Fabio Grosso is officially OUT at Fiorentina, and we’re talking about a guy who was literally on Paolo Maldini’s shortlist for the Italy head coach position only a few months back. After overseeing three consecutive Serie A defeats, Fiorentina wasted no time, parting ways with Grosso and bringing Paolo Vanoli back to the club just three months after Vanoli’s own departure. Talk about a dizzying turn of events!
From Exciting Prospect to Early Exit
Grosso wasn’t some unknown. He completed his first full Serie A season as a coach in 2025-26, leading Sassuolo to a comfortable survival. That convinced Fabio Paratici to give him a shot at the Stadio Franchi, and Grosso was considered one of the most exciting young coaches in Serie A. But the excitement ended fast. Three months, three losses, and the gig is gone. It’s a brutal reminder of how quickly things can unravel in professional football, even for a coach with a rising profile.
Maldini’s Messy Vision and the Italy Job Drama
This quick sacking also casts a serious shadow on Paolo Maldini’s judgment. Maldini, who only held the role of ex-Italy technical director for two weeks in July, had Grosso on his radar for the national team. His pursuit of an Italy coach was a saga. Maldini first approached giants like Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola. When those didn’t pan out, he picked Andrea Pirlo, but a political scandal surrounding Pirlo’s role as a brand ambassador for a Russian betting company blocked that appointment. Maldini publicly stated he wanted “a young coach who had a history in the national team,” mentioning Daniele De Rossi and Grosso as other options.
However, Maldini and his advisor Leonardo couldn’t even approach De Rossi or Grosso. Why? Because they were under contract with Serie A clubs, and the Italian FA, led by President Giovanni Malagò, had an agreement not to poach coaches already employed. The criticism against Maldini quickly mounted once Pirlo became his public preference after the big names. After the Pirlo deal imploded, Malagò took control, hiring Roberto Mancini and bringing Claudio Ranieri in as Italy’s technical director. Maldini and Leonardo ultimately resigned, convinced the Pirlo scandal was just an excuse to restrict their decision-making power and obstruct their preferred candidates. They envisioned a “long-term project” built on young coaches with national team playing experience, rather than other available “top coaches” like Mancini or Antonio Conte. Grosso’s incredibly short, unsuccessful stint at Fiorentina doesn’t exactly build confidence in that “young coach” philosophy, does it?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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