A native of Parma, Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has been conferred with the honorary citizenship from the provincial municipality of nearby Noceto. Having started his playing career for his home club, he subsequently moved to Juventus before making a name for himself at Fiorentina as a tenacious and elegant defender.
Noceto mayor Fabio Fecci presented the accolade to the Scudetto-winning tactician in a recently started Rossoneri football camp in the area. Pioli expressed happiness of receiving the recognition, while also revealing that he might return to coach Parma one day.
Speaking to local newspaper Gazzetta di Parma (via MilanNews), the former Fiorentina man answered diplomatically wen quizzed if he would consider a homecoming in the future. As the media outlet puts it in the headline, in the gaffers’ own words: “There is a very strong bond with Parma. In the future? Who knows…”
Pioli started his professional career at Parma in Serie C from 1982 to 1984, appearing over 50 times for the Emilia-Romagna outfit. He also managed the club from June 2006 to February 2007 – making his managerial debut in Serie A in 2006, but he was fired after 22 matches. He also managed Modena, Piacenza, Sassuolo and Bologna in the same region.