Davide Ballardini

Davide Ballardini (born 6 January 1964) is an Italian football manager.

He is currently the head coach of Serie A club Sassuolo.

Davide Ballardini
Davide Ballardini
Ballardini as Lazio manager in 2009
Personal information
Full name Davide Ballardini
Date of birth (1964-01-06) 6 January 1964 (age 60)
Place of birth Ravenna, Italy
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Sassuolo (head coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Cesena
Managerial career
2004–2005 Sambenedettese
2005 Cagliari
2006 Pescara
2007–2008 Cagliari
2008–2009 Palermo
2009–2010 Lazio
2010–2011 Genoa
2011–2012 Cagliari
2013 Genoa
2014 Bologna
2015–2016 Palermo
2016 Palermo
2017–2018 Genoa
2020–2021 Genoa
2023 Cremonese
2024– Sassuolo
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

A former midfielder, Ballardini spent seven years as a player with Cesena under youth team coach Arrigo Sacchi and first-team coach Osvaldo Bagnoli, which he cited as his mentors.

Coaching career

Ballardini started his coaching career serving as youth team coach for Bologna, and successively Cesena and A.C. Milan. He then worked as Parma under-19 youth team coach from 2002 to 2004. He was then appointed by Sambenedettese as new head coach for the 2004–05 season, ended with an impressive fourth place and the consequent participation in the promotion playoffs, then lost to Napoli in the semi-final. He was subsequently chosen by Massimo Cellino as the new Cagliari boss for their 2005–06 Serie A campaign; however, he was sacked only a few weeks later, on 11 November, and replaced by Nedo Sonetti.

Ballardini started the 2006–07 season at the helm of Serie B side Pescara, where he lasted only until October, following a very unimpressive beginning in the league. He was surprisingly announced as the new boss of last-placed Serie A team Cagliari on 27 December 2007, succeeding Sonetti, who ironically replaced him during his first period at the helm of the Sardinian side. Under his tenure as head coach, Cagliari dramatically improved their results, winning 32 points in 21 weeks, thus rising up the table and managing to escape relegation in advance of a week. However, Ballardini failed to find an agreement with Cagliari chairman Massimo Cellino for a contract extension, and they ultimately decided to part company on 28 May.

On 4 September 2008, Palermo announced they had dismissed head coach Stefano Colantuono, appointing Ballardini as the new Rosanero boss in a one-year contract. In his debut match with Palermo, Ballardini led the Sicilians to a very impressive 3–1 home win to Roma, and then went on to impose the first seasonal loss to Juventus, winning 2–1 in Turin, this being the first time Palermo won at Juventus' home in 47 years. His ability to recover Palermo, leading them to the top league positions, was quickly praised again by the media. On 7 October, just two days after the Rosanero triumph in Turin, Palermo announced to have agreed a two-year contract extension with Ballardini.

After weeks of rumours regarding a possible departure of Ballardini from Palermo at the end of the season, on 30 May the Rosanero head coach announced he had agreed for 10 days to give a definite answer to the club regarding his intentions. Later that day, Palermo chairman Maurizio Zamparini announced Ballardini had asked to be relieved from his position due to his unwillingness to keep on serving as Palermo's head coach. A few days later, on 5 June, Palermo unveiled Walter Zenga as new head coach, thus ending speculation regarding Ballardini's future with the Rosanero. Despite being dismissed as head coach following these events, Ballardini was still under a contract for two more years with the Sicilian club.

Finally, after long rumours connecting Ballardini's name as the next coach of Lazio following Delio Rossi's departure, he was appointed as the new manager of the Roman club on 15 June 2009. He signed a two-year contract with an option for a third worth €750,000 yearly.

On his first competitive match as Lazio boss, Ballardini led the club to triumph in the 2009 Supercoppa Italiana, as his side won 2–1 to outgoing Italian champions Internazionale in a single-legged game played at Beijing National Stadium in China. However, Ballardini did not repeat this triumph at Serie A level and failed to qualify for the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League knockout round. Later, in January and February, several disappointing results left Lazio in 18th place and in danger of being relegated, leading club chairman Claudio Lotito to dismiss Ballardini and appoint Edy Reja as new head coach.

On 8 November 2010, Ballardini returned to management, accepting an offer as head coach of Serie A club Genoa. He signed a two-year contract with the club, but club president Enrico Preziosi terminated the contract with him for no particular reason on 5 June 2011.

On 9 November 2011, Ballardini returned to manage Cagliari for the third time in his career. He was dismissed for just cause on 11 March 2012.

On 21 January 2013, Ballardini returned to Genoa to try to save them from relegation. He has managed to do so with still one game to go. Nevertheless, chairman Preziosi may decide yet again to let him go at the end of the season. Many Genoa supporters respected Ballardini for his manners and energy on the pitch.

On 8 January 2014, Serie A club Bologna announced that Ballardini agreed on a six-month deal to coach their first team.

On 10 November 2015, he became the manager of Palermo. He was later relieved of his duties on 11 January 2016, one day after having been publicly accused of unprofessionalism by team captain Stefano Sorrentino in the wake of a 1–0 away win at Verona.

