Mansion Sports – Atalanta have officially parted ways with head coach Ivan Juric following a disappointing start to the Serie A season that left the club languishing in mid-table and far from European qualification spots. 

The Croatian tactician, appointed in June to succeed the legendary Gian Piero Gasperini, managed only two wins from 11 league matches and failed to restore the intensity, creativity, and success that defined Gasperini’s transformative era in Bergamo.

Juric Dismissed Following Heavy Defeat to Sassuolo

Juric’s turbulent and short-lived tenure came to an abrupt end after Atalanta’s 0–3 home defeat to Sassuolo last weekend — a result that exhausted the club’s patience. 

The loss extended Atalanta’s winless run in Serie A to eight consecutive matches, dropping them to 13th place, 11 points adrift of leaders Inter Milan after just 11 rounds.

Appointed in June 2025 with the task of preserving Atalanta’s Champions League standards following their third-place finish last season, Juric struggled to make any meaningful impact. 

His reign was marked by inconsistency, tactical confusion, and a noticeable decline in the team’s trademark attacking aggression.

The 50-year-old’s dismissal came only five months into his appointment, making it one of the shortest managerial stints in the club’s modern history. 

Atalanta’s performances under Juric were characterized by uncoordinated high pressing and defensive frailties that repeatedly left them exposed against opponents.

In an official statement released on Monday, Atalanta thanked Juric for his “hard work and professionalism” but emphasized the need for change ahead of a challenging winter period.

Reports suggest that the decision was made immediately after the Sassuolo defeat, with the club already having contingency plans in place during the international break.

Local outlets in Bergamo have identified Raffaele Palladino as the frontrunner to replace Juric, with an official announcement expected before the away fixture against Napoli on November 22.

Juric Fails to Recreate Gasperini’s Success

Juric’s failure was seen by many as almost inevitable given the enormous challenge of succeeding Gian Piero Gasperini.

Over nine years in charge, Gasperini became one of the most influential figures in modern Italian football, transforming Atalanta’s identity and elevating the small-town club into a Serie A powerhouse.

When Gasperini first arrived, Atalanta were a mid-table team battling for survival. By the time he left, they had become a consistent European contender, even lifting the UEFA Europa League trophy in the 2023–24 season.

Gasperini’s tactical philosophy — built around a fearless 3-4-2-1 formation, relentless high pressing, and man-to-man marking — made La Dea one of Italy’s most dynamic and entertaining teams. 

Under his guidance, Atalanta secured three top-three finishes between 2018 and 2021 and recorded a historic 98 goals in the 2019–20 Serie A campaign, the highest total by an Italian side in over six decades.

His crowning achievement came in 2024 when Atalanta defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3–0 in the Europa League final, claiming the club’s first major European trophy. 

When he departed for Roma in June 2025, Gasperini left behind five Champions League qualifications, two Serie A Coach of the Year awards, and a legacy that remains unmatched.

Juric’s attempts to replicate that success faltered from the outset, with the team appearing disjointed, tactically uncertain, and lacking the fighting spirit that had once defined their rise under Gasperini.

Raffaele Palladino Emerges as Leading Candidate

Attention has now shifted to Raffaele Palladino, who is widely expected to be named Atalanta’s new head coach in the coming days.

At just 41 years old, the former Fiorentina and Monza manager has built a strong reputation as one of Italy’s most promising young coaches.

Palladino is known for his tactical balance — blending disciplined structure with attacking ambition — closely aligning with the principles instilled by Gasperini, making him a natural fit to reignite Atalanta’s trademark intensity.

His coaching career has progressed rapidly. Starting with Monza’s youth team in 2019, he rose to prominence in 2022 when unexpectedly promoted to manage the senior side and guided them to a stunning 1–0 victory over Juventus in his debut. 

Under his leadership, Monza avoided relegation and earned praise for their bold, cohesive style built on coordinated pressing and positional flexibility.

That success earned him a move to Fiorentina, where he led the team to a sixth-place finish in Serie A 2024–25, securing qualification for the UEFA Conference League. His Fiorentina side became known for fast transitions, dynamic wing play, and his favored 3-4-2-1 setup — all traits that align closely with Atalanta’s footballing DNA.

Early Challenges Await the New Coach

Atalanta’s immediate priority will be to stabilize performances under new management ahead of their clash against Napoli after the international break. 

With confidence and consistency at a low point, Palladino’s first task will be to restore tactical clarity and rekindle the competitive spirit within a squad accustomed to high standards during the Gasperini era.

Reigniting the form of key players such as Gianluca Scamacca, Ademola Lookman, and Teun Koopmeiners will be crucial in helping Atalanta climb back up the Serie A table and reestablish themselves in the European qualification race.

For Juric, however, this dismissal adds another brief chapter to his coaching career, following previous difficult spells at Roma and Southampton.