Besiktas Istanbul have appointed Vincenzo Italiano as their new manager, the Turkish club announced on Saturday. The Italian coach has signed a contract with the Süper Lig side that will run until the end of the 2027-2028 season. Italiano arrives at Besiktas after spells managing Fiorentina and Bologna in Serie A.
Italiano, 48, had also been linked with the vacant managerial position at Napoli before agreeing terms with Besiktas. His appointment marks the eleventh time Besiktas have changed manager since the end of 2021, a period which has seen Valérien Ismaël, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer all take charge of the Istanbul club. The instability in the dugout reflects Besiktas’s struggles to compete with Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe for the Süper Lig title.
Besiktas last won the Turkish championship in 2021, but have fallen behind their rivals in recent seasons. The club will be hoping Italiano can bring a period of stability and success to the Vodafone Park. During his time with Fiorentina, Italiano established a reputation for attractive, attacking football, guiding the club to the UEFA Europa Conference League final in 2023. He previously managed Spezia and Trapani before moving to Bologna.
Prior to his appointment, Italiano’s Bologna finished fifth in Serie A last season, securing a spot in the UEFA Europa League. This success will have heightened expectations amongst Besiktas supporters, who are eager to see their team challenge for the title once more. The club’s ownership will be hoping Italiano can quickly implement his tactical approach and revitalize a squad that has underperformed in recent campaigns. This appointment signals Besiktas’s intent to invest in a progressive manager capable of restoring the club to its former glory.
