Fiorentina fire Stefano Pioli after winless start leaves club bottom of Serie A

Fiorentina have dismissed head coach Stefano Pioli after a winless start to the Serie A season that has left the club bottom of the table.

The 60-year-old was appointed in July for his second spell in Florence but managed only four points from 10 league matches, drawing four and losing six.

His departure was confirmed earlier today, two days after a 2-1 home defeat to Lecce that provoked strong protests from supporters.

Pioli’s dismissal comes just days after sporting director Daniele Prade also left his post, signalling a wider shake-up at the club.

Former midfielder Daniele Galloppa has been named caretaker head coach while Fiorentina search for a permanent replacement.

In a statement, the club said: “ACF Fiorentina can confirm that Stefano Pioli has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the first team. The club would like to thank him and his staff for the professionalism shown during their time at Fiorentina.”

Despite the team’s domestic struggles, Fiorentina have enjoyed better fortunes in Europe. They have won all four of their Europa Conference League fixtures under Pioli and are well-placed to progress from the group stage.

The former AC Milan boss was handed a three-year contract in the summer after Raffaele Palladino’s unexpected exit. Expectations were high following last season’s sixth-place finish in Serie A and a run to the Conference League semi-finals.

Pioli inherited a strengthened squad featuring David de Gea, Moise Kean, and summer signings Edin Dzeko, Robin Gosens, and Nicolo Fagioli. However, Fiorentina’s new-look side never found cohesion in the league, scoring only seven goals while conceding 19.

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It is Pioli’s second stint at the club, having previously managed Fiorentina between 2017 and 2019. His return was meant to mark a new era, but instead it has ended with the team enduring their worst-ever start to a Serie A campaign.

Galloppa will lead the team in Thursday’s Conference League clash away to Mainz before turning attention to Sunday’s league trip to Genoa.

The club’s hierarchy is expected to accelerate its search for a new head coach in the coming days.