Pisa coach Alberto Gilardino during a Serie A match against Inter Milan at the Arena Garibaldi Romeo Anconetani stadium, November 30, 2025.
Clubs Pisa and Verona, respectively 19th and 20th in the Serie A standings, have announced the dismissal of their coaches, former internationals Alberto Gilardino and Paolo Zanetti, following new defeats in the competition’s third round of matches.
Pisa decided to terminate the contract of its coach Alberto Gilardino on Sunday evening, just hours after the team’s home loss to Sassuolo (3-1), a result that further complicated the team’s position in the relegation battle.
Pisa has only achieved one victory
Pisa has been experiencing a difficult season since its return to the top flight last August, having secured only one victory so far. The club sits in 19th place with 14 points, trailing 17th-placed Lecce, the first safe spot, by four points.
Gilardino, a star of Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning squad, took over as Pisa coach last June, succeeding Filippo Inzaghi who led the team to promotion.
Reports indicate that Pisa’s management is considering hiring former Swedish international Oscar Hiljemark, the current coach of Swedish club Elfsborg, to lead the team in the next phase.
For its part, Verona also announced the dismissal of its coach Paolo Zanetti, following the team’s heavy 4-0 loss to Cagliari last Saturday. Verona occupies last place in the standings with 14 points, the same as Pisa.
Zanetti achieves fourteenth place
Zanetti took charge of Verona in June 2024 and led the team to a 14th-place finish last season. However, the results of the current season have been disappointing, with the team managing only two wins against 13 losses and 8 draws over 23 matchdays.
Verona is scheduled to meet Pisa next Friday in the opening match of the 24th round of Serie A, in an anticipated clash between two teams fighting against relegation.
The departures of Gilardino and Zanetti are part of a wave of managerial changes in Serie A this season, with six clubs in the top division having changed coaches since the start of the competition.
Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the iconic freestanding bell tower of the city’s cathedral complex, constructed over two centuries beginning in 1173. Its famous tilt, caused by an unstable foundation, began during construction and has been stabilized by extensive engineering efforts in modern times.
Verona
Verona is a historic city in northern Italy, most famous as the setting of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” Its history dates to ancient Roman times, evidenced by well-preserved structures like the Arena, a 1st-century Roman amphitheater still used for opera and concerts today. The city’s architecture reflects its significance through the medieval and Renaissance periods under the rule of the Scaliger family.
Serie A
Serie A is the top professional football league in Italy, founded in 1929. It is historically one of the world’s most prestigious leagues, renowned for its tactical rigor and legendary clubs like Juventus, AC Milan, and Inter Milan.
Inter Milan
Inter Milan, officially known as Football Club Internazionale Milano, is an Italian professional football club founded in 1908 by a group of dissidents who wanted a club open to foreign players, hence the name “Internazionale.” Based in Milan, it is one of Italy’s most successful clubs, having won numerous Serie A titles, Coppa Italia trophies, and European championships, including three UEFA Champions League titles.
Arena Garibaldi Romeo Anconetani
The Arena Garibaldi Romeo Anconetani is the home stadium of Pisa Sporting Club, located in Pisa, Italy. Originally opened in 1919 and later rebuilt and renamed in 1990 to honor a former club president, it is a historic football ground known for its passionate supporters.
Sassuolo
Sassuolo is a town in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, historically known as a center for ceramic tile production since the 18th century. Its industrial history is showcased at the Museo della Ceramica di Sassuolo, housed in the Baroque Palazzo Ducale, which was the former residence of the Este family dukes.
Lecce
Lecce is a historic city in southern Italy’s Apulia region, often called the “Florence of the Baroque” for its ornate 17th-century architecture. Its distinctive style, known as *Lecce Baroque*, flourished under Spanish rule and is characterized by elaborate facades carved from the local soft limestone. The city’s history dates back over two millennia, with Roman ruins like a well-preserved amphitheater at its heart.
Italy
Italy is a country in Southern Europe with a rich cultural history that dates back to the Roman Empire, which was one of the largest and most influential civilizations of antiquity. It later became the birthplace of the Renaissance, a period of immense artistic and intellectual achievement centered in cities like Florence and Rome. Today, Italy is renowned for its profound contributions to art, architecture, cuisine, and fashion, and it hosts numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
World Cup
The FIFA World Cup is an international football tournament first held in 1930 in Uruguay. Organized by FIFA, it is held every four years and has grown into one of the most widely viewed and followed sporting events in the world.
Elfsborg
Elfsborg typically refers to either the historic fortress of Älvsborg or the modern district of Älvsborg in Gothenburg, Sweden. The original fortress, New Älvsborg, was constructed in the 17th century on an island to defend the city’s crucial river entrance. Today, it is a well-preserved museum and landmark from Sweden’s era as a major European power.
Cagliari
Cagliari is the capital city of Sardinia, Italy, with a history dating back over 2,700 years to its founding by the Phoenicians. The city’s historic center features landmarks like its Pisan-era bastions and a Roman amphitheater, reflecting its strategic importance under various rulers, including the Carthaginians, Romans, and Spanish.
