Arteta assistant to become Serie A youngest ever manager | OneFootball

Cuesta set to depart Arsenal for Serie A role with Parma after Chivu exit

Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

Carlos Cuesta is set to leave Arsenal and take over as manager of Parma, with final details of a contract expected to be agreed on Wednesday. The 29-year-old Spaniard, a long-serving member of Mikel Arteta’s coaching staff, will succeed Cristian Chivu, having agreed terms on a two-year deal reportedly worth just under £850,000 per season.

He has already said his goodbyes on social media. Taking to Instagram, he wrote, “After five beautiful years it’s hard to put this into words, but I can only express how grateful I am for having lived my day-to-day with such special people and feel what it means to represent this football club, with its incredible history and values.

“The only thing I’ve ever tried to do was give everything I had inside of me every single day. I was inspired by the culture that was created, by the hunger of every person of the organisation and by the unity that we had in any situation that we had to face.

“It has been a privilege to have had the chance to work with the players, staff, directors and all the employees of the club and at the same time, to receive an extra push from our amazing fans in every match.

“Because of the quality of its people, I’m convinced that the best moments for this football club are still yet to come. Enjoy the journey, because it is a very exciting one. Thank you Arsenal.”

Cuesta, who turns 30 next month, is regarded as one of the brightest young minds in coaching and has been with Arsenal since 2020. Fluent in six languages, he previously worked with Atlético Madrid and spent time in Italy with Juventus’s Under-17s, though this will be his first senior managerial role.

Sources in Italy say the decision to appoint Cuesta was driven by Parma president Kyle Krause, who has a preference for young, progressive coaches. His first appointment following the acquisition of the club was Enzo Maresca, then assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Cuesta’s lack of first-team experience mirrors Maresca’s profile at the time, though the now Chelsea manager lasted just four months before being sacked despite signing a three-year deal.

Despite the risks involved, Cuesta’s selection is understood to have come after detailed interviews and glowing endorsements from Parma’s chief executive Federico Cherubini and sporting director Alessandro Pettina. The club hopes Cuesta can emulate the tactical blueprint established under Arteta, with a possession-based style built around young talent.

When confirmed, Cuesta will become the youngest manager in Serie A since it adopted a single group format in 1929.