Parma are moving to place Alberto Gilardino at the centre of their next chapter, with the former Gialloblu striker expected to become the club’s new head coach once the remaining formalities are completed.
The agreement still requires a signature and official announcement, but Gilardino’s arrival in Parma and his meeting with supporters at the Hotel de la Ville have given the change a familiar feel. The club are expected to present him on Thursday, pending final approval from president Kyle Krause in Iowa.
Quick facts
- Alberto Gilardino is set to take charge of Parma after his contract with Pisa was terminated.
- The proposed deal runs until June 2027, with Parma holding a unilateral option for a further season.
- Gilardino scored 56 goals in 116 appearances for Parma between 2002 and 2005.
- He helped Parma stay up in 2004-05 after a two-legged relegation play-off against Bologna.
- Parma recently beat Genoa but believe the side need renewed energy and clarity.
Gilardino’s return carries obvious emotional weight at the Tardini. During his three seasons as a Parma forward, he became a major figure for the supporters, who celebrated his violin-style goal celebration with a chant asking him to “play the violin for us”.
That history will buy goodwill, but not an unlimited credit line. Parma’s immediate concern is the present: a team capable of competing for survival in Serie A, but one that has lost some freshness despite the recent win over Genoa.
Krause and chief executive Federico Cherubini had concluded that the relationship with Carlos Cuesta was no longer functioning as required. With the campaign still in its early stages, the club have chosen to intervene rather than wait for the situation to worsen.
Krause had recently written to Krause Group employees and investors that “patience is not an excuse to postpone difficult decisions”. In the context of Parma’s coaching change, the message underlined the board’s willingness to act quickly.
A coach for a practical task
The Parma president sees pragmatism as an essential quality in a coach, and that is likely to define Gilardino’s first assignment. There will be no grand promises attached to the appointment: the target is to restore work rate, direction and enough consistency to keep the club in the division.
Gilardino has previously worked on the benches of Genoa and Pisa. Krause was impressed by his telephone conversation with the 44-year-old and believes he can support Parma’s wider plan of improving the football while developing the young players regarded as one of the club’s main assets.
The former striker has generally favoured a 3-5-2 during his coaching career, a system for which Parma’s squad is considered suitable. In attack, El Bilal Touré and Romero are the leading candidates to form the first-choice pairing.
Romero’s physical and technical profile could make him particularly important under the incoming coach. But Gilardino’s larger challenge will be to turn a familiar name from Parma’s past into a functioning leader for a demanding Serie A season.
