Bologna Transfer Market: Raffaele Palladino Takes the Reins; Domenico Tedesco Sacked. There’s More to the Story
“Bologna FC 1909 announces that it has relieved Domenico Tedesco of his duties as head coach of the first team. We extend our heartfelt thanks to him for the work he has carried out with professionalism and competence. The Club wishes him and his staff the best of luck in their future careers. Raffaele Palladino has been named head coach; he has signed a contract through June 30, 2029, and will lead his first training session today at 4 p.m. at the training center.” In a statement, the Bologna-based club confirmed the coaching change.
The situation came to a head on Tuesday: initially, the club seemed willing to give the former Belgium national team coach one last chance, but then—presumably after a meeting with Tedesco himself—it was decided to dismiss him. Roberto D’Aversa (who is also of interest to Parma) was in the running alongside Palladino, while Stefano Pioli’s candidacy was less prominent.
The team’s performance at the start of the season has been dismal: in the first four Serie A matchdays, the Rossoblù have earned just one point, drawing 2-2 against Sassuolo—with Dovbyk’s 91st-minute goal canceling out the Neroverdi’s lead—and suffering three losses against Lazio, Atalanta, and Napoli, all by a score of 1-0. This record convinced the front office to take decisive action.
Palladino’s appointment marks Bologna’s second coaching change in just a few months. In fact, this past summer, the Emilia-based club had already had to deal with the departure of Vincenzo Italiano, the coach for the past two seasons and the architect of the historic Coppa Italia victory in May 2025, as well as the team’s European campaigns in the Champions League and Europa League. Italiano had informed the club that he considered his time in Bologna to be over, thus paving the way for the hiring of Tedesco, chosen for his tactical affinity with his predecessor.
For Palladino, this is therefore a major challenge, as he is called upon to reverse a troubling trend at a club that in recent years had grown accustomed to competing on a much grander stage. The new Rossoblù coach will have to work quickly to restore cohesion and a distinct playing style—the two qualities the team has lacked most during this difficult start to the season.
