Parma have appointed Alberto Gilardino as Carlos Cuesta's successor, turning to a familiar name as they try to steady an early-season slump. The club confirmed the move on a contract until the end of the 2026/27 season, with an option for two further seasons. Parma sit 15th in Serie A after five matches, with 4 points from a record of one win, one draw and three defeats.

Parma's call for familiarity

The appeal is obvious. Gilardino knows the club and knows Serie A, and Parma have chosen experience over experimentation at a point where the table is already uncomfortable. The club's statement also described him as a return appointment, which fits the shape of the move better than any grander reading.

There is a small wrinkle on the length of the deal. Some reports have described it as a one-year contract with an option for two more, while Parma's own statement said it runs until the end of 2026/27 with an option in the club's favour for two additional seasons. The important part is the same either way, Parma have committed to him beyond an emergency stopgap.

Gilardino's Parma history

This is not Gilardino's first spell at the Tardini. Between 2002 and 2005, his playing time at Parma brought 116 appearances and 56 goals, a record that still gives the appointment a clear club link. Parma also pointed to his status as a 2006 world champion in framing the move.

That background will buy him a bit of goodwill, but it does not change the job in front of him. Parma are 15th after five matches and only four points into the campaign, so the new coach is walking into a side that needs results quickly rather than a nostalgic reset.

The appointment now puts the focus on the next phase of their season, with the contract detail settled enough and the league position still the bigger issue. Parma have gone back to a former player to handle the pressure, and the first concrete number attached to the job is still the same 15th-place start.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →