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Bologna FC have dismissed head coach Domenico Tedesco, ending a tenure that barely lasted a summer. The 40-year-old German-Italian coach was appointed on June 2, 2026, which means he survived roughly 105 days in the job.
The decision follows a disastrous opening to the 2026-27 campaign. Bologna collected a single point from their first four matches, scoring just two goals while conceding five. Three losses and a draw is, to put it gently, not the start anyone drew up on the whiteboard.
A slow-motion collapse
The writing was on the wall well before the official announcement. Reports indicated that Bologna’s club hierarchy held a lunchtime meeting on September 15, 2026, to discuss Tedesco’s future.
Bologna’s final match under Tedesco was a draw against Sassuolo. Tedesco wasn’t even on the touchline for that match. He was serving the first game of a two-match ban handed down for verbal abuse directed at a referee. Club president Joey Saputo was also sanctioned in connection with the incident.
Tedesco’s winding road to Bologna
Tedesco arrived in Bologna with a resume that included stints at RB Leipzig and Fenerbahce, plus a period managing the Belgian national team.
What comes next for Bologna
Italian media have floated several names as potential replacements, with Stefano Pioli, Thiago Motta, and Raffaele Palladino all reportedly in the frame.
Thiago Motta’s name carries particular resonance for Bologna supporters. The Brazilian-Italian coach previously managed the club and led them to a remarkable Champions League qualification. Bringing him back would be a pragmatic one, as he already knows the environment, the fan base, and potentially some of the players still on the roster.
Palladino made his name with impressive work at Fiorentina and has been recognized as one of the sharper tactical minds in the Italian coaching pipeline.
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