Parma in direct contact with Gilardino to replace Cuesta
Quick summary
Parma are in direct contact with Alberto Gilardino as they look to replace head coach Carlos Cuesta, a former Arsenal coaching staff member.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceParma have moved quickly to identify Carlos Cuesta’s successor, with Alberto Gilardino the leading name on a short list.
According to Alfredo Pedullà , direct contact has already been made. The obstacle is Gilardino’s existing contract at Pisa, which he would need to terminate before any move could proceed, but the Ducali regard him as a realistic option rather than a speculative one.
Gilardino was a candidate for Parma last time too This is not the first time Parma have considered him. Gilardino was among those in the frame when Cristian Chivu left for Inter, the vacancy that eventually went to Cuesta.
ITALY – NOVEMBER 08: Carlos Cuesta looks on prior to the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and AC Milan at Stadio Ennio Tardini on November 08, 2025 in Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) That appointment always carried a degree of risk. Cuesta arrived with no senior head coach experience, having spent four years on Mikel Arteta’s staff at Arsenal, and was 29 when Parma hired him. The club’s statement on Sunday framed the split as a disagreement over the direction of the sporting project rather than results, and reports in Italy suggest the friction dated back to the start of the season.
Gilardino would represent the opposite profile: a coach who kept Genoa in Serie A across two full campaigns before his dismissal, and who knows the division well.
Parma’s technical staff will oversee training on Monday while the club works on an appointment.
Source attribution: this article content is based on the linked publisher feed/source. Chance adds independent soccer context, impact analysis, entity links, and related news.
What happened
Parma have opened direct talks with Alberto Gilardino over replacing head coach Carlos Cuesta, according to Football Italia. Cuesta, who previously served on Arsenal's coaching staff under Mikel Arteta, is set to leave the Emilia-Romagna club. Gilardino, a former Italy international striker, has been without a club since his departure from Genoa last season. The move signals Parma's intent to reset their managerial project amid an underwhelming campaign.
Chance analysis
Parma's pursuit of Alberto Gilardino marks a significant pivot in their Serie B project, with Carlos Cuesta's tenure apparently ending after a disappointing stretch. Cuesta, who cut his teeth in Arsenal's backroom staff under Mikel Arteta, was seen as a progressive appointment but results have not followed. Gilardino brings proven Italian top-flight experience, having kept Genoa in Serie A comfortably before his dismissal, making him a pragmatic, battle-tested choice for a club fighting to get back on track.
Parma are set for a managerial change from Cuesta to Gilardino, likely bringing a more experienced, defensively organized approach in Serie B.