Allegri, Sarri and Pioli: prestigious comebacks or risky fresh starts? | OneFootball

The 2025/26 Serie A season kicks off with three prestigious benches entrusted to well-known faces. Massimiliano Allegri returns to Milan, Maurizio Sarri takes over Lazio, and Stefano Pioli reunites with Fiorentina.

Allegri, Sarri, and Pioli: Prestigious Returns or Risky Reboots?

Choices that evoke strong memories, but raise a question: are great returns synonymous with rebirth or poorly managed nostalgia? As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport

Allegri at Milan: The Tried and True for a Return to the Top

After a period of technical turbulence and an eighth-place finish last season, Milan has chosen to entrust Allegri once again, who was already the protagonist of the 2011 championship. The 58-year-old Livorno-born coach brings with him the philosophy that has made him one of the most successful in Italy: defensive solidity, pragmatic resource management, and a result-oriented approach rather than a focus on spectacle.

The Rossoneri market has followed his indications: significant departures (Reijnders, Thiaw) and high-profile signings (Modric, Jashari, Estupiñán, Ricci). The minimum objective is a return to the Champions League, but the absence of European cups could facilitate a more ambitious run. Allegri, a two-time champion with Juventus and fresh from a period of fierce criticism, has the opportunity to prove that his idea of football is still relevant.

Sarri at Lazio: Continuity Amidst Difficulties

For Maurizio Sarri, returning to Lazio is an act of coherence and opportunity. After a year off, the coach finds a Lazio that has not been able to renew itself in the market due to economic restrictions, but already knows the mechanisms of Sarri's tactics.

The mission is clear: to bring the team back to Europe, possibly beyond the Conference League. Sarri, beloved in Naples and criticized after his move to Juventus, finds in Lazio a challenge of character: giving identity and stability without major investments, relying on the tactical memory of the group.

Pioli-Fiorentina: The Third Life for a Leap in Quality

For Stefano Pioli, this is his third experience in Florence: the first as a player in the 1990s, the second as a coach between 2017 and 2019 marked by the tragedy of Davide Astori, and now a return with European prospects.

The coach, who won the Italian championship with Milan in 2022, inherits a team with good foundations, accustomed to the Conference League but eager to move up a level. The Europa League is the realistic goal, the Champions League the dream to pursue. Pioli arrives more mature, strengthened by recent successes and a consolidated reputation.

Returns: A Story of Successes and Failures

The history of Serie A teaches that returns can be a double-edged sword. There are negative cases:

Sacchi's second stint at Milan (1996-97): eleventh place and a historic 6-1 defeat to Juventus.

Capello the following season: tenth place and a missed Coppa Italia.

Spalletti's second stint at Roma: marked by the complex management of Totti's farewell.

And yet, there are also examples of success:

Lippi at Juventus: two championships in his second cycle.

Trapattoni: a UEFA Cup on his return to Juventus.

Ancelotti at Real Madrid: two Champions Leagues and two championships in his second adventure.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.