Atalanta have officially appointed Raffaele Palladino as their new head coach on a contract running until June 2027. The decision comes shortly after the club sacked Ivan Juric following a poor start to the season, with just four wins in 14 matches across all competitions. Recent defeats to Marseille and Sassuolo sealed Juric’s fate, ending his short tenure in Bergamo.
As reported by SoftFootball earlier, Atalanta opened talks with Palladino immediately after Juric’s dismissal was confirmed. The club’s hierarchy, led by the Percassi family, viewed the 41-year-old Italian as the ideal candidate to rejuvenate the squad and return to their trademark attacking football. Palladino’s arrival signals a tactical shift, as he is expected to adopt a more possession-based approach compared to Juric’s rigid defensive setup.
The former Fiorentina manager earned praise last season after guiding La Viola to a sixth-place finish and a spot in the UEFA Conference League. His ability to develop young players and instil confidence in underperforming talents was reportedly key to Atalanta’s decision. Among those expected to benefit under his leadership is striker Nikola Krstovic, who has struggled for form this season.
Atalanta are eager to rediscover consistency after a turbulent start that has frustrated both fans and players. The club also hopes Palladino can help rebuild morale, particularly following controversies surrounding the alleged Ademola Lookman incident under Juric.
As shared by Fabrizio Romano on his official X account, Palladino will officially take charge in the coming days, with his first press conference expected before the team’s next Serie A fixture. Atalanta expressed gratitude to Juric and his coaching staff in a statement, wishing them well for the future as a new chapter begins in Bergamo.
