When Atalanta misplaced Gian Piero Gasperini, it was solely pure they’d substitute him with considered one of his many proteges, however the mistake was seeking to the previous relatively than the long run, writes Susy Campanale.
There isn’t a tactician who has solid an extended shadow over Italian soccer in recent times than Gasperini.
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His revolutionary fashion of aggressive excessive press, utilizing three on the again when it was horribly retro (and which value him the job at Inter after solely a few months), and assault as the perfect type of defence is probably the most European method. After we see Serie A sides battle towards opponents who play at a markedly larger tempo, Gasp’s Atalanta first and Roma now are the one ones who appear in a position to sustain the tempo.
ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 21: Gian Piero Gasperini head coach of AS Roma gestures in the course of the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico on September 21, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photograph by Silvia Lore/Getty Pictures)
Atalanta didn’t wish to lose their iconic coach after 9 lengthy years which noticed them hit heights by no means seen earlier than, recurrently qualifying for the Champions League and profitable the Europa League. When he walked away, it was inevitable and solely clever that they flip to one of many many bosses that Gasperini impressed to get into the enterprise.
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There was completely no scarcity of choices that La Dea might’ve gone after, as a result of Gasp can rely as his proteges the likes of Thiago Motta, Raffaele Palladino, Alberto Gilardino, Salvatore Bocchetti and extra. They’re all coaches who credit score him with shaping their imaginative and prescient of soccer, then taking it additional with their very own concepts.
Gasperini disciples had been prepared for Atalanta
CREMONA, ITALY – OCTOBER 25: Ivan Juric, Head Coach of Atalanta appears on previous to the Serie A match between US Cremonese and Atalanta BC at Stadio Giovanni Zini on October 25, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photograph by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Pictures)
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As a substitute, Atalanta determined to look to the very first who sat on the grasp’s aspect, as a result of Juric was the core of his Genoa staff, then grew to become Gasperini’s assistant supervisor straight after hanging up his boots from 2010 to 2013 at Genoa, Inter and Palermo. It was hoped that by bringing in a former assistant, Juric might ease the transition of a squad that had labored beneath one man for 9 years.
The issue was that Juric hadn’t been on Gasperini’s bench for over a decade. A great coach will all the time develop and see his concepts progress over time, particularly as opponents examine and get to know his fashion higher. By going backwards, Atalanta misplaced the momentum left over from that profitable period. Juric was additionally coming off a season the place he managed to get fired by two totally different golf equipment, so was hardly going to encourage confidence in a staff already shaken by that exit, and additional broken by the Ademola Lookman revolt.
Raffaele Palladino introduced as new coach of Atalanta
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Whereas Juric was extra centered on the depth and work ethic of early Gasperini, . These fast passes bringing the midfielders and wing-backs into the ahead strikes that so impressed at Monza might work wonders with the present Atalanta squad. In the meantime, Ederson’s damage robbed Juric’s staff of a lot of that midfield solidity, and laid naked the problems elsewhere.
Very similar to Gasperini himself, Juric might be ill-tempered, brusque, pig-headed, and never probably the most diplomatic of figures. Even Gasp by no means the best way Juric did with Torino’s Davide Vagnati, thoughts you. A gentler presence was required within the dugout, and . He was extra not too long ago a participant, understands the strain of his squad somewhat extra, and may transfer the Atalanta mission ahead relatively than attempt to recapture the previous.
