A once-promising campaign for Fiorentina has descended into turmoil, with the club mired at the bottom of the Serie A table and facing internal upheaval. The recent resignation of sporting director Daniele Pradè has done little to quell the growing unrest among a furious fanbase and a squad struggling for form.
The team’s disastrous start, with just four points from their opening ten matches, culminated in a 1-0 home defeat to newly-promoted Lecce. The loss intensified pressure on manager Stefano Pioli, with supporters chanting for his dismissal both inside the stadium and during a coordinated protest at the players’ exit.
Pradè had previously taken full responsibility for the club’s predicament, citing his control over a significant summer transfer budget. His departure was seen by many as a final act of protection for the coaching staff, but it has failed to stabilize the situation. The atmosphere has turned toxic, with fan groups displaying banners that label the team, manager, and club as “the shame of this city.”
On the pitch, the problems are equally stark. A controversial VAR decision that revoked a late penalty against Lecce only added to the sense of frustration, but the team’s issues run deeper than a single officiating call. New signings have failed to make an impact, with high-profile arrivals like striker Roberto Piccoli and veteran Edin Dzeko yet to score a league goal. The core of a squad that finished sixth last season remains largely intact, but the performances have become unrecognizable.
The club’s current crisis appears to be one of direction and identity. The surprise departure of former manager Raffaele Palladino in the summer, who left despite a contract extension, hinted at underlying philosophical disagreements with the board. In a recent interview, he suggested that the “pieces of the puzzle” were no longer fitting together for the project to continue.
Pioli, who returned to Florence with the ambition of securing Champions League football, has been unable to replicate the connection Palladino had with the players. While his tactical approach has not changed drastically, the results have collapsed. A recent comeback from 3-0 down to draw with Bologna provided a temporary reprieve, but goalkeeper David de Gea’s admission that he feared a “6-0” defeat in that match underscored the team’s fragile confidence.
With owner Rocco Commisso recovering from surgery in the United States, a leadership vacuum has emerged at the club. Off-field momentum has also stalled, with stadium renovations now reportedly behind schedule.
While there is theoretically time for a new manager to rescue the season, the fundamental issues at Fiorentina—a disconnect between the board’s vision and the team’s identity, combined with failed recruitment—suggest that simply changing the coach may not be enough to halt this dramatic decline.
