Vincenzo Italiano

Italiano was born in Karlsruhe, West Germany, to Sicilian parents originally from Ribera and later moved back to their hometown when he was six months of age.{{cite news |title=chi è chi è |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2005/02/01/chi-chi.html |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=La Repubblica |date=1 February 2005}}

After starting his professional career with Trapani, he played for Hellas Verona (for most of his career), first in Serie A and later in Serie B. Italiano made his debut in Serie A with Hellas Verona on 2 February 1997, under manager Luigi Cagni, in Serie A, at the age of 19, in a 6–1 away defeat to Bologna; Verona were relegated at the end of the 1996–97 Serie A season.{{cite web |last1=Lorenzelli |first1=Guido |title=Italiano e quell'esordio nel Verona per mano di Gigi Cagni |url=https://www.calciospezia.it/2020/12/31/italiano-e-quellesordio-nel-verona-per-mano-di-gigi-cagni/ |publisher=Calcio Spezia |access-date=30 May 2024 |language=it-IT |date=31 December 2020}}{{cite web |title=La Retrocessione 1996/1997, parte 2 - OK, LA PIAZZA (NON) E' GIUSTA |url=https://www.hellastory.net/verona/speciale-retrocessioni/1996-97_2.cfm#google_vignette |publisher=www.hellastory.net |access-date=30 May 2024 |language=it}} After helping his team earn promotion back to Serie A in 1998–99, he scored his first Serie A goal on 5 November 2000, in a 2–2 home draw against Inter Milan, but was later sent off for a double booking following his goal celebration.{{cite news |last1=Luca |first1=Gregori Claudio, Elefante Andrea, Curino |title=Vieri dà la scossa all' Inter |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2000/novembre/06/Vieri_scossa_all_Inter_ga_0_00110613622.shtml |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |date=6 November 2000 |language=it}} Italiano then had a brief spell with Genoa in 2005, before returning to Verona the following season.{{cite news |title=Il centrocampo parla Italiano Il centrocampo parla Italiano - la Repubblica.it |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2005/02/01/il-centrocampo-parla-italiano-il-centrocampo-parla.html |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=la Repubblica.it |date=1 February 2005 |language=it}}

Italiano then appeared in Serie A again, albeit briefly, with cross-city rivals Chievo on 14 January 2007{{cite web|title=Tactical Formation|work=Football-Lineups.com

|url=http://www.football-lineups.com/wiki/_match3287.php | access-date=18 January 2007}} against Catania; he helped them achieve promotion back to Serie A by winning the Serie B title the following season, and later helping them avoid relegation the season after that. He subsequently joined Padova in 2009, and later had spells with Perugia and Lumezzane before retiring in 2014.{{cite web |title=Vincenzo Italiano è la next big thing degli allenatori di Serie A? |url=https://www.esquire.com/it/sport/corse/a45504266/vincenzo-italiano/ |publisher=Esquire |access-date=30 May 2024 |language=it-IT |date=13 October 2023}}

Italiano's playing role was that of a versatile and dynamic central midfield playmaker, known for his tackling and passing range, in particular his ability to play long balls. He often played in the regista role as a deep-lying playmaker in midfield, and was influenced by Demetrio Albertini and Andrea Pirlo.{{cite web |url=https://breakingthelines.com/tactical-analysis/tactical-analysis-vincenzo-italianos-spezia/ |title=Tactical Analysis: Vincenzo Italiano’s Spezia |publisher=Breaking The Lines |date=9 March 2021 |access-date=30 May 2024 }}{{cite news |last1=Guglielmo |first1=Longhi |title=«Sfiorare il Torino E' il mio destino» |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2009/settembre/22/Sfiorare_Torino_mio_destino__ga_3_090922001.shtml |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |date=22 September 2009 |language=it}}{{cite news |title=Modello Italiano: 'Chiamatemi Pirlo...' |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2005/02/02/modello-italiano-chiamatemi-pirlo.html |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=la Repubblica.it |date=2 February 2005 |language=it}}{{cite news |last1=Pierfrancesco |first1=Archetti |title=Il nuovo Chievo sgonfia il Catania |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2007/gennaio/15/nuovo_Chievo_sgonfia_Catania_ga_10_070115010.shtml |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |date=15 January 2007 |language=it}}{{cite news |title=Who is Vincenzo Italiano? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/fiorentina-west-ham-live-score-updates-result-conference-league-final/kuzKw0pFNVFp/kMFPnnTjw7G8/ |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=The Athletic |date=8 June 2023}} In addition to his vision and ability to dictate the tempo of his teams' plays,{{cite news |title=Per Cosmi il rebus Italiano |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2005/02/17/per-cosmi-il-rebus-italiano.html |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=la Repubblica.it |date=17 February 2005 |language=it}} Italiano was also known for his powerful striking ability from outside the box.

