Sergio Pirozzi
{{Short description|Italian football manager (born 1965)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Sergio Pirozzi
| image = Sergio Pirozzi.png
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|1|26|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.sergiopirozzi.it/la-mia-storia/ |publisher=Sergio Pirozzi |language=Italian |accessdate=23 November 2023 |title=La mia storia}}{{cite web |url=https://www.calciomarche.it/allenatore/329/sergio-pirozzi |publisher=CalcioMarche.it |language=Italian |accessdate=23 November 2023 |title=Sergio Pirozzi}}
| birth_place = San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy
| currentclub =
| position = Full back{{cite web |url=https://www.ilcentro.it/abruzzo/amatriciana-non-%C3%A8-una-parolaccia-1.697900 |publisher=Il Centro |language=it |accessdate=23 November 2023 |date=29 March 2011 |title=Amatriciana non è una parolaccia}}
| years1 = ? | clubs1 = L'Aquila | caps1 = ? |goals1 = ?
| manageryears1 = 1994–1998 | managerclubs1 = Amatrice
| manageryears2 = 1998–2000 | managerclubs2 = Fiumicino
| manageryears3 = 2001–2002 | managerclubs3 = Centro Italia
| manageryears4 = 2002–2003 | managerclubs4 = Ostiamare
| manageryears5 = 2003–2004 | managerclubs5 = Sorianese
| manageryears6 = 2004–2006 | managerclubs6 = Rieti
| manageryears7 = 2007 | managerclubs7 = Viterbese
| manageryears8 = 2009 | managerclubs8 = Messina
| manageryears9 = 2010–2011 | managerclubs9 = Aprilia
| manageryears10= 2011–2012 | managerclubs10= Civitavecchia
| manageryears11= 2012–2013 | managerclubs11= Palestrina
| manageryears12= 2013 | managerclubs12= Viterbese
| manageryears13= 2014–2016 | managerclubs13= Trastevere
| manageryears14= 2020–2021 | managerclubs14= Trastevere
| manageryears15= 2023 | managerclubs15= Atletico Ascoli
| manageryears16= 2023 | managerclubs16= Alessandria
}}
Sergio Pirozzi (born 26 January 1965) is an Italian football coach, former defender and politician.
Football career
After a minor career as a full-back, Pirozzi took on his first coaching role in 1994 in charge of then-Seconda Categoria club Amatrice, leading the small amateur club all the way up to Promozione during his four-year stay at the club.{{cite web |url=https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/protagonisti/cronaca/2016/08/31/sergio-pirozzi_505ccb17-7d3e-49ab-b776-3b5a1f9f676f.html |publisher=Il Centro |language=it |accessdate=23 November 2023 |date=15 January 2018 |title=Sergio Pirozzi}} He successively took on other regional clubs of Lazio at Eccellenza and then Serie D level. In 2004, Pirozzi led Rieti to win the Serie D title and then guided the club in their successive 2005–06 Serie C2 campaign.{{cite web |url=https://www.rietilife.com/2020/05/08/rieti-calcio-15-anni-fa-la-promozione-in-c2-con-pirozzi-e-palombi-le-foto-storiche/ |publisher=RietiLife.com|language=it |accessdate=23 November 2023 |date=8 May 2020 |title=Rieti calcio, 15 anni fa la promozione in C2 con Pirozzi e Palombi}} In January 2007, he took over as the new head coach of Serie C2 club Viterbese, guiding them until the end of the season.{{cite web |url=https://www.rietilife.com/2013/10/23/ce-un-reatino-per-la-viterbese-in-panchina-arriva-sergio-pirozzi/ |publisher=RietiLife.com|language=it |accessdate=23 November 2023 |date=23 October 2013 |title=C’È UN REATINO PER LA VITERBESE: IN PANCHINA ARRIVA SERGIO PIROZZI}}
On 2 November 2009, Pirozzi served as head coach of Messina in the Serie D for a single game against Acicatena, then resigning just three days after his appointment.{{cite web |url=https://www.messinasportiva.it/amatrice-sindaco-pirozzi-affronto-sisma-alleno-messina/ |publisher=Messina Sportiva|language=it |accessdate=23 November 2023 |date=3 April 2017 |title=Amatrice, il sindaco Pirozzi: "Affronto il sisma come quando alleno. E a Messina…"}}
