In what literally came out of nowhere, Daniele De Rossi is set to be appointed as Fiorentina manager next season. In terms of the most unexpected piece of news regarding the Serie A, this one is up there as the most interesting throughout this week.
Gianluca Di Marzio was the first to publish the news before it was further confirmed by reliable Fabrizio Romano.
La @acffiorentina punta #DeRossi come allenatore del futuro: tutto su @SkySport alle 23:30 #skycalcioshow #originale
— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) July 3, 2020
Daniele De Rossi has been chosen as next Fiorentina manager! @DiMarzio ?? #Fiorentina @SkySport
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 3, 2020
That prompts an obvious question in our heads. What would De Rossi exactly bring to the Viola? For a man who literally has no coaching experience whatsoever, it is perhaps a bold move by the club’s hierarchy.
Yes, the Serie A legend has never made it a secret about his intention to take up a coaching role someday. But if he was to join any side, it would seem logical that he would join his former club Roma where he spent 18 solid seasons and was idolized as a club legend.
When you further consider the struggles of Fiorentina this season, it makes the De Rossi appointment even more questionable.
The Viola are already on their second manager of the season, appointing Giuseppe Iachini after Vincenzo Montella lost the job in late December. Meaning they are not allowed to bring in a third in the same season.
Despite the managerial change, Fiorentina have struggled to stay above the relegation zone and currently sit just six points clear of the drop. Seven wins from 29 Serie games so far means only four other sides have won fewer games than the Viola. Not surprising when you realize those four sides are the bottom four on the log standings.
However, Fiorentina’s interest in De Rossi didn’t just come out of the blues even though it seems that way. Fiorentina were extremely interested in singing De Rossi once his contract with Roma expired at the end of the 2018-19 season. De Rossi, however, preferred to go abroad with Boca Juniors.
With the Italian now retired from football, the Viola could get their wish but in another capacity.
At 36, Fiorentina would be making a risky move appointing De Rossi as manager. Lack of experience whatsoever plus the fact that he’ll be the youngest manager in the Serie A doesn’t bode too well, right?
Still, there are reasons to suggest he could yet be a positive step for the club. Daniele might have no coaching badges yet but he’s following in the footsteps of his father, Alberto De Rossi, who has been the manager of Roma’s Primavera side (the youth club) for more than a decade.
In all honesty, there’s no way to know if the former Roma man would make a good coach. However, the recent success of his contemporaries like Gennaro Gattuso, Fabio Liverani, and the Inzaghi brothers has clearly whetted an appetite for players of his generation to take the reins.
De Rossi would be getting himself in a delicate job as an immediate positive impact would be needed from the start. The 36-year-old would already know that and looks like someone ready to take up a challenge, similar to his playing days.
There is no official confirmation yet from Fiorentina but it’s more than likely now that De Rossi would be back in the Serie A next season, in the dugout for the Viola.
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Feature Photo: via Twitter @ASRomaEN