After his retirement as a player, he started a coaching career in Veneto for a number of amateur teams. In 2017, he joined Union ArzignanoChiampo,[https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-d/serie-d-due-conferme-in-panca-per-l-arzignano-c-a-vincenzo-italiano-978526 Serie D, due conferme in panca. Per l'Arzignano c'è Vincenzo Italiano]‚ tuttomercatoweb.com, 2 June 2017 which won him interest from Serie C club Trapani who hired him for the 2018–19 season.{{cite news |url=http://www.trapanioggi.it/rubino-e-italiano-si-presentano/ |publisher=Trapani Oggi |language=it |access-date=13 August 2018 |date=7 August 2018 |title=Rubino e Italiano si presentano}}

Under his guidance, Trapani concluded the 2018–19 season in second place behind champions Juve Stabia, and then successfully contested the playoff phase, winning promotion to Serie B after defeating Piacenza 2–0 on aggregate.{{cite news |title=Trapani in Serie B: 2-0 al Piacenza |url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/serie-c/2019/06/15/serie-c-playoff-trapani-piacenza-risultato-gol |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=sport.sky.it |date=15 June 2019 |language=it}}

Following his successful season with Trapani, Italiano was subsequently hired by ambitious Serie B club Spezia as the club's new head coach for the 2019–20 season.{{cite web |title=Vincenzo Italiano è il nuovo allenatore dello Spezia Calcio |url=https://www.acspezia.com/news/vincenzo-italiano-il-nuovo-allenatore-dello-spezia-calcio.20252.html |publisher=Spezia Calcio - Sito ufficiale |access-date=30 May 2024 |language=it |date=19 June 2019}}

In his first season in charge, Italiano immediately achieved promotion with Spezia to Serie A for the first time in the club's history after edging Frosinone in the promotion play-offs.{{cite web|url=https://www.football-italia.net/157434/serie-b-spezia-win-promotion-serie|title=Serie B: Spezia win promotion to Serie A|publisher=Football Italia|date=20 August 2020}} He successively guided Spezia in their 2020–21 Serie A campaign, succeeding in keeping the small Ligurian club in the top flight in his debut season in the Italian top division.{{cite news |url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/serie-a/2021/05/15/spezia-torino-risultato-gol |title=Spezia-Torino LIVE |publisher=sport.sky.it |language=it |date=15 May 2021 |access-date=30 May 2024 }}

Italiano's successes with Spezia won him the interest of Fiorentina, who ultimately signed him as their new head coach on a two-year deal.{{cite web|title=VINCENZO ITALIANO È IL NUOVO TECNICO DELLA FIORENTINA|url=https://www.acffiorentina.com/it/news/tutte/prima-squadra-maschile/2021-06-30/vincenzo-italiano-e-il-nuovo-tecnico-della-fiorentina|date=30 June 2021|access-date=1 July 2021|website=ACF Fiorentina|language=it}} In his first season in charge, Italiano led Fiorentina to win a spot for the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League by finishing 7th in Serie A, thus marking a return into European football for the Viola after several years.{{cite web |title=Italiano: 'Fiorentina masterpiece, but future has to be discussed' - Football Italia |url=https://football-italia.net/italiano-fiorentina-masterpiece-but-future-has-to-be-discussed/ |publisher=football-italia.net |access-date=3 June 2024 |date=21 May 2022}} Despite interest from other clubs, Italiano was confirmed as Fiorentina manager for two more seasons.{{cite web |title=Fiorentina boss Italiano extends contract until 2024 |url=https://www.thescore.com/s/22094199 |publisher=theScore.com |access-date=3 June 2024 |language=en |date=22 June 2022}}

Italiano then led Fiorentina to the 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League Final the following season, the club's first European final since 1990. Their memorable campaign ended with a narrow 2–1 defeat to Premier League side West Ham United in the final minute of regulation time.{{cite web | last=Steinberg | first=Jacob | title=Jarrod Bowen strikes at the last to earn Conference League glory for West Ham | website=the Guardian | date=7 June 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jun/07/fiorentina-west-ham-europa-conference-league-final-match-report | access-date=8 June 2023}} Fiorentina finished 8th in the 2022–23 season, in what seemed as though Fiorentina have missed out on European Competition but surprisingly qualified for the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League due to seventh placed team, rivals Juventus, being banned from Conference League and Europe altogether, so Fiorentina replaced Juventus as Italy's representative for the Conference League.{{cite web |url=https://www.eurosport.it/calcio/uefa-europa-conference-league/2023-2024/juventus-ufficiale-la-squalifica-dalle-coppe-europee-juve-fuori-dalla-conference-league-al-suo-posto_sto9721006/story.shtml |title=Juventus, ufficiale la squalifica dalle coppe europee: Juve fuori dalla Conference League, al suo posto la Fiorentina |publisher=www.eurosport.it |language=it |last1=Eterno |first1=Simone |date=28 July 2023 |access-date=10 May 2024 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Coppe/07-06-2023/coppe-europee-fiorentina-nuovo-conference-se-juventus-dovesse-essere-esclusa-dall-uefa-4601949801546.shtml |title=Ecco le italiane che giocheranno in Europa l'anno prossimo: la Fiorentina c'è se... |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it-IT |date=7 June 2023 |access-date=10 May 2024 }} Fiorentina also reached the 2023 Coppa Italia final, sufferring a 2–1 defeat to Inter Milan.{{cite news |url=https://tg24.sky.it/sport/2023/05/24/fiorentina-inter-finale-coppa-italia-risultato-gol-diretta |title=L’Inter vince la Coppa Italia: in finale ha battuto 2-1 la Fiorentina |work=tg24.sky.it |language=it |date=24 May 2023 |access-date=10 May 2024 }}

He never started the same starting eleven in consecutive games during a 141-match run that ended on 2 March 2024, when he finally selected the same starting line-up against both Lazio at home and Torino away in the league.{{cite news |last1=Magriani |first1=Matteo |title=Fiorentina, Italiano conferma la stessa formazione per la prima volta dopo 141 partite |url=https://www.calciomercato.com/news/fiorentina-italiano-conferma-la-stessa-formazione-per-la-prima-v-88109 |access-date=11 March 2024 |work=Corriere Fiorentino |date=2 March 2024}}

Italiano made even more history with Fiorentina as they qualified for the 2024 UEFA Europa Conference League Final, eliminating Club Brugge 4–3 on aggregate in the semi-finals of the competition; Italiano became the first manager of Fiorentina to reach back to back European finals and the first to reach back to back Conference League finals.{{cite web |url=https://www.thescore.com/uefa/news/2909015 |title=Fiorentina hold off Club Brugge to reach Conference League final again |publisher=theScore.com |language=en |date=8 May 2024 |access-date=10 May 2024 }} However, on 29 May, Fiorentina lost out to Olympiacos 1–0, conceding late in the second half of extra-time, their second consecutive final defeat in the competition.{{cite news |last1=Media |first1=P. A. |title=Olympiakos win Europa Conference League after El Kaabi floors Fiorentina |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/may/29/olympiakos-fiorentina-europa-conference-league-final-match-report |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=29 May 2024}} Following the final match of the Serie A season on 2 June, in which Fiorentina managed a 3–2 away win over Atalanta, finishing in eighth place with 60 points and qualifying for the Conference League for the third consecutive season,{{cite web |date=2 June 2024 |title=Atalanta v Fiorentina |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/crgrqjqvx50t?page=5#Tables |access-date=3 June 2024 |publisher=BBC Sport}}{{cite web |date=2 June 2024 |title=The final 2023-24 Serie A table after Atalanta vs Fiorentina |url=https://football-italia.net/final-serie-a-table-after-atalanta-fiorentina/ |access-date=3 June 2024 |publisher=football-italia.net}} Italiano confirmed that he would be leaving the club in the summer.{{cite web |date=2 June 2024 |title=Emotional Italiano confirms Fiorentina exit |url=https://football-italia.net/emotional-italiano-confirms-fiorentina-exit/ |access-date=3 June 2024 |publisher=football-italia.net}}

On 5 June 2024, Italiano was officially appointed as the head coach of Serie A side Bologna, signing a two-year contract with the club.{{Cite web |date=5 June 2024 |title=Vincenzo Italiano è il nuovo allenatore del Bologna |url=https://www.bolognafc.it/vincenzo-italiano-e-il-nuovo-allenatore-del-bologna/ |access-date=5 June 2024 |website=Bologna FC |language=it-IT}}{{Cite web |date=5 June 2024 |title=Bologna, Italiano è il nuovo allenatore: il comunicato ufficiale |url=https://gianlucadimarzio.com/it/bologna-italiano-nuovo-allenatore-ufficiale-news |access-date=5 June 2024 |website=Gianluca Di Marzio |language=it}}