After serving as head coach at a number of Serie D teams from Lazio such as Aprilia, Civitavecchia and Palestrina, Pirozzi returned to Viterbese in October 2013, serving only for four league games in the Eccellenza division.{{cite web |url=https://lazio.lnd.it/storia-eccellenza-2013-2014 |publisher=LND Lazio|language=it |accessdate=23 November 2023 |title=STAGIONE 2013-2014: VITERBESE CASTRENSE E LUPA CASTELLI ROMANI}}
Later in 2014 Pirozzi was hired as the new head coach of Rome-based Eccellenza club Trastevere, guiding them to promotion in his first season.{{cite web |url=https://www.calciomercato.com/news/pirozzi-l-allenatore-sindaco-il-sogno-col-trastevere-e-l-incubo--610486 |publisher=Calciomercato.com|date=24 August 2016 |language=it |accessdate=23 November 2023 |title=Pirozzi, l'allenatore-sindaco: il sogno col Trastevere e l'incubo ad Amatrice}} After guiding the club on a successful debut campaign in the Serie D, Pirozzi resigned in August 2016 following the Central Italy earthquake that destroyed the city of Amatrice, where he was serving as mayor at the time.{{cite web |url=https://www.ilmattino.it/primopiano/cronaca/sergio_pirozzi_sindaco_amatrice_allenatore_trastevere-1928889.html |publisher=Il Mattino|date=25 August 2016 |language=it |accessdate=23 November 2023 |title=Pirozzi, sindaco di Amatrice e allenatore, lascia la panchina: "Sto con la mia gente"}}
In 2020, Pirozzi agreed to return to Trastevere for the club's 2020–21 Serie D campaign.{{cite web |url=https://www.ilmessaggero.it/sport/calcio/sergio_pirozzi-5217950.html |publisher=Il Messaggero|date=9 May 2020 |language=it |accessdate=23 November 2023 |title=Trastevere, a volte ritornano: Pirozzi sarà il tecnico 2020-2021}}
In December 2021, Serie D club Sambenedettese announced the appointment of Pirozzi as their new head coach; however, he retracted after Sambenedettese ultras showed their disapproval of the appointment as he was a fan of the rival team Ascoli.{{cite web |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/altri-campionati/19-12-2021/sambenedettese-pirozzi-famiglia-terremoto-430539299548.shtml |publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport|date=19 December 2021 |language=it |accessdate=23 November 2023 |title=Pirozzi e il no alla Samb: "Minacce alla famiglia, e quei commenti sul terremoto..."}}
In September 2022, Pirozzi successfully obtained the UEFA Pro coaching licence.{{cite web |url=https://www.calciofere.it/2022/09/08/a-pirozzi-la-qualifica-uefa-pro-lex-sindaco-di-amatrice-alleno-un-attuale-rossoverde/ |publisher=CalcioFere.it|date=8 September 2022 |language=it |accessdate=23 November 2023 |title=A Pirozzi la qualifica Uefa Pro, l’ex sindaco di Amatrice allenò un attuale rossoverde}}
In March 2023, Pirozzi was appointed in charge of Eccellenza club Atletico Ascoli,{{cite web |url=https://www.picenotime.it/it/pagine/59F89E34-F658-11E9-BA84-B0A97E8EE179,FD9B980E-FBDC-11EA-85A3-B832108FCDFE,AE060D8E-C8BB-11ED-AE3A-713AC24C915C/ |publisher=PicenoTime|date=22 March 2023|language=it |accessdate=23 November 2023 |title=Atletico Ascoli, Sergio Pirozzi è il nuovo allenatore dopo l’esonero di Luigi Giandomenico}} guiding them to promotion to Serie D by the end of the season.{{cite web |url=https://www.calcioascoli.it/2023/05/02/l-ex-pirozzi-festeggia-la-promozione-in-d-con-latletico-ascoli/ |publisher=CalcioAscoli|date=2 May 2023|language=it |accessdate=23 November 2023 |title=L’ex Pirozzi festeggia la promozione in D con l’Atletico Ascoli}} He was sacked on 31 October 2023 following a negative start in the club's 2023–24 Serie D campaign.{{cite web |url=https://www.marcheingol.it/2023/10/31/atletico-ascoli-si-cambia-sergio-pirozzi-sollevato-dall-incarico-042593/ |publisher=Marcheingol.it|date=31 October 2023|language=it |accessdate=23 November 2023 |title=ATLETICO ASCOLI. Si cambia: Sergio Pirozzi sollevato dall'incarico}}
