On November 4, 2025, ACF Fiorentina confirmed the dismissal of head coach Stefano Pioli after a dreadful start to the 2025–26 Serie A season. The club released an official statement thanking Pioli and his staff for their professionalism on their official X account. According to SoftFootball, the decision followed their 1–0 home defeat to Lecce, their tenth straight game without a win, which left them bottom of the table with just four points.
The news came after reports that Fiorentina had rejected Atalanta’s €12 million bid for Robin Gosens, a move that signalled the club’s intent to focus on rebuilding. Despite the pressure, Pioli refused to resign voluntarily and reportedly insisted on completing his contract, which ran until 2028. Fiorentina’s hierarchy, led by Rocco Commisso and Joe Barone, had tried to reach a mutual agreement to avoid paying his full €3 million severance.
However, negotiations broke down, leading to a tense standoff. The coach had earlier turned down a lucrative Saudi offer to return to Florence, confident he could restore the team’s form. The club’s recent transfer activity, including bringing back Edin Džeko to Serie A, reflected their desire for experience and leadership.
Pioli’s second spell began with optimism after his successful first tenure between 2017 and 2019, when Fiorentina finished sixth and qualified for Europe. This time, however, poor defending, lack of creativity, and low morale saw the Viola lose six of their first ten matches.
Daniele Galloppa will now lead Fiorentina temporarily as the club searches for a new permanent manager.
