Former AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli has officially been appointed as the new head coach of Fiorentina, signing a contract that will keep him at the club until 2028.

Pioli, who recently had a short stint in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, returns to familiar surroundings in Florence. His time in the Saudi Pro League lasted less than a year, but it added a new chapter to an already seasoned managerial career.

This is not Pioli’s first dance with La Viola. The 58-year-old both played for and managed Fiorentina in the past. It was during his initial spell in charge — between 2017 and 2019 — that Pioli truly made his mark as a tactician, which later paved the way for his successful tenure at AC Milan, where he guided the Rossoneri to a Serie A title in 2022.

Fiorentina had been left in limbo following the unexpected resignation of Raffaele Palladino in late May. The club spent over six weeks evaluating potential replacements before landing on Pioli as the ideal candidate to lead the team into a new era.