On 23 November 2023, Serie C club Alessandria announced to have hired Pirozzi as their new head coach, on what was set to be his first head coaching job for a professional club since 2007.{{cite web |url=https://www.corriereadriatico.it/sport/news/clamoroso_c_alessandria_sceglie_tecnico_ex_sindaco_amatrice_pirozzi_20_giorni_fa_esonerato_atletico_ascoli_ultime_notizie-7774335.html |publisher=Corriere Adriatico|date=23 November 2023|language=it |accessdate=23 November 2023 |title=Clamoroso in C, l'Alessandria sceglie come tecnico l'ex sindaco di Amatrice Pirozzi: 20 giorni fa fu esonerato dall'Atletico Ascoli}} His stint at Alessandria lasted only one month, as he was removed from his coaching post on 27 December 2023.{{cite web|publisher=US Alessandria Calcio 1912|url=https://www.alessandriacalcio.it/comunicato-2/ |title=ESONERO MISTER PIROZZI|date=27 December 2023 | accessdate=28 December 2023|language=it}}
Political career
Despite being born in San Benedetto del Tronto, Pirozzi grew up in Amatrice.{{cite web |url=https://www.money.it/Sergio-Pirozzi-biografia-sindaco-Amatrice-candidato-Lazio |publisher=Money.it |language=it |date=14 March 2018 |title=Chi è Sergio Pirozzi? Biografia del sindaco di Amatrice e consigliere alla Regione Lazio |accessdate=23 November 2023 }} In 1995 he was elected city councillor of Amatrice and appointed deputy mayor.{{cite web |url=https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/pirozzi-sindaco-sanguigno-che-amatrice-sogna-presidenza-regione-AELp30GC |publisher=Il Sole 24 Ore |language=it |date=24 August 2017 |title=Pirozzi, il sindaco "sanguigno" che dopo Amatrice sogna la presidenza della regione |accessdate=23 November 2023 }} He was successively elected councillor of the Province of Rieti for the right-wing National Alliance and then mayor of Amatrice in 2009.
As an incumbent mayor, he became a national figure in 2016 following the Central Italy earthquake that nearly destroyed the town of Amatrice. A year later, he announced his candidacy as President of Lazio for the 2018 Lazio regional election,{{cite web |url=https://www.lastampa.it/politica/2017/11/10/news/il-sindaco-di-amatrice-sergio-pirozzi-si-candida-nel-lazio-con-me-sindaci-e-professionisti-1.34382921/ |publisher=Il Sole 24 Ore |language=it |date=10 November 2017 |title=Il sindaco di Amatrice Sergio Pirozzi si candida nel Lazio: con me sindaci e professionisti |accessdate=23 November 2023 }} where he ran as an independent candidate, obtaining 4.89% of votes and being elected regional councillor. He subsequently joined Brothers of Italy in 2019,{{cite web |url=https://www.paconline.it/2019/05/13/lazio-sergio-pirozzi-entra-in-fratelli-ditalia/ |publisher=Punto a Capo Online |language=it |date=13 May 2019 |title=Lazio: Sergio Pirozzi entra in Fratelli d’Italia |accessdate=23 November 2023 }} then switching his allegiance to the Lega in 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.romatoday.it/politica/sergio-pirozzi-lega.html |publisher=RomaToday |language=it |date=13 July 2022 |title=L'ex sindaco di Amatrice Pirozzi passa alla Lega. Salvini: "Partito cresce" |accessdate=23 November 2023 }} In 2023, he declared his political career to be over;{{cite web |url=https://www.iltempo.it/personaggi/2023/04/16/news/sergio-pirozzi-lascia-politica-deluso-ritorno-amore-calcio-atletico-ascoli-35523332/ |publisher=Il Tempo |language=it |date=16 April 2023 |title=Pirozzi torna al suo grande amore, il calcio: "La politica mi ha deluso" |accessdate=23 November 2023 }} one year later, he reverted on his previous decision and accepted a candidacy for the 2024 European Parliament election in Italy as part of the big tent Freedom list, eventually not being elected.{{cite web|url=https://www.firenzedintorni.it/it/pirozzi-ho-deciso-di-candidarmi-alle-europee.html |publisher=FirenzeDintorni.it |language=it |date=25 May 2024 |accessdate=9 October 2024 |title=Pirozzi: "Ho deciso di candidarmi alle Europee per aiutare tutte quelle persone che attraversano la zona rossa del dolore"}}
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{US Alessandria Calcio 1912 managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pirozzi, Sergio}}
Category:Italian football managers
Category:Italian men's footballers
Category:US Alessandria Calcio 1912 managers
Category:Brothers of Italy politicians
Category:National Alliance (Italy) politicians