Parma next manager candidates

Parma avoided relegation to Serie B on the final day of the Serie A season, with a shocking last-minute away win against Atalanta coupled with results elsewhere, meant that Parma were assured of a spot in Serie A next season after finishing 16th. Parma fans were excited for next season after their spectacular final game of the season. However, less than 2 weeks from the final day, Parma are surrounded by uncertainty after manager Cristian Chivu left the club to take the reins at his former club, Inter Milan. Join us here at Gafferumours as we take a look at who could be the next manager of Parma.

The Frontrunner: Daniele De Rossi

De Rossi was parachuted in as AS Roma manager by the Friedkins in January of 2024, after the sacking of Jose Mourinho. The Friedkins needed to appoint someone to quell a potential uprising after the sacking of popular manager Mourinho, and they looked no further than club legend Daniele De Rossi. De Rossi revitalised the club, guiding Roma back to 6th and qualification for the Europa League and led Roma to the semi finals of the Europa League. However, an underwhelming start to this season, with the Giallorossi winless in their first 4 matches, led to the dismissal of the club legend. De Rossi's status as an elite footballer would demand respect from the Parma dressing room. His spell as Roma manager makes him an appealing proposition for the Parma boardroom. However, concerns remain over his managerial inexperience and his inauspicious spell as manager of SPAL in the 2022/23 season. Concerns will arise over his management of a squad of lower quality than Roma, as seen in his tenure as SPAL manager.

The former player frontrunner: Alberto Gilardino

Gilardino donned the Parma jersey as a player for 3 seasons, finishing as Serie A's second top scorer twice. Gilardino guided Genoa to promotion by finishing second in Serie B in the 2022/23 season as manager. In the subsequent 2023/24 season, Gilardino guided Genoa to an 11th-place finish. Gilardino was sacked as Genoa manager earlier in the season, with Genoa hovering over the relegation zone. The return of the prolific goalscorer as manager of Parma would resonate well with the fans. Gilardino's 2023/24 season as Genoa manager makes him an attractive replacement for Chivu, with fans hoping he can repeat his strong table position with Parma.

The former player standby: Paolo Vanoli

Paolo Vanoli is another former Parma player, having spent 2 seasons at the club as a player. As a manager, Vanoli's accolades include winning the 2021/22 Russian Cup with Spartak Moscow, guiding Venezia to promotion from Serie B in the 2023/2024 season, as well as guiding Torino to 11th place in Serie A this season. Vanoli is a free agent after being sacked by Torino. Vanoli's solid performance throughout his managerial career makes him a safe pair of hands for Parma, along with his connection to the club, makes him an enticing option.

The American Revolution: Pellegrino Matarazzo

Parma's owner is American Kyle Krause. Parma could potentially bring in a compatriot of the owner with manager Pellegrino Matarazzo. The American was born to Italian immigrants, making the adjustment to Serie A less daunting. Matarazzo made a name for himself as a manager with his work in Germany. He led Stuttgart to promotion from the Bundesliga 2 in the 2019/20 season, subsequently finished 9th in the Bundesliga in the 2020/21 season, 15th in the Bundesliga in the 2021/22 season, before being sacked in the 2022/23 season. In his next job at fellow Bundesliga club Hoffenheim, the club finished 12th in the 2022/23 season and an impressive 7th in his first full season in charge, qualifying for the Europa League in the 2023/24 season. He was sacked earlier this season. The Italian-American represents a solid manager with years of experience, something his fellow candidates cannot claim. However, it remains to be seen whether his work in the Bundesliga would seamlessly translate to Serie A.

Who else is linked?

Parma can boast of a plethora of Serie A-level managers who once played for the club, such as the aforementioned Gilardino and Vanoli. Other managers who have played for Parma include Raffaele Palladino (formerly of Fiorentina) and Sergio Conceicao (formerly of AC Milan), however, it remains to be seen whether these coaches would be willing to take a perceived regression in their career to manage their former club. The club should also consider another Italian who made their name for themselves in Germany, such as established Bundesliga firefighter Bruno Labbadia, to coach in his home country for the first time.