Fiorentina have parted ways with head coach Fabio Grosso following a challenging start to his tenure, which saw the club suffer three consecutive Serie A defeats. The decision sees Paolo Vanoli return to the club, just three months after his initial departure.
Grosso’s dismissal brings renewed attention to his standing as a promising young coach, particularly given his previous consideration for the Italy national team head coach position under former technical director Paolo Maldini.
Grosso’s Short Tenure at Fiorentina
Fabio Grosso arrived at Fiorentina after a successful 2025-26 season, where he guided Sassuolo to a comfortable Serie A survival in his first full season as a coach in the top flight. His performance at Sassuolo had marked him as one of Serie A’s exciting emerging coaches, leading to his opportunity at the Stadio Franchi.
However, his time with Fiorentina was brief and unsuccessful, culminating in his sacking after a string of poor results in the league.
Maldini’s Search for an Italy Coach
Grosso’s name had previously surfaced during Paolo Maldini’s brief two-week stint as Italy’s technical director in July. Maldini, alongside Leonardo, was tasked with identifying a new national team coach. Their initial discussions included high-profile figures such as Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola.
After these options did not materialise, Maldini’s focus shifted to younger coaches with a history in the national team as players. Andrea Pirlo was reportedly Maldini’s preferred candidate, but his appointment was blocked due to a political controversy surrounding his role as a brand ambassador for a Russian betting company.
Maldini later revealed his broader considerations, stating, "We wanted a young coach who had a history in the national team. There were three names [besides Pirlo], Daniele De Rossi and Fabio Grosso." However, neither De Rossi nor Grosso were approached at the time, as both were under contract with Serie A clubs, and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) had an agreement not to contact coaches already employed by top-flight teams.
Following the collapse of the deal with Pirlo, FIGC President Giovanni Malagò intervened and appointed Roberto Mancini as Italy’s head coach, with Claudio Ranieri joining as technical director.
The Aftermath for Maldini
Maldini and Leonardo ultimately resigned from their roles. They reportedly believed that the political scandal involving Pirlo was an excuse to limit their decision-making authority and obstruct the hiring of their preferred candidate. The duo had envisioned a long-term project and, after being turned down by Ancelotti and Guardiola, favoured young coaches with significant playing experience for the national team over other established coaches like Mancini or Antonio Conte.
Grosso’s recent dismissal by Fiorentina, just months after being considered for such a prestigious role, inevitably prompts further scrutiny of the coaching choices and processes that unfolded during that period.