Parma have officially announced the appointment of Alberto Gilardino as their new head coach, with the 2006 World Cup winner signing a contract until the end of the 2026-27 season. Gilardino takes over from Carlos Cuesta, who was dismissed from his role over the weekend.
The 44-year-old Italian, who was available after leaving Pisa earlier this year, will be joined by a new coaching staff. Gaetano Caridi will serve as his assistant, Francesco Valiani as a first-team coach, Antonio Bovenzi as a fitness coach, and Mirco Vecchi as chief analyst.
Cuesta’s Departure and Club Vision
Carlos Cuesta’s departure came just five matches into the 2026-27 Serie A season. Parma confirmed that the decision to part ways was primarily due to a disagreement over the club’s sporting vision, rather than the team’s initial results. Under Cuesta, Parma sat 15th in the Serie A table, having secured one win and one draw alongside three defeats in their opening fixtures.
Parma’s managerial change marks the third in Serie A for the 2026-27 campaign. Fiorentina previously sacked Fabio Grosso before re-hiring Paolo Vanoli, while Bologna replaced Domenico Tedesco with Raffaele Palladino.
Gilardino’s Coaching Journey
Alberto Gilardino brings a wealth of experience from both his playing career and his relatively young managerial journey. As a player, he was a prominent striker and a member of Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning squad. His previous managerial roles include spells with Pisa, Genoa, Siena, and Pro Vercelli.
His appointment signals a new direction for Parma as they look to stabilise their Serie A campaign following a challenging start to the season.