Official: Fiorentina appoint Pioli as head coach

Former Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has been officially announced as the new head coach of Fiorentina, returning for a second stint in charge of La Viola. 

Pioli, who spent the 2024-25 season in the Saudi Pro League with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, has put pen to paper on a three-year contract in Tuscany, which will run until the summer of 2028. 

The 2021-22 Scudetto winner is back in Florence for a second spell in charge of Fiorentina, following his two seasons in charge between 2017 and 2019. Since then, the 59-year-old has gone on to enjoy five years in Milan, winning the Serie A title, and spent the most recent season in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr. 

Official: Pioli appointed Fiorentina head coach for the second time

“I’m very happy with the arrival of Stefano Pioli at the helm of the Fiorentina first team,” Fiorentina President Rocco Commisso said in a statement published on the club website. 

“From the first words we had together, I saw (from the coach) good values and a desire to fight for this club and this city, which he knows so well. I, my family, and all of Fiorentina welcome Stefano back, and we wish him the best for this new adventure in the Viola jersey.” 

Pioli’s arrival means that six of the teams that finished in the Serie A top 10 in 2024-25 have since changed head coaches. 

Pioli replaced Raffaele Palladino, who lasted just one season in charge of the club, while Inter, Atalanta, Roma, Lazio and Milan have all changed head coaches as well since the end of the 2024-25 campaign.