Latest news with #StefanoPioli
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pioli wanted by Fiorentina and Juventus for 2025-26
After links with Juventus, now Stefano Pioli is being considered for a return to Fiorentina, but his Al-Nassr contract poses a problem. The 59-year-old was pushed out by Milan a year ago and within weeks had secured a new extremely lucrative job in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr. Advertisement There had already been suggestions he was being targeted for a return to Serie A by Juventus, who sacked Thiago Motta in March and missed out on both Antonio Conte and Gian Piero Gasperini. Pioli eyed up for return to Serie A Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr celebrates victory with his coach Stefano Pioli after winning the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Riyadh and Al-Nassr at Prince Faisal Bin Fahad on November 8, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by) Now Sky Sport Italia point out they are not the only candidates, because Pioli is also on the wish list for Fiorentina. The Viola had been content with coach Raffaele Palladino, until he suddenly tended his resignation and left them needing a replacement. FLORENCE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 16: Davide Astori of ACF Fiorentina and Stefano Pioli manager of ACF Fiorentina during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Bologna FC at Stadio Artemio Franchi on September 16, 2017 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by) It would be a comeback to the Stadio Franchi for Pioli, who was already on the bench from 2017 to 2019 and remains extremely well loved by the fans and players. Advertisement However, his €12m per season contract with Al-Nassr is going to be tricky for him to get out of effectively. Other candidates for Fiorentina include Alberto Gilardino and former Ajax boss Francesco Farioli.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pioli wanted by Fiorentina and Juventus for 2025-26
After links with Juventus, now Stefano Pioli is being considered for a return to Fiorentina, but his Al-Nassr contract poses a problem. The 59-year-old was pushed out by Milan a year ago and within weeks had secured a new extremely lucrative job in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr. Advertisement There had already been suggestions he was being targeted for a return to Serie A by Juventus, who sacked Thiago Motta in March and missed out on both Antonio Conte and Gian Piero Gasperini. Pioli eyed up for return to Serie A Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr celebrates victory with his coach Stefano Pioli after winning the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Riyadh and Al-Nassr at Prince Faisal Bin Fahad on November 8, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by) Now Sky Sport Italia point out they are not the only candidates, because Pioli is also on the wish list for Fiorentina. The Viola had been content with coach Raffaele Palladino, until he suddenly tended his resignation and left them needing a replacement. FLORENCE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 16: Davide Astori of ACF Fiorentina and Stefano Pioli manager of ACF Fiorentina during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Bologna FC at Stadio Artemio Franchi on September 16, 2017 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by) It would be a comeback to the Stadio Franchi for Pioli, who was already on the bench from 2017 to 2019 and remains extremely well loved by the fans and players. Advertisement However, his €12m per season contract with Al-Nassr is going to be tricky for him to get out of effectively. Other candidates for Fiorentina include Alberto Gilardino and former Ajax boss Francesco Farioli.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Chaos at San Siro: Milan sack Conceicao after European miss, Allegri return looms
AC Milan have parted company with manager Sergio Conceicao after just half a season in charge. The 50-year-old replaced Paulo Fonseca in December. He had lasted only six months in the role. Conceicao's dismissal comes after Milan finished eighth in Serie A, missing out on European qualification for the 2025-26 season. Advertisement His tenure began with promise, notably lifting the Supercoppa Italiana after a dramatic 3-2 win over Inter Milan in January. However, results quickly unravelled. Milan were knocked out of the Champions League play-off round by Feyenoord the following month, and fell short in the Coppa Italia final, losing to Bologna. The club confirmed his departure with a brief statement thanking Conceicao and his staff for their efforts and professionalism. They also acknowledged his role in delivering Milan's 50th major trophy, but the achievement was not enough to secure his long-term future. Conceicao had previously enjoyed significant success at Porto, winning 11 trophies in six years, but was unable to replicate that consistency in Italy. Advertisement His sacking continues a turbulent period at Milan, who also dismissed Scudetto-winning coach Stefano Pioli last summer. RedBird Capital's ownership has come under intense scrutiny from supporters during this chaotic spell. Before their final Serie A match of the season, thousands of Milan ultras marched from Casa Milan to San Siro in protest. Fans unveiled banners and spelt out the words 'go home' in the Curva Sud, demanding that owner Gerry Cardinale sell his stake in the club. There were also chants in support of former captain Paolo Maldini, sacked as a director last year, and the late Silvio Berlusconi, who oversaw the club's golden era. Advertisement The unrest off the pitch has mirrored the instability on it. Since winning the Serie A title in 2022, Milan have lifted just one trophy – this season's Supercoppa – in three years. Massimiliano Allegri, recently dismissed by Juventus, could return to the San Siro. Meanwhile, the club have appointed ex-Lazio sporting director Igli Tare to help steer a new course. Conceicao departs with only six wins in his final 17 league matches, leaving Milan at a crossroads once again.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Why is Cristiano Ronaldo not playing in Al Nassr vs Al Taawoun Saudi Pro League 2024-25 match?
