Official: Ex-Liverpool man Aquilani gets first Serie A coaching job with Sassuolo

Sassuolo confirm the appointment of ex-Roma, Fiorentina and Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani as their new head coach.

Former Italian midfielder Aquilani has been appointed Sassuolo’s new coach for 2026-27.

Sassuolo confirmed the appointment of the 41-year-old with an official statement on Friday.

According to Sky Sport Italia, Aquilani has signed a two-year contract.

A former midfielder for Roma, Fiorentina and Liverpool, among others, this is Aquilani’s first job in Serie A.

He previously served as Giuseppe Iachini’s technical coach at Fiorentina in 2019-20 and then coached Fiorentina U19.

In 2023-24, he was the Pisa coach in Serie B, and in 2025-26 he coached Catanzaro, also in Italy’s second division, reaching the play-off Final, where Catanzaro lost to Monza.

Aquilani replaced Fabio Grosso at Sassuolo, after Fiorentina hired the 2006 Italy World Cup winner.

Aquilani also played for Sassuolo during his playing career, making 16 appearances for the Neroverdi in the second part of the 2016-17 campaign.

Sassuolo finished the 2025-26 season in 11th with 49 points.

It’s been a day of big changes for the Neroverdi, as their ex-CEO, Giovanni Carnevali, has left the club after 12 years to join Juventus.