Report Paratici already at a crossroads as Vanoli on the brink at Fiorentina

Paolo Vanoli’s future at Fiorentina is uncertain, and the incoming Viola director, Fabio Paratici, already has a big decision to make as three candidates, including Stefano Pioli, emerge for the job, reports Gazzetta dello Sport.

Fiorentina remain at the bottom of the table with just nine points and one win this season.

Vanoli replaced Pioli in November, but the change at the helm has not produced any positive results.

Fiorentina suffered a 1-0 loss against direct rivals Parma on Saturday, leaving Vanoli on the brink.

As reported by Gazzetta, there’s still a media blackout, so neither the coach nor the players will talk to reporters in the coming days, but the training retreat at the Viola Park is over, which means the footballers returned to their homes after Saturday’s match and will resume training today.

Vanoli will remain in charge until the next match against Cremonese, but his future will depend on Fabio Paratici, who is expected to become the new Fiorentina sporting director in the coming hours.

The former Juventus director, currently at Tottenham, is already at a crossroads: not only does he need to decide whether to keep or sack Vanoli, but also what sort of tactician should come next.

On the one hand, there are plug-in coaches like, for example, Beppe Iachini, who are experts when it comes to relegation battles and would have an interim role until the end of the season, hoping to secure survival.

On the other hand, Paratici could go for a more ambitious profile to start a new project right away.

Pioli is still tied to the club for another two and a half years, so Paratici could ask the Parma-born coach to come back. If Pioli declines, the two parties would move toward a mutual termination of the contract, which, at least, would ease the financial burden on Fiorentina.

The other options are Paulo Sousa, who already secured survival with Salernitana in 2023 and coached Fiorentina from 2015 to 2017, and Thiago Motta, who is under contract with Juventus until 2027.

In any case, Paratici has a tough task ahead as he’ll have to convince the candidates to accept a tricky job.