Fiorentina reappoint former boss Pioli as head coach

Serie A side Fiorentina have reappointed Stefano Pioli as their new head coach on a three-year contract.

Pioli, 59, parted ways with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr last month after less than a year in charge and was immediately linked with a return to his former club.

He succeeds Raffaele Palladino, who resigned shortly after signing a contract extension in May.

"I am very happy that Stefano Pioli is the new coach of Fiorentina's first team," said club president Rocco Commisso.

"From the very first moment I spoke to him, I found a coach with great human values who is ready to do everything he can for this club and this city, which he knows very well and has a close bond with."

Former defender Pioli played 156 times for Fiorentina between 1989 and 1995 and coached them between 2017 and 2019.

He went on to manage AC Milan, leading them to the 2021-2022 Serie A title during his four-and-a-half years in charge, before his move to the Saudi Pro League.

Fiorentina, who finished sixth in Serie A last season, signed 39-year-old Bosnia-Herzegovina captain striker Edin Dzeko on Thursday.