Al Nassr is set to host Al Taawoun for their Saudi Pro League 2024-25 clash at the Al Awwal Park in Riyadh, on Friday. The Riyadh-based side is placed in fourth place on the points table and has 63 points from 31 matches. Al Nassr thrashed Al Akhdoud 9-0 in its previous league match, the side's biggest win in the club's history. Why is Ronaldo not in Al Nassr squad against Al Akhdoud? Skipper Ronaldo was not named in Al Nassr's matchday squad for its Saudi Pro League fixture against Al Taawoun. He was also absent from his side previous squad that faced Al Akhdoud. Reports suggested that the Portuguese forward was kept out of the squad because of physical exhaustion. He has played 39 games in all competitions this season, scoring 33 goals and assisting four in this period. The last time he was substituted off before the full-time whistle was during the side's win against Yokohama FM in the AFC Champions League Elite quarterfinals. Additionally, the decision must have been made after taking into consideration that Al Ittihad has already secured the title with two games to spare, after beating Al Raed 3-1 on Thursday. This also provides head coach Stefano Pioli the chance to give playing time to the youngsters who missed out for the majority of the season.
Free Malaysia Today
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Ronaldo hunts Asian Champions League glory in Saudi-hosted finals
Cristiano Ronaldo is looking to win his first AFC Champions League in the twilight of a glittering career. (EPA Images pic) JEDDAH : Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr are one of three big-spending Saudi Arabian clubs hunting AFC Champions League glory on home soil when the final knockout stages begin on Friday. The desert nation hosts the quarterfinals, semifinals and the final of Asia's premier club competition – given a new look and format this year as the AFC Champions League Elite – from April 25 to May 3 in Jeddah. The cash-rich Saudi clubs have lured stars from Europe, meaning Jeddah's Al Ahli plus Riyadh clubs Al Hilal and Al Nassr are among the favourites to lift the trophy on May 3 at the 62,000-capacity King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. Saudi teams dominated the West Zone league stages, with Al Hilal and Al Ahli both unbeaten in eight games and Ronaldo's Al Nassr next best as they filled the top three spots. Portugal's Ronaldo, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, is still going strong at the age of 40 and has seven goals in the competition this season as he looks to win his first AFC Champions League in the twilight of a glittering career. Al Nassr coach Stefano Pioli believes his side, who lost in the quarterfinals last year, can go all the way. 'I always have great confidence in the players because of our hard work in training,' said the former AC Milan boss. 'Sometimes the results do not do us justice but we know that we are on the right path.' First his side must overcome last year's losing finalists Yokohama F-Marinos of Japan, who are in crisis after sacking manager Steve Holland last week less than four months after the former England assistant to Gareth Southgate took charge. Yokohama are bottom of the J. League with just one win from 12 matches, but they topped the East Zone and then beat Chinese champions Shanghai Port 5-1 on aggregate in the last 16. Toney, Mahrez fire Al Ahli 'Things haven't been going well for us but it's about what we do next,' Yokohama midfielder Riku Yamane said after a defeat in their first game under interim manager Patrick Kisnorbo last week. 'We need to all be on the same page about how we want to play, including the small details.' The winners will meet either another Japanese club, Kawasaki Frontale, or Al Sadd of Qatar in the semifinals. Al Hilal, who are looking to become Asian champions for a record-extending fifth time, face South Korean debutants Gwangju. The Saudi champions let Brazilian superstar Neymar return to Santos but they can still call on players of the calibre of Serbia's Aleksandar Mitrovic and the Portuguese pair Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves. 'Al Hilal are a good team, like most West teams are and, to be honest, are better than teams from the East,' said Gwangju technical director Jang Ki-bong. 'But we are not afraid and we will fight to defy the odds and make sure that we do everything we can to compete against them.' Al Ahli also have an embarrassment of riches, including former Premier League forwards Ivan Toney, Roberto Firmino and Riyad Mahrez. They face Thailand's Buriram United with victory setting up a potential all-Saudi semifinal against Al Hilal. 'Holding the finals in Jeddah will help us, and we will give everything we have to win the title,' said former Manchester City attacker Mahrez.
