Alberto Aquilani has been officially announced as the new head coach of Serie A side Sassuolo. The club confirmed the appointment, with Aquilani taking charge of the first team for the upcoming season. This news follows the departure of Giovanni Carnevali, who has joined Juventus.
This marks a return to Emilia-Romagna for the former midfielder, having previously played for Sassuolo during a six-month spell in 2017, making 16 appearances. The club statement highlighted their belief in Aquilani’s qualities as a young coach with significant experience. Aquilani will be tasked with leading a new project for the Neroverdi.
Aquilani’s coaching career began in 2019 with Fiorentina’s Under 18 team, before becoming a technical collaborator with the first team under Giuseppe Iachini. He then managed Fiorentina’s Primavera side from 2020, achieving considerable success with three Coppa Italia Primavera titles and three Supercoppe Primavera trophies. He was recognized as the best Primavera coach at the end of the 2022/23 season. Following a stint with Pisa in Serie B, where he finished 13th with 46 points, he most recently managed Catanzaro, guiding them to a fifth-place finish and narrowly missing out on Serie A promotion after losing to Monza in the playoff final.
Prior to his managerial career, Aquilani enjoyed a distinguished playing career, representing Roma, Liverpool, Juventus, and Milan. Sassuolo Vice President and Mapei CEO Veronica Squinzi expressed her satisfaction with the appointment, noting the club’s growth since Aquilani’s time as a player and her belief that they can achieve new successes together. She also pointed to the existing connection between Aquilani and the club as a positive factor. Aquilani will reunite with former teammate Domenico Berardi at the Mapei Stadium.
