Gian Piero Gasperini has been confirmed as the new manager of Roma, the club announced, as Serie A prepares for a shift towards younger coaches next season. The average age of Serie A managers is set to decrease to 49.2 years old for the 2026/27 season, a notable drop from the 51.7-year-old average just four years ago.
This trend is driven by a wave of appointments of managers in their 40s, including Alberto Aquilani at Sassuolo, Giovanni Abate at Torino, Christian Tedesco at Bologna, and Rubén Amorim at Milan. The Italian top flight appears to be following the lead of the Premier League in increasingly betting on the potential of younger coaching talent, responding to a perceived need for fresh ideas after seasons marked by tactical conservatism.
While the appointments at Sassuolo and Bologna align with the clubs’ existing strategies of developing young managers – replacing Grosso and Italiano respectively – the decision to bring in Amorim at Milan has drawn significant attention. The 41-year-old Amorim will become the third Portuguese manager Milan has appointed in recent years, following the unsuccessful tenures of Fonseca and Conceição, and after a period under Massimiliano Allegri.
In contrast to this league-wide trend, Roma are placing their faith in Gasperini, who will be the oldest manager in Serie A next season. However, the 66-year-old arrives with a strong track record, having established himself as one of the most influential coaches in Italian football over the past decade. Gasperini left Atalanta convinced he can build on his success in the capital.
The Roma manager has publicly stated his ambition to achieve significant results within three years, believing that with the right investment, the club can challenge for the Serie A title. The appointment of D’Amico as the new sporting director further strengthens the setup, as the pair previously enjoyed a successful working relationship at Atalanta. D’Amico faces the immediate task of addressing financial fair play requirements through player sales, as well as negotiating contract renewals for key players Paulo Dybala, Celik, and Pellegrini, all of whom are priorities for Gasperini. He will then focus on strengthening the squad to meet the manager’s ambitions.