On 12 April 2016, he was rehired as coach of Palermo after the sacking of Walter Novellino, the ninth managerial change for the club during the 2015–16 season.

On 21 December 2020, Ballardini was appointed manager of Genoa, beginning his fourth spell with the club. He was sacked on 6 November 2021, due to negative results in the 2021–22 Serie A season.

On 15 January 2023, Ballardini returned to management as the new head coach of bottom-placed Serie A club Cremonese, signing a contract until 30 June 2024. Despite suffering relegation to Serie B by the end of the season, Ballardini was confirmed in charge of the Grigiorossi for the 2023–24 season but was eventually dismissed on 18 September 2023 after an unimpressive start in the league, with just one win in the first five games.

On 1 March 2024, Ballardini was hired by relegation-battling Serie A club Sassuolo as their new head coach until the end of the season.

Personal life

Ballardini was born in Ravenna. He has three sons, all of them being footballers: Leo Natale (born 1990) played in the role of striker for Igea Virtus and Elia (born 1991, striker) for Virtus Entella, whereas Erik (born 1995, midfielder) are currently part of Cesena youth ranks.

Managerial statistics

    As of match played 16 September 2023
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat. From To Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Sambenedettese Davide Ballardini  1 September 2004 7 June 2005 40 14 14 12 44 35 +9 035.00
Cagliari Davide Ballardini  16 September 2005 8 November 2005 9 0 4 5 5 14 −9 000.00
Pescara Davide Ballardini  1 July 2006 9 October 2006 8 1 2 5 8 12 −4 012.50
Cagliari Davide Ballardini  27 December 2007 27 May 2008 22 9 5 8 27 27 +0 040.91
Palermo Davide Ballardini  4 September 2008 5 June 2009 37 17 6 14 56 47 +9 045.95
Lazio Davide Ballardini  15 June 2009 10 February 2010 34 9 10 15 35 39 −4 026.47
Genoa Davide Ballardini  8 November 2010 5 June 2011 30 12 7 11 42 40 +2 040.00
Cagliari Davide Ballardini  9 November 2011 11 March 2012 18 4 6 8 18 27 −9 022.22
Genoa Davide Ballardini  21 January 2013 6 June 2013 17 4 9 4 17 18 −1 023.53
Bologna Davide Ballardini  8 January 2014 1 July 2014 20 2 8 10 11 25 −14 010.00
Palermo Davide Ballardini  10 November 2015 11 January 2016 8 2 1 5 9 16 −7 025.00
Palermo Davide Ballardini  12 April 2016 5 September 2016 9 4 3 2 11 10 +1 044.44
Genoa Davide Ballardini  6 November 2017 9 October 2018 36 16 5 15 40 40 +0 044.44
Genoa Davide Ballardini  21 December 2020 5 November 2021 39 11 14 14 57 61 −4 028.21
Cremonese Davide Ballardini  15 January 2023 18 September 2023 30 8 10 12 34 47 −13 026.67
Sassuolo Davide Ballardini  1 March 2024 present 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0 !
Total 356 112 104 140 414 458 −44 031.46

Honours

As manager

    Lazio

References

Tags:

Davide Ballardini Playing careerDavide Ballardini Coaching careerDavide Ballardini Personal lifeDavide Ballardini Managerial statisticsDavide Ballardini HonoursDavide Ballardini

🔥 Trending searches on Wiki English:

Ryan GoslingMatt ProkopFighter (2024 film)Veer Savarkar (film)Sam ElliottKey Bridge (Washington, D.C.)CaliforniaChristopher NolanMatthew PerryJames VI and IChesapeake Bay BridgeWashington, D.C.Shaquille O'NealAssassination of Abraham LincolnEmma StoneShyneBaltimore Harbor TunnelBrooke ShieldsFlorence PughThe Gentlemen (2019 film)Prithviraj SukumaranProject 2025The Three-Body Problem (novel)Mathias BoeKathie Lee GiffordThe Gentlemen (2024 TV series)J. Robert OppenheimerJude BellinghamKerry Von ErichQueen of TearsMandi Lok Sabha constituency2024 ICC Men's T20 World CupCrocus City Hall attackSkibidi ToiletI-40 bridge disasterLiverpool F.C.Soham murdersNorth KoreaList of ports in the United StatesTaylor HawkinsIlia MalininLiu CixinJeffrey EpsteinAnimal (2023 Indian film)Damien HarrisRachel McAdamsElizabeth PrelogarList of presidents of the United StatesBrandon ScottUEFA Champions LeagueBrittany SnowCandace OwensDeadpool & WolverineWreckage of San JoséVanessa HudgensWilliam ShakespeareFrankie MunizPrince Harry, Duke of SussexICarlyJustin BieberPassenger (TV series)Brothers (2009 film)VietnamHamasJovan AdepoSeven deadly sins2019 Indian general electionList of highest-grossing filmsAlan RitchsonTruman CapoteSelf Esteem (musician)Kim Soo-hyunDigital World Acquisition CorpBaltimoreHarvey WeinsteinMacky Sall🡆 More