Fiorentina bring Vanoli back just three months after his exit
Fiorentina have reappointed Paolo Vanoli as head coach, bringing him back only three months after he left the club.
The decision happened one day after Fiorentina fired Fabio Grosso following a start to the Serie A season. Grosso lost all three of his games as coach with Fiorentina scoring once and letting in nine goals. They ended up at the bottom of the table.
It is a change for the club.
Vanoli had already been in charge of Fiorentina season after Stefano Pioli was let go in November. At that time Fiorentina had not won 10 league games in a row. Were in big trouble with relegation.
Vanoli helped the team get better. Fiorentina eventually moved up from the three and finished 15th. They survived with two games left. He also took the club to the Conference League quarter-finals. There they were beaten by the winners Crystal Palace.
Still Fiorentina decided to say goodbye to him at the end of the season. They gave the summer rebuilding job to Grosso. The sporting director Fabio Paratici signed Grosso after a transfer window that cost around €130 million. Thirteen new players. People expected the club to fight for European football.
The new team looks very unfit. Losses to Roma, Frosinone and Torino left Fiorentina with zero points after three games. The game against Torino was especially bad because Fiorentina was leading at home but could not keep the lead. After the game no club officials talked to the press. The first message was that Grosso still had support with the results and fans who were upset.
That support did not last a full day. Fiorentina made a statement to confirm Vanolis appointment.
"ACF Fiorentina announce that coach Paolo Vanoli has been appointed as the technical manager of the Viola first team " the club said. "We want to thank the coach for his willingness to come back and lead the first team."
Vanoli knows the club, the pressure and most of the challenges he faces. The big difference this time is that he is taking over a team that was built with a lot of money but already has confidence.
His first game back will be on Friday, against Venezia. The team that just got promoted is also looking for their win after three games and has no points. It is a chance for Fiorentina to stop the spiral.
It is also a game they cannot lose. Vanoli was brought back because Fiorentina needs a fix, not another long rescue mission.
