OFFICIAL: Fiorentina hire Iachini

It hasn’t taken Fiorentina much time to replace Vincenzo Montella: the club announced today that Giuseppe Iachini will take over on the touchline with a contract that runs until June 2021; that gives him the remainder of this wasted season and all of next to prove that he belongs. Sources tell us that his deal runs until the end of the season, with a club option for the subsequent year if he impresses.

The 55-year-old Iachini was born in Ascoli Piceno in Marche and made his debut as a player for hometown club Ascoli as a 17-year-old midfielder in 1981. He joined Fiorentina in 1989, sticking around for 4 seasons and earning 149 appearances to go with a pair of goals before moving onto Palermo in 1994.

He passed his coaching exams in 2002 and led Chievo Verona back to Serie A in 2008, although he was dismissed in November of the following season. He then moved to Brescia, whom he led to promotion to the top flight via the playoff. He was sacked the following season, but took over Sampdoria, who was laboring in Serie B, and effected an astonishing turnaround that saw the Blucerchiati return to the first tier as well. He also led Palermo to promotion 2014. He spent much of last season working with Empoli, getting the sack in March after failing to lift the Tuscans out of the drop zone.

Best known for his impressive defensive organization, 3-5-2 formation, and ever-present baseball cap, Iachini has a reputation as a man who can grind out results with gritty displays at the back. Fiorentina is the biggest team he’s ever worked with and surely the one most demanding of some attacking flair, so it will be interesting to see if this job brings out some previously unsuspected verve in the final third or if he’ll stick with the basics, which this team badly needs. Either way, we wish him the best of luck.