Italiano is known for his pragmatic offensive playing style as a manager.{{cite web |url=https://breakingthelines.com/serie-a-analysis/lorgoglio-del-fiore-how-fiorentina-blossomed-under-vincenzo-italiano/ |title=L’Orgoglio Del Fiore: How Fiorentina Blossomed under Vincenzo Italiano |publisher=Breaking The Lines |date=26 May 2024 |access-date=30 May 2024 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2024/jan/01/serie-a-italy-decreto-crescita-fiorentina-luca-ranieri |title=Fiorentina’s Luca Ranieri shows local talent can shine after Italy’s ‘own goal’ |work=The Guardian |last1=Bandini |first1=Nicky |date=1 January 2024 |access-date=30 May 2024 }}{{cite web |title=Il Pagellone della 7a giornata di Serie A: Mkhitaryan super, Juve e Inter stentano |url=https://www.eurosport.it/calcio/serie-a/2020-2021/il-pagellone-della-7a-giornata-di-serie-a-mkhitaryan-super-juve-e-inter-stentano_sto7986218/story.shtml |publisher=www.eurosport.it |access-date=30 May 2024 |language=it |date=9 November 2020}} Tactically, he used the 4–3–3 formation during his time as head coach of Spezia, with a deep-lying playmaker flanked by two box-to-box midfielders, or mezzali, who were capable of making late attacking runs off the ball. His team was capable of defending either in a deep or mid-block, with a compact shape, restricting spaces for his opponents, while also incorporating aspects of man-to-man marking off the ball. After winning back possession, his Spezia side were known for moving the ball quickly with their passing to initiate counter-attacks, and utilised the wings without resorting to traditional wing-play. In a similar manner to Arrigo Sacchi, Italiano believes that all players should be involved in the build-up of attacking plays, regardless of their roles on the pitch.{{cite web |title=Lo scouting del mister: lo Spezia di Vincenzo Italiano |url=https://www.footballscouting.it/match-analysis/lo-scouting-del-mister-lo-spezia-di-vincenzo-italiano/ |publisher=FootballScouting.it |access-date=30 May 2024 |language=it-IT |date=31 August 2020}} At Fiorentina, he demonstrated his versatility, shifting between different formations such as the 4–4–2 and the 4–2–3–1 to suit his players, although he continued to use his favoured 4–3–3 when possible, in particular following the signing of regista Arthur Melo in midfield in 2023. His team were known for being capable of alternating high-intensity attacking play with a slower possession-based style. He also placed more importance on the plays of his attacking full-backs. His team were known for their hard-working, aggressive, and disciplined approach, which made them a difficult opponent even for larger sides, and he made use of heavy pressing and a high defensive line.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37625939/barcelona-xavi-six-top-young-coaches-watch-european-football |title=Xavi among six top young coaches to watch in Europe |publisher=ESPN.com |language=en |date=3 March 2022 |access-date=30 May 2024 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.fiorentina.it/con-arthur-italiano-torna-allantico-la-fiorentina-potra-giocare-con-il-4-3-3/ |title=Con Arthur Italiano torna all'antico |publisher=Fiorentina |language=it |date=21 July 2023 |access-date=30 May 2024 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.ultimouomo.com/vincenzo-italiano-autodistruzione-gol-subito-cosa-dice-atalanta-fiorentina-4-1-analisi-tattica/ |title=Vincenzo Italiano re dell’autodistruzione |publisher=L'Ultimo Uomo |last=Manusia |first=Daniele |language=it-IT |date=25 April 2024 |access-date=30 May 2024 }} His striker usually functions in a more creative role, dropping deep to receive the ball and link-up with teammates, or provides depth to the team with his runs.{{cite web |url=https://www.numero-diez.com/vincenzo-italiano-un-mister-trapani |title=Vincenzo Italiano, un mister partito dal basso |publisher=Numero Diez |language=it |date=11 June 2019 |access-date=30 May 2024 }}

