Alberto Aquilani named head coach of Sassuolo on 2-year deal

Alberto Aquilani, the 41-year-old former Italian international, has been appointed head coach of Sassuolo on a contract running until June 2028. It marks his first crack at managing in Serie A, and the timing suggests Sassuolo wanted this wrapped up fast.

The appointment follows the resignation of Fabio Grosso, who left the club to take charge at Fiorentina. Sassuolo moved quickly to fill the vacancy, announcing Aquilani as his successor within days of Grosso’s exit.

From Catanzaro’s playoff push to the top flight

Aquilani’s most recent managerial stint was at Catanzaro in Serie B, where he guided the club to a fifth-place finish. That’s a respectable result for a side competing in Italy’s second tier, though the campaign ended with disappointment in the playoff final.

A playing career that spanned continents

Aquilani’s playing resume reads like a European football travel diary. The midfielder earned 38 caps for the Italian national team during a career that took him across multiple leagues and countries.

Most football fans will remember him from his time at Roma, where he emerged as a technically gifted central midfielder with an eye for a pass. A move to Liverpool followed, though injuries prevented him from making the impact many had anticipated at Anfield.

His path into management has been deliberate rather than rushed. Aquilani began coaching in the youth systems at Fiorentina before moving into senior management roles at Pisa and most recently Catanzaro in Serie B.

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