ronaldo. He won 22 of 34 games and was praised for his professionalism and attacking style.
But his sudden departure from Italy has left Fiorentina once more in search of stability at the beginning of yet another tumultuous season.