While Italiano has earned praise in the media as promising manager, he has also been criticised by certain pundits for his overly predictable possession-based style, and for his teams' inability to convert their chances or score many goals despite controlling the ball. Others have instead criticised him for his game-plans, as his Fiorentina side often lost game in seemingly preventable manners, which has led the press to question his teams' mentality, in particular following their three consecutive final defeats between 2022 and 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/fiorentina-italiano-a-breve-parlero-con-commisso-del-mio-futuro-1973842 |title=Fiorentina, Italiano: "A breve parlerò con Commisso del mio futuro" - TUTTO mercato WEB |publisher=www.tuttomercatoweb.com |language=it |date=29 May 2024 |access-date=30 May 2024 }} Italiano believes in the importance of striking balance between attack and defence, as well as dressing room-management, motivation, and communication as coach.{{cite web |url=https://www.acffiorentina.com/en/news/all/news-men-first-team/2021-08-01/one-on-one-vincenzo-italiano |title=ONE ON ONE: VINCENZO ITALIANO |publisher=ACF Fiorentina |date=1 August 2021 |access-date=30 May 2024 }} Italiano has cited the offensive styles and formations of Pep Guardiola, Maurizio Sarri, Jürgen Klopp, Luis Enrique, and Zdeněk Zeman as his inspirations as a manager;{{cite web |url=https://football-italia.net/italiano-guardiola-klopp-and-sarri-my-role-models/ |title=Italiano: 'Guardiola, Klopp and Sarri my role models' |publisher=football-italia.net |date=1 August 2021 |access-date=30 May 2024 }} a former director of his likened him to Guardiola, describing him as "un piccolo Pep" ("a little Pep," in Italian).{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jun/06/fiorentina-vincenzo-italiano-west-ham-europa-conference-league |title=How Italiano stopped Fiorentina’s suffering and brought joyous disbelief |work=The Guardian |last1=Bandini |first1=Nicky |date=6 June 2023 |access-date=30 May 2024 }}

{{updated|20 April 2025}}{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

Hellas Verona

• Serie B: 1998–99{{ Cite web | url = https://www.hellastory.net/verona/schede/vincenzo_italiano/ | title = VINCENZO ITALIANO 's profile | access-date=31 May 2023 | website = Hella Story | language = Italian }}

Chievo Verona

• Serie B: 2007–08

Trapani

• Serie C play-offs: 2019{{ Cite web | date = 1 September 2020 | title = Spezia’s Remarkable Return to Serie A | url = https://breakingthelines.com/historical/spezias-remarkable-return-to-serie-a/ | access-date=31 May 2023 | website = Breaking The Lines }}

Spezia

• Serie B play-offs: 2020{{ Cite web | date= 28 May 2023 | title=How many trophies has Vincenzo Italiano won? When was the last trophy he won | url=https://www.dazn.com/en-GB/news/soccer/how-many-trophies-has-vincenzo-italiano-won-when-was-the-last-trophy-he-won/k9ljcgtx44hm1v5b9914wxthu | access-date=31 May 2023 | website=DAZN Sports }}

Fiorentina

• Coppa Italia runner-up: 2022–23{{cite news |last=Porzio |first=Francesco |date=24 May 2023 |title=Inter win Coppa Italia as Lautaro Martinez brace downs Fiorentina, build momentum for Champions League final |url=https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/inter-win-coppa-italia-as-lautaro-martinez-brace-downs-fiorentina-build-momentum-for-champions-league-final/ |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=CBS Sports}}
• UEFA Europa Conference League runner-up: 2022–23,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65826820|title=Fiorentina 1–2 West Ham United: Jarrod Bowen goal decides Europa Conference League final|first=Simon|last=Stone|work=BBC Sport|date=7 June 2023|access-date=7 June 2023}} 2023–24

• Serie A Coach of the Month: May 2023,{{cite news |url=https://www.legaseriea.it/en/media/serie-a/coach-of-the-month-may |publisher=Serie A |access-date=26 May 2023 |date=26 May 2023 |title=Vincenzo Italiano Coach of the Month for May}} December 2023,{{cite news |url=https://www.legaseriea.it/en/media/serie-a/vincenzo-italiano-philadelphia-coach-of-the-month-for-december |publisher=Serie A |access-date=11 January 2024 |date=11 January 2024 |title=Vincenzo Italiano Philadelphia Coach of the Month for December}} March 2025{{cite press release|url=https://www.legaseriea.it/en/media/serie-a/vincenzo-italiano-philadelphia-coach-of-the-month-for-march|publisher=Serie A |access-date=4 April 2025 |date=24 April 2025 |title=Vincenzo Italiano Philadelphia Coach of the Month for March}}

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