Parma have chosen a familiar figure to begin their next chapter, appointing Alberto Gilardino after the mutual termination of Cuesta’s contract. The former Italy striker returns to the club with both a personal history in the yellow and blue shirt and a coaching career that has taken him through several levels of the Italian game.
The coach and the club
Gilardino has signed an agreement running until the end of the 2026/27 season. Parma also hold an option to extend the relationship for a further two seasons.
For the 2006 World Cup winner, the appointment brings him back to a place where he made a substantial mark as a player. Between 2002 and 2005, he made 116 appearances for Parma and scored 56 goals, becoming one of the leading figures of that period.
His latest managerial role was at Pisa, a spell which lasted from July 2025 until February 2026. Before that, Gilardino had worked at Rezzato, Pro Vercelli and Genoa, building a route to the Parma bench through different clubs and circumstances.
Parma’s decision follows the end of Cuesta’s time in charge by mutual consent. The club have now turned to a coach whose connection with Parma predates his arrival in the technical area, handing Gilardino the task of guiding the first team into the remainder of the season and beyond.
