Italian football mourns Galeone, mentor to Allegri and Gasperini | OneFootball

Italian football is in mourning after the death of former coach Giovanni Galeone, who had been a mentor to Max Allegri and Gian Piero Gasperini.

The retired tactician was 84 years of age and had been in hospital in Udine.

His most recent role had been with Udinese in the 2006-07 season, a return to the club he had already worked at in 1994-95, but only formally announced his retirement in 2013.

Other jobs included Pescara in two different spells in the 1980s and 90s, Como, Perugia and Napoli in 1997-98.

Galeone an influential figure in Italian football

MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 19: Massimiliano Allegri, Head Coach of AC Milan, looks on prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and ACF Fiorentina at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on October 19, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Galeone was perhaps best known for his influential management style and his love of supporting former players who went on to become coaches in their own right.

He was extremely close to current Milan boss Allegri, while he was also a mentor for Roma’s Gasperini.

It is therefore likely the two will come together to remember Galeone tonight at San Siro ahead of AC Milan vs. Roma.