Fiorentina Crisis Deepens as Vanoli Fails to Save the Team

Rocco Commisso likes to refer to himself as Fiorentina's savior. The Italian-American billionaire acquired the club in 2019 when it was on the brink of yet another bankruptcy, promising to invest millions in reconstructing the stadium and returning the "Violas" to their former glory.

Fast forward six years, however, and the situation is grim: Fiorentina has not secured a single victory in 15 Serie A matches and sits at the very bottom of the standings. Such a poor start to the Italian championship was last seen in the 2018/19 season with Chievo Verona.

That season ultimately ended with relegation to the lower league and the club's bankruptcy. Fiorentina appears to be heading down the same path, but this time the situation is even more painful. While Chievo had the alibi of financial collapse, in Florence, the money is there, ambitions are stated, yet the results on the pitch are disgraceful.

Six points after 15 matches mark Fiorentina's worst start in over 50 years. For a team that briefly shared the Serie A lead with Atalanta last season and played in consecutive UEFA Conference League finals, this is a major calamity.

In May 2024, Fiorentina extended the contract of head coach Raffaele Palladino until 2027. At that time, the team had finished sixth in Serie A, its best performance in nine years, and reached the semifinals of the Conference League.

Moise Kean was emerging as a prolific striker, and David de Gea was regarded as one of the league’s best goalkeepers, indicating a promising upcoming season.

But just three weeks after the contract renewal was announced, Palladino left the club. The official explanation was "diverging visions for the future."

In reality, reports indicated that he departed following disagreements with sporting director Daniele Pradè—an unpopular figure among fans even before the incident.

Players were reportedly in tears, De Gea was stunned, and Kean lost his most influential mentor. Nevertheless, Pradè retained his position.

Later, Palladino admitted to Sky Sports that "the team felt like family to me; the separation was difficult." When rumors surfaced in the fall about his potential return amid Fiorentina's disastrous start, he set one condition: direct communication with Commisso, bypassing the existing management.

This revealed much about the internal atmosphere at the club. Palladino was replaced by Stefano Pioli, a respected coach and former Serie A champion with AC Milan.

On paper, it seemed a logical decision, but in practice, Fiorentina managed only four points in 10 Serie A games. Fans responded with banners demanding Pradè’s resignation, and posters featuring his face on a pig’s body were distributed across the city.

Publicly taking responsibility, Pradè declared, "If someone needs to go, it should be me first." On November 1, he resigned—just before a crucial match against Lecce.

Fiorentina lost that game. Two days later, Pioli was also dismissed.

During the summer, the club spent €40 million on two players: forward Roberto Piccoli (€25 million) and midfielder Simon Zom (€15 million). Piccoli became the club’s second most expensive signing in history.

His Serie A record, however, was far from impressive: 23 goals in 134 matches for clubs like Lecce and Empoli. The effectiveness of Fiorentina’s transfer strategy remains highly questionable.

By December, Piccoli had only three goals across all competitions. The 39-year-old Edin Džeko (signed on a free transfer) managed two goals. Last season's standout player, Kean, has also scored just three. The attack is faltering, the midfield is underperforming, and the defense struggles to withstand opposing offenses.

A closer look at the squad reveals a team that resembles a mid-table side like Cagliari, not one contending for European competitions. Over six years, Pradè constantly overhauled the squad, signing high-profile names like Franck Ribéry, José Callejón, and Giacomo Bonaventura.

Some moves proved beneficial, but the end result is a roster that now seems incapable of even securing a Conference League spot. Pradè's departure had become inevitable.

Following Pioli's dismissal, former Spartak Moscow coach Paolo Vanoli was appointed, but the situation did not improve. After yet another lackluster performance, Džeko criticized the fans for creating a toxic atmosphere by jeering at every misplaced pass, saying it disrupted the players.

However, calls for unity quickly collapsed in the next match against Sassuolo, where nearly 4,000 fans traveled to Reggio Emilia only to witness one of the team’s most dismal performances.

Reports emerged during the match claiming that Gudmundsson refused to take a penalty (later denied by the player), while Mandragora and Kean argued over who would take the spot-kick. Following one defeat, defender Dodô and his wife received threats on social media.

Such harassment reportedly affected several other players and their families. The club issued an official statement condemning the violence and promised action.

Nevertheless, tensions remain extremely high. The 76-year-old Commisso, recovering from back surgery, is monitoring the crisis from overseas.

In an interview with *La Nazione*, he addressed the fans in what seemed like a public plea: "I miss you all. Stand by the team.

We cannot allow Fiorentina to be relegated." His tone sounded desperate, fitting for the dire circumstances.

Despite rumors, Commisso insists he will not sell the club. He has invested in the reconstruction of the Artemio Franchi stadium, a project expected to stretch until 2029. Half the stands are closed, with one area now a construction site bustling with excavators.

Commisso often criticizes Italian football authorities and the system, yet the real issue isn’t external. The real problem lies within: the empty shell behind the historic club’s illustrious name.

A group of individuals who seem disconnected from the meaning of donning the purple jersey. Coaches come and go, sporting directors leave with speeches of sacrifice for the greater good, players quarrel on the pitch, yet the result remains the same: 15 matches, zero wins.

Incidentally, Palladino is now leading Atalanta, and under his guidance, the team has found new life. Charles De Ketelaere, Ademola Lookman, and Ederson, previously associated with relentless running under Ivan Jurić, are finally finding their rhythm.

Atalanta is hovering around the Champions League top eight. This proves the issue wasn’t just about the coach.

Over the past 30 years, Fiorentina fans have witnessed stars like Gabriel Batistuta, Rui Costa, Luca Toni, Francesco Toldo, and Dušan Vlahović. Now, they stare at a €25 million signing like Piccoli and wonder what has gone wrong.

Perhaps a "reset" in Serie B wouldn’t hurt. History shows, as recently as 2002, that this club can rise from the ashes.

The only question is: Does Fiorentina truly have the will to rebuild, or will Commisso and his inner circle carry on as the ship continues to sink? Read “Zamin” on Telegram!