Who is Francesco Farioli? Porto coach linked with Chelsea | OneFootball

Chelsea have been linked with a move to make Francesco Farioli their new head coach.

The Blues are conducting a search for a successor to Liam Rosenior, who was relieved of his duties following a 3-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday. Calum McFarlane has been placed in interim charge until the end of the campaign as the recruitment process takes place.

Alongside Premier League-based candidates, including Andoni Iraola and former Chelsea favourite Cesc Fabregas, Farioli is the latest name linked. According to Nicolo Schira, Chelsea have made enquiries about Farioli for the summer.

Here is everything you need to know about the Porto boss and his coaching journey up to now.

Who is Francesco Farioli? Chelsea candidate’s career to date:

Farioli’s rise has come despite no professional playing experience. The 37-year-old studied sports science and philosophy at the University of Florence before taking his first steps into coaching, initially as a goalkeeping coach, in Italy’s lower tiers.

A period at Aspire Academy in Qatar followed, where he was introduced to compatriot Roberto De Zerbi. He followed De Zerbi to Benevento and Sassuolo, where he operated as a goalkeeper coach until 2020.

Farioli’s first venture into team coaching came as assistant manager at Alanyaspor, before his maiden senior position arrived at Turkish Süper Lig rivals Fatih Karagümrük, aged just 31. The principles of a possession-dominant approach were immediately evident, and he returned to Alanyaspor after just nine months, as first-team coach. His 18 months at Alanyaspor included a fifth-place finish as his reputation grew.

Nice took a chance on the Italian in 2023, and his debut season saw the French side briefly challenge Paris Saint-Germain at the summit, before a drop-off to fifth place.

He departed after only one season for Ajax, as a nomadic early coaching career continued. The Dutch side’s first foreign coach for 26 years. Again, Ajax started promisingly as Farioli’s De Zerbi-influenced tactics took hold. The capital club held a nine-point lead in the Eredivisie title race with five games to go, but a dramatic collapse allowed PSV to snatch the title. Farioli, unhappy with his side’s shortcomings and disagreements with the board, chose to leave at the end of the season.

Porto reign and record-breaking feats

Farioli was appointed FC Porto manager last summer. He won each of his first seven league games and oversaw a record-breaking start to the Primeira Liga campaign. The 37-year-old won 16 of his first 17 games, drawing the other, and conceding just four goals.

Porto rewarded Farioli with a new contract, which will run until 2028 and contains a €20m (£17.3m) release clause. The Portuguese side need one win from their final three games to secure a first league title since 2022.

Read – Chelsea caretaker Calum McFarlane ‘gutted’ about Rosenior sacking

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