10 Things In Italy: Retirements, Relegation & Remembrances

10 Things In Italy: Retirements, Relegation & Remembrances

This week in Serie A, Juventus fired Max Allegri, Andrea Barzagli retired, Fiorentina faces relegation, and more.

May 24, 2019
10 Things In Italy: Retirements, Relegation & Remembrances

With just one round of matches still left to play, it has understandably been a busy week for Serie A’s clubs and players, so it’s time to let the latest edition of 10 Things help you catch up with what has been happening in the world of Italian football.

1. Juventus Collect Trophy, But Lose Their Coach

Having wrapped up the Serie A title over a month ago, Juventus were finally able to properly celebrate this past weekend in a ceremony that immediately followed their final home game. A 1-1 draw with Atalanta could not dampen the jubilation in Turin, each player coming out to huge applause before the entire squad paraded a trophy they have lifted every year for the past eight seasons. 


There was a sombre note to proceedings however, as it was also the last time Max Allegri would be at Juventus Stadium as the Bianconeri boss. Earlier in the week it was announced that the 51-year-old would not be in charge next term, news which came as something of a surprise. 

The reasons for his exit were discussed at length in this previous column, and it will be interesting to see who Juve appoint to replace a man who dominated the domestic game but struggled to achieve tangible success in the Champions League. 

2. Andrea Barzagli Retires

The other man moving on from Juve this summer is Andrea Barzagli, the Italy international calling time on his career and deciding that the game against Atalanta was his last. He leaves having won the World Cup, a German Bundesliga title (with Wolfsburg), four Coppa Italia and, of course, eight Serie A titles.




To put that into perspective, AC Milan have only won the Scudetto seven times since Barzagli was born in 1981! He might not have been given the same level of attention as defensive partners Chiellini or Leonardo Bonucci, but those who have been watching closely over the past eight years will tell you that is a huge oversight.

Simply put, Barzagli has been flawless for almost his entire time at Juve and deserves to be regarded as one of the finest, classiest, and most technically gifted defenders of his generation. 

3. Absent Friends Remembered

Barzagli unquestionably earned that emotional send-off by Juve fans at the stadium, but the evening’s celebrations also caused Giorgio Chiellini to pause and pay tribute to two absent friends. 


Stephan Lichtsteiner and Claudio Marchisio may no longer play for the Bianconeri, but the captain ensured they were remembered with the superb photo shown above posted as part of his Instagram story.

4. Top Four Battle Goes To Final Day

While Juve may have had the title under wraps for weeks, below them the battle for Champions League berths has yet to be won. AC Milan, Atalanta, and Inter go into the final weekend with their fate undecided and only two places left open, meaning one of them is going to miss out. 

Atalanta and Inter sit one point ahead of Milan, with matches against Sassuolo, Empoli, and SPAL, respectively, awaiting them. The future of their coaches and the players they can sign this summer all hang in the balance, something Luciano Spalletti was all too aware of as he looked at the task ahead. 

“We see this as a fundamental match, it’s do or die, and we have to show the character, sharpness, clear heads, and quality of a team that represents the city of Milan and must get back into the Champions League,” the Inter boss told Sky Italia. “That’s what you have to do if you play for this club.”

Unfortunately for him, two other teams think exactly the same thing.

5. Fiorentina Could Be Relegated

That battle for the top four is undoubtedly overshadowing the relegation dogfight, with four sides still in danger of filling the final place in the drop zone. With Chievo and Frosinone already resigned to their fate, it sounds ridiculous, but Fiorentina could join them if results don’t go their way. 

Without a league win since February, La Viola need at least a point against Genoa, while a win for their opponents could see them survive. Empoli and Udinese — who face Inter and Cagliari respectively — will be keeping a close eye on proceedings at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. 

FloFC’s own Chloe Beresford took a look at Fiorentina’s situation in this excellent column, but there is one more chapter left in this story and what happens this weekend could have huge ramifications for all concerned. 

6. Serie A Unveils Award Winners

This past week saw Serie A announce the inaugural winners of its postseason awards. to much consternation. Seeing the names of those handed the “honor” certainly gives reason to doubt the process of handing them out, but only if you fail to do the most basic amount of research.


It took just a few seconds to discover that these awards were, according to the league’s official website, decided purely on statistics from Serie A, Coppa Italia, and the Supercoppa. Ernst & Young used numbers from Opta & Netco to identify the most effective players in each position, which just goes to show that zero actual thought went into them whatsoever. 

However, with that in mind, those complaining should be directing their anger at the laziness behind the awards rather than lambasting the various winners because, while numbers never lie, they don’t show the full picture either. 

7. Kalidou Koulibaly Can’t Be Beaten

Whatever your opinion on those awards, the one that truly could not be debated rationally was Kalidou Koulibaly as Best Defender, something the Senegal international took another step towards justifying this past weekend.


That clearance has to be seen to be believed and, even after watching it repeatedly, I’m still unsure as to how exactly he pulled it off. There is a reason the 27-year-old is being talked about as the world’s first €100 million defender, and his form this term is continuing to make that a very real possibility.

8. Piotr Zieliński Unleashes A Rocket

While Koulibaly was busy keeping goals out at one end last weekend, his Napoli side were busy destroying Inter at the other end of the field. The Partenopei ran out 4-1 winners against Spalletti’s men, but the best goal of the bunch was almost certainly this 16th-minute opener:


Samir Handanovic in the Inter goal had zero chance of stopping the rocket unleashed by Piotr Zieliński, and Inter never truly recovered from there. Just to hammer home the earlier point about statistics not telling the full story, rewatch that strike and then note that Fabián Ruiz was awarded an assist for his pass...

9. Daniele De Rossi Leaving Roma

In a week of farewells, few touched as many hearts as the news Daniele De Rossi would no longer be playing for AS Roma. A hometown hero, the Ostia native has been with the Giallorossi since childhood, and it is difficult to imagine them taking to the field without their midfield warrior.


"I wouldn’t bet against you seeing me sneaking in with the travelling fans at an away game in the coming years — a sandwich and a beer in my hands, cheering on my friends,” he told reporters at a farewell press conference, and in truth that would not be a shock. 

What was pleasant surprise was the affection shown by fans of other clubs towards the 35-year-old, particularly in Turin where Juve Ultras unfurled a banner which read “Ciao De Rossi: First the man, then the player.” Even Lazio fans could not hide their admiration, their tribute calling him "a proud and diehard enemy on the pitch” which just shows how impressive he has been. 

10. Sergio Pellissier Gets Emotional Send-Off

He might not get the recognition of an Andrea Barzagli or Daniele De Rossi, but Sergio Pellissier will undoubtedly be remembered as a Chievo legend. He too announced his retirement this week, prompting some emotional scenes as he played his last game for the Veronese side. 

Arriving at the club 19 years ago, the striker scored 139 times in 516 games for the Flying Donkeys, who showed each of his Serie A goals before their clash with Sampdoria last weekend. 


Every player had a special patch on their shirt to commemorate the occasion, and Chievo have announced they will be retiring his No. 31 shirt. “I’ve been here for so many years and feel such affection for these club colors, it hurts me more than anyone,” Pellissier told Sky Italia as he reflected on their relegation to Serie B. “It’s only right that I leave now, because this is the end of an era and I wouldn’t want to start a new one knowing I couldn’t see it through to the end.”