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The days of long-serving managers at one club are long gone. As of now, there aren’t too many tacticians in world football who have remained at a single club for decades and built a team of their dreams. Because of the massive investment by modern owners, teams are now expected to yield quick results and a slow start is often not tolerated. The coaches have to get the ball rolling from day one and no wonder club managements lose patience quickly and managers are sometimes shown the exit doors within few months after taking charge. However, despite all the unfavourable scenarios some managers have managed to remain at the helm of the club for longer than expected. Let us look at some of those longest serving managers in the Serie A right now.
In transforming Atalanta from a relegation candidates to top four challengers, Gian Piero Gasperini has overseen a revolution as worthy of attention as any modern Italian managers. The 65 year old took charge of the Black and Blues in July 2016, after the team had finished in the bottom of the Serie A 2015-16 standings. The Italian tactician did wonders with the Goddess in his first season in charge, earning a Champions League qualification courtesy of securing fourth place finish in the 2016-17 points table. Since then, Atalanta have managed to secure third-place finish in the three consecutive season between 2018 and 2021.
The 65-year-old has coached Atalanta to victory in 165 games from 324 matches in charge. This season, the Black and Blues are currently occupying seventh spot in the standings, having pocketed 52 points from 31 games, just two points adrift of the top six, and are in a strong position to challenge for a European spot. Gasperini is an attack-minded coach, who prefers to play with a three-defenders. He most commonly favours 3-4-1-2 formation, which is capable of evolving into a 3-5-2 while attacking and a 5-3-2 when they are defending.
AC Milan’s long wait for Serie A title ended in 2021-22 when the Rossoneri thrashed Sassuolo 3-0 on the final match day to finish at the summit of the standings, just two points clear of then reigning champions and arch rivals Inter Milan. And the man behind their first league-success in more than a decade was Stefano Pioli. The 57 year-old was appointed as the head coach of the capital club in 2019. Although his first season in charge of Rossoneri didn’t go well, as they finished in the sixth spot, Pioli’s men secured a second place finish in the next season before lifting the trophy last term.
Apart from domestic success, the Italian tactician has also taken his team to the semi-finals the UEFA Champions League this time around. The three time Champions League winners are now back at the held of European football after a gap of more than a decade, having reached the semi-finals of Europe’s elite club competition. . Pioli is a vastly experienced manager having been in the coaching circuit for more than two decades. Meanwhile, the Italian coach won the league with Milan playing in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Although there has been recent switch to 3-4-3 following a poor run of form, the 4-2-3-1 remains his favoured shape.
Massimiliano Allegri has been at the helm of Juventus for a combined total of almost seven years. The 55 year-old’s first stint with the Bianconeri was from 2014 to 2019, when he led them to five consecutive Serie A titles, four back-to-back Copa del Rey triumphs and two Italian Super Cup winners medal. Apart from domestic success, Juve also reached the final of the Champions League two times, in 2015 and 2017, but lost the title-decider on both occasions. In 2019, Allegri exited the club and the two years after his departure, Juventus struggled to retain the Serie A title and then for the first time since 2011, failed to do so. And then in May 2021, the Italian coach returned to the Old Lady.
During his first season on return, Allegri led Juve to a fourth-place finish in the top flight standings and secured a Champions League qualification. Although Bianconeri failed to progress beyond the group stage of Europe’s elite club competition this term, the Old Lady has managed to reach the semi-finals of Europa League. Meanwhile, when it comes to the Serie A, Juve are currently sitting at the third position, with 59 points to their name from 31 game, 21 adrift of leaders Napoli. Since Scudetto is almost out of reach, Allegri’s best chance to secure a title this term would be to win the Europa League.
Read more: La Liga: Who are the top 3 longest serving managers in the league right